OMAR Act

Ban campaign payments to spouses

If enacted, this bill would bar an authorized committee of a candidate and most political committees controlled by that candidate from directly or indirectly paying the candidate's spouse for services for the committee. The rule would apply to committees established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding Federal office, but not to political party committees. Committees would also have to include in each regular report a separate statement of any payments made to the spouse or to immediate family during the reporting period; "immediate family" would include son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother, father, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and grandchild. The bill would make the candidate or individual, rather than the committee, liable for penalties under section 309 when the candidate knew of the violation, and committees could not reimburse candidates for penalties the candidate is required to pay under section 309(e). These rules would apply to compensation and payments made on or after the date of enactment.