S. 3225 - Eliminating Leftover Expenses for Campaigns from Taxpayers Act of 2020

116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION

S. 3225

To reduce Federal spending and the deficit by terminating
taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 21, 2020

Ms. ERNST introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To reduce Federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of Presidential election campaigns.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Eliminating Leftover Expenses for Campaigns from Taxpayers (ELECT) Act of 2020".

SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF TAXPAYER FINANCING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

(a) TERMINATION OF DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS. — Section 6096 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

"(d) TERMINATION. — This section shall not apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.".

(b) TERMINATION OF FUND AND ACCOUNT. — 

(1) TERMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND. — 

(A) IN GENERAL. — Chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘‘SEC. 9013. TERMINATION. 

‘‘The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to any Presidential election (or any Presidential
nominating convention) after the date of the enactment of this section, or to any candidate in such an election.’’.

(B) TRANSFER OF REMAINING FUNDS. — Section 9006 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(d) TRANSFER OF FUNDS REMAINING AFTER TERMINATION. — The Secretary shall transfer the amounts in the fund as of the date of the enactment of this subsection to the general fund of the Treasury, to be used only for reducing the deficit.".

(2) TERMINATION OF ACCOUNT. — Chapter 96 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

"SEC. 9043. TERMINATION.

"The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any candidate with respect to any Presidential election after the date of the enactment of this section.".

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. — 

(1) The table of sections for chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

"Sec. 9013. Termination.".

(2) The table of sections for chapter 96 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

"Sec. 9043. Termination.".