The leader of an influential bloc of House Republicans says he is open to a step rarely supported by limited government conservatives: boosting a federal agency's budget.
Like most members of the House Freedom Caucus he now leads, Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) wants to reduce overall federal spending. However, he told the Washington Free Beacon that it might be appropriate to increase the Federal Election Commission's funding.
"You can't expect them to do more with their current staffing," Meadows said in an interview this week.
His support for an increase in funding depends on the passage of legislation that would eliminate limits on individual contributions to federal political candidates and committees. Under current law, donors are capped at $2,700 per candidate per election cycle (or $5,400 if the funds are split between primaries and general elections).
The legislation, sponsored by Meadows and titled the Super PAC Elimination Act, would also require donations over $200 to be disclosed to the FEC and made public available within 24 hours.
That disclosure provision is crucial—Meadows pointed to the language to counter charges that his bill would open the door to forms of corruption—but it is also a dramatic shift from current law, which only requires monthly or quarterly disclosure.
The new disclosure requirements, and their accompanying increase in paperwork, would likely impose significant additional burdens on a thinly stretched FEC, which oversees financial disclosures by candidates and independent political groups.
FEC spokeswoman Judith Ingram said the commission does not comment on pending legislation.
"I think we would consider any additional resource (staffing or IT) needs as a bill moves through the legislative process," she said.
"If this particular legislation prevails, I think it would be appropriate to look at the FEC and … their ability to report and staff it properly," Meadows said. "But also to answer questions for those who want to do the right thing and find the complex maze of federal election laws and reporting, especially those that are new to politics, to have the resources there to answer those in a manner that keeps everybody out of trouble."
"Whether that would require additional staff, it's certainly a factor that I've looked at," he added.
Meadows' defense of his legislation, and that of Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), who has sponsored companion legislation in the Senate, rests on the bill's heightened disclosure provisions as a guard against the corrupting influence of high-dollar campaign contributions.
"It actually allows for greater accountability with regards to the potential violations of ethical standards," Meadows said.
He acknowledged that donors have been able to sway politicians using campaign contributions, but suggested that his bill's heightened disclosure requirements would both discourage that type of pay-to-play and make it more apparent where it does take place.
The legislation provides "not only for greater transparency at relatively low amounts of giving, but quicker reporting mechanisms to allow for any inappropriate behavior to be acknowledged," he said.
Under current law, donors that wish to support a candidate with funds exceeding the $2,700 contribution cap frequently give to Super PACs supporting their desired candidates. Those groups are legally barred from coordinating with campaigns, though many candidates, most notably failed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, have found ways to circumvent those restrictions.
Under Meadows' bill, the incentive to give to a Super PAC would be significantly reduced. Donors could spend unlimited sums directly supporting their preferred candidates.
Meadows argues that, contrary to claims that would exacerbate corruption, it could actually prevent untoward or illegal attempts to reward a campaign donor. Along with the bill's heightened disclosure requirements, it would more directly and publicly associate candidates with their donors, making any corruption readily apparent.
"A Super PAC giving money without any direct links has the potential of having less accountability from an ethical standard than if the contributions are given right to the candidate," Meadows said.
Under his proposed bill, "there would be a direct link between donor and the recipient, the whole ethical challenge becomes more transparent and certainly more accountable."
With Congress out of session until the inauguration, Meadows' bill, and companion legislation introduced by Cruz, will have to wait for next year to receive full consideration. Meadows said they introduced it this year "to start a discussion."
The bill is likely to draw intense opposition from congressional Democrats, but Meadows is optimistic that it will at least receive full consideration in both the House and the Senate.
"Addressing the concern that many Americans have is something that will get support even among the leadership in both chambers."