H.R. 7304: Oversight for Members And Relatives Act

The bill titled "Oversight for Members And Relatives Act" (OMAR Act) proposes amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 aimed at improving transparency in political campaign financing, specifically regarding payments made to candidates' spouses and immediate family members. Below are the main provisions of the bill:

Prohibition on Compensation

The bill prohibits political committees, which are authorized by candidates or individuals holding federal office, from compensating the spouse of the candidate for services provided to or on behalf of the committee. This means that any financial payments for work done by a candidate's spouse would be disallowed.

Disclosure Requirements

In addition to the prohibition of compensation, the bill requires that any political committee must disclose any payments made to the spouse or immediate family members of the candidate. This disclosure includes:

• All direct or indirect compensation paid to the spouse or family member during the reporting period.
• A separate statement included in the committee's reports detailing these payments.

The term "immediate family member" is defined to include the candidate's children, in-laws, parents, siblings, and grandchildren.

Penalties for Violations

The bill also introduces penalties for candidates or officeholders if their campaign committees violate these provisions. If the candidate is aware of the violation, the penalties will be imposed on the candidate rather than the committee responsible for the violation. Additionally, campaign committees are prohibited from reimbursing candidates for any penalties incurred as a result of these violations.

Effective Date

The provisions of this act would apply to any payments made on or after the date it is enacted.

Relevant Companies

None found