2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Preventing Foreign Controlled
Companies From Making Campaign Contributions As Part Of A Larger
Anti-Corruption And Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted against The 'For The People Act.' According to Congressional
Quarterly, the bill "expands the prohibition against foreign
contributions by also banning corporations that are owned or controlled
by foreign entities from making contributions to federal, state or local
elections or from making expenditures on behalf of federal, state or
local elections. It also prohibits any foreign entity, either individual
and corporate, from making contributions to super PACs." The overall
was, according to CBS News, "the most sweeping anti-corruption measure
passed by the House of Representatives in a generation, by a vote of 234
to 193. The bill focuses on voting rights, campaign finance, and
government ethics." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill
by a vote of 234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/5/19; CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
Current Law Prohibited Foreign Nationals From Making Campaign
Contributions. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Under
current law, it is illegal for a foreign national to make any
contributions with regard to a federal, state or local election."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/5/19]
The Bill Defined What A Foreign Controlled Or Owned Company
Means. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It defines
foreign-owned or controlled corporations as those where 5% or more
of the voting shares are directly or indirectly controlled or owned
by a foreign country, a foreign government official or a corporation
owned or controlled by a foreign country or government official. A
corporation is also considered foreign-owned or controlled if 20% or
more of the voting shares are owned or controlled by foreign
nationals, or if other specified controls exist." [Congressional
Quarterly, 3/5/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Supporting A Constitutional Amendment
To Overturn Citizens United As Part Of A Larger Anti-Corruption And
Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against The
'For The People Act.' According to Vox, the bill text was "Supporting a
constitutional amendment to end Citizens United." The overall was,
according to CBS News, "the most sweeping anti-corruption measure passed
by the House of Representatives in a generation, by a vote of 234 to
193. The bill focuses on voting rights, campaign finance, and government
ethics." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of
234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Vox,
3/8/19;
CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Requiring Corporations, Organizations,
And Committees That Spend Over $10,000 Per Election Cycle To Disclose
Campaign Expenditures Over $1,000 And Donors Donating Over $10,000
That Cycle. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the For The
People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit
super PACs from financing political ads supporting or opposing a
political candidate and require corporations, organizations and
political committees that spend more than $10,000 in an election cycle
to disclose their campaign-related expenditures of more than $1,000 and
any donors contributing more than $10,000 in that cycle." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-210. The Senate
did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 62,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The DISCLOSE Act As Part Of A Larger
Anti-Corruption And Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted against The 'For The People Act.' According to Vox, the bill
included "the DISCLOSE Act, pushed by Rep. David Cicilline and Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse, both Democrats from Rhode Island. This would require
Super PACs and 'dark money' political organizations to make their donors
public." The overall was, according to CBS News, "the most sweeping
anti-corruption measure passed by the House of Representatives in a
generation, by a vote of 234 to 193. The bill focuses on voting rights,
campaign finance, and government ethics." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Vox,
3/8/19;
CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Honest Ads Act, Which Would
Require Facebook And Twitter Disclose The Money Source For Political Ads
As Part Of A Larger Anti-Corruption And Democracy Reform Bill. In
March 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against The 'For The People Act.'
According to Vox, the bill included "passing the Honest Ads Act,
championed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Mark Warner (VA) and
introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA) in the House, which would require
Facebook and Twitter to disclose the source of money for political ads
on their platforms and share how much money was spent." The overall was,
according to CBS News, "the most sweeping anti-corruption measure passed
by the House of Representatives in a generation, by a vote of 234 to
193. The bill focuses on voting rights, campaign finance, and government
ethics." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of
234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Vox,
3/8/19;
CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Repealing Rules Preventing The Federal
Government From Requiring A Government Contractor From Disclosing Their
Political Contributions As Part Of A Larger Anti-Corruption And
Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against The
'For The People Act.' According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill
would repealed the law that "prohibits the federal government from
requiring a contractor making a bid on a federal contract to disclose
political contributions or expenditures." The overall was, according to
CBS News, "the most sweeping anti-corruption measure passed by the House
of Representatives in a generation, by a vote of 234 to 193. The bill
focuses on voting rights, campaign finance, and government ethics." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 193.
[House Vote 118, 3/8/19;
Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/19;
CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Modifying The FEC In An Attempt To
Make It More Effective As Part Of A Larger Anti-Corruption And Democracy
Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against The 'For The
People Act.' According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill would repeal
the law that "prohibits the federal government from requiring a
contractor making a bid on a federal contract to disclose political
contributions or expenditures." The overall was, according to CBS News,
"the most sweeping anti-corruption measure passed by the House of
Representatives in a generation, by a vote of 234 to 193. The bill
focuses on voting rights, campaign finance, and government ethics." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 193.
[House Vote 118, 3/8/19;
Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/19;
CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
The Bill Would Make The FEC Have Five Members With No More Than
Two Members Being A Member Of The Same Political Party. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "Specifically, it removes the Senate
secretary and the clerk of the House as ex officio members and
reduces the number of voting members from six to five, with no more
than two members to be affiliated with the same political party
(currently no more than three may be from the same political party).
Members would continue to be appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Senate and serve six-year terms (although when the
new FEC is constituted in January 2022 two members would serve
three-year terms so all terms don't expire at once)."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/5/19]
The Bill Would Give Additional Powers To The Chair Of The FEC.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure provides the
chair of the FEC with new administrative powers, such as
administering staff and establishing a budget. It also gives the
chair certain powers that under current law are powers of the whole
FEC, such as the power to require any person to submit, under oath,
written reports and answers to questions; to administer oaths or
affirmations; to issue subpoenas; to order depositions and compel
testimony; and to pay witnesses fees and mileage as are paid by
courts. However, the commission could also vote to give itself these
powers for any investigation, action or proceeding." [Congressional
Quarterly, 3/5/19]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Expanding Disclaimer Requirements On
Online Political Ads, Against Creating Reporting Requirements For Online
Sites That Sell Political Ads, And Against Prohibiting Manipulated Media
Of A Candidate. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the For The
People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand
political advertising disclaimer requirements to online political ads;
establish reporting requirements for online platforms selling political
ads; and prohibit deceptive manipulated media of a candidate." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-210. The
Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 62,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Prohibiting Foreign Political
Spending, Including Direct And Indirect Participation In Election
Campaigns, Against Requiring Political Committees To Report Foreign
Contacts To The FBI, And Against Prohibiting The Concealment Of Foreign
Election Contributions. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the
For The People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"include a number of requirements to prohibit foreign political spending
through companies, including to prohibit foreign entities from direct or
indirect participation in decision making for any election-related
activity; require political committees to report foreign contacts to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation; and prohibit the creation of
corporations to conceal foreign election contributions." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-210. The Senate did
not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 62,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Establishing A Public Financing System
For Presidential And Congressional Campaigns, In Which The Government
Would Match 600% Of Each Donation Of Up To $200 For Candidates
Rejecting Donations Over $1,000 And Using Less Than $50,000 Of
Personal Funds. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the For The
People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "modify or
establish public financing mechanisms for presidential and congressional
election campaigns that would match 600% of each contribution of up to
$200 for candidates whose campaigns do not accept contributions of more
than $1,000 from any individual donor and do not use more than $50,000
of the candidate's personal funds." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 220-210. The Senate did not take
substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 62,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted For Amendments That Would Assess How The
Proposed Public Finance System Increases Diversity In Political
Candidates. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for en bloc amendments
no.4 to the For The People Act which would, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "require the Government Accountability Office's to assess
the extent to which the small-contribution public financing program
established by the bill increases opportunities for candidates of
diverse racial, gender and socioeconomic backgrounds." The vote was on
adoption of amendments. The House adopted the amendments by a vote of
223-208. [House Vote 58,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Would Bar Taxpayer Money
From Being Deposited Into The Proposed Public Finance System. In March
2021, Fitzpatrick voted for en bloc amendments no.3 to the For The
People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit
taxpayer funds from being deposited into a public campaign fund created
by the bill." The vote was on adoption of amendments. The House adopted
the amendments by a vote of 221-207. [House Vote 55,
3/2/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/2/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
20;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Creating A Public Financing System For
Political Campaigns That Would Provide A 6-1 Match Rate For Presidential
And Congressional Candidates Capped At $200 As Part Of A Larger
Anti-Corruption And Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted against The 'For The People Act.' According to Vox, "HR 1 covers
three main planks: campaign finance reform, strengthening the
government's ethics laws, and expanding voting rights. Here's the
important part of each section, briefly explained. Campaign finance.
Establishing public financing of campaigns, powered by small donations.
Under the vision of the bill's main sponsor, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD),
the federal government would provide a voluntary 6-1 match for
candidates for president and Congress, which means for every dollar a
candidate raises from small donations, the federal government would
match it six times over. The maximum small donation that could be
matched would be capped at $200. The most substantial change to HR 1 is
this program now won't be funded by taxpayer dollars as originally
planned; instead, it will come from adding a 2.75 percent fee on
criminal and civil fines, fees, penalties, or settlements with banks and
corporations that commit corporate malfeasance (think Wells Fargo).
Democrats are using this idea to push back on Republican attacks that
taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing campaigns." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Vox,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
The Matching System Was Funded By A 2.75 Percent Fee On Criminal
Fees, Penalties, Or Settlements With Banks And Corporation That
Commit Corporate Malfeasance. According to Vox, "The most
substantial change to HR 1 is this program now won't be funded by
taxpayer dollars as originally planned; instead, it will come from
adding a 2.75 percent fee on criminal and civil fines, fees,
penalties, or settlements with banks and corporations that commit
corporate malfeasance (think Wells Fargo). Democrats are using this
idea to push back on Republican attacks that taxpayers shouldn't be
subsidizing campaigns." [Vox,
3/8/19]
Campaigns That Accept The Matching Funds Cannot Accept More Than
$1,000 Per Donor, Could Use No More Than $50,000 From Personal And
Funding From Immediate Family, And Would Be Prevented From
Associating With Or Creating A PAC. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "To qualify for small dollar campaign financing, a
candidate must first receive qualified small dollar contributions
from at least 1,000 individuals that total at least $50,000.
Candidates participating could then accept campaign donations of no
more than $1,000 per individual donor, and could otherwise only
receive contributions from state or national political committees
and multi-candidate political committees, and could use no more than
$50,000 total in personal funds and funding from an immediate
family member. Those candidates would also be prohibited from
associating with, establishing, financing, maintaining or
controlling a leadership PAC." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/5/19]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Prohibiting Super PACs From Financing
Political Ads. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the For The
People Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit
super PACs from financing political ads supporting or opposing a
political candidate and require corporations, organizations and
political committees that spend more than $10,000 in an election cycle
to disclose their campaign-related expenditures of more than $1,000 and
any donors contributing more than $10,000 in that cycle." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-210. The Senate
did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 62,
3/3/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/3/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Strengthening Rules Prohibiting Super
Pac And Candidate Coordination As Part Of A Larger Anti-Corruption And
Democracy Reform Bill. In March 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against The
'For The People Act.' According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill
"strengthens prohibitions on coordination between super PACs and
candidates for federal office by defining 'coordinated expenditures' and
'coordinated spenders' and specifying what kinds of communications
between a candidate and his or her agents and a super PAC would
constitute coordination and what would not. It also effectively
prohibits super PACs from financing political ads that support or oppose
a specific candidate by defining as a prohibited 'coordinated
communication' a communication that advocates the election of a
candidate or defeat of the candidate's opponent, promotes or supports
the election of a candidate, or attacks or opposes the candidate's
opponent." The overall was, according to CBS News, "the most sweeping
anti-corruption measure passed by the House of Representatives in a
generation, by a vote of 234 to 193. The bill focuses on voting rights,
campaign finance, and government ethics." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 193. [House Vote 118,
3/8/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/5/19; CBS News,
3/8/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
Legislation Defined Coordination To Include Spending Money To
Republish Campaign Material From The Candidate. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "In general, the bill modifies the
statutory definition of a political contribution to define a
coordinated expenditure as a payment for a covered communication
made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the
request or suggestion of a candidate, political party or agent of
the candidate. A coordinated (and therefore prohibited) expenditure
would include payment for any communication that republishes,
disseminates or distributes, in whole or in part, any form of
campaign material prepared by the candidate or his or her agents."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/5/19]
Legislation Created Penalties For Those Who Violate The
Coordination Prohibition. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The bill establishes penalties for anyone who knowingly and
willfully violates the Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA) by
making a contribution which consists of a coordinated expenditure.
Specifically, if the coordinated expenditure exceeds the applicable
statutory contribution limit, the penalty would be 300% of the
amount by which the contribution exceeded the limit. If the person
is prohibited from making a contribution in any amount, the penalty
is 300% of the amount of the entire coordinated expenditure."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/5/19]
Legislation Stated That Federal Candidates And Office Holders
Could Not Fund Raise For Super Pacs. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The bill clarifies that, starting for elections
occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2020, federal candidates and office
holders are prohibited from fund-raising for political committees
such as super PACs and 527 political organizations." [Congressional
Quarterly, 3/5/19]