H.R. 5912

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions, and to provide for the return of previously distributed funds for deficit reduction, as amended

Date	September 19, 2012 (112th Congress, 2nd Session)
Staff Contact	Lisa Collins

On Wednesday, September 19, 2012, the House is scheduled to consider H.R 5912, as amended, under a suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage.  This legislation was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on June 7, 2012, and referred to the House Committee on Administration.

H.R. 5912 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions providing for the use of funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for presidential nominating conventions. The bill would require that any amount which is returned by the national committee to the Treasury from an account established under the Fund to make payments for conventions to be used solely for deficit reduction.

According to the bill’s sponsor, over $220 million of taxpayer funds since 1976 have been spent on presidential nominating conventions for such expenses as make-up artists, political consulting fees, gift bags, banners and more.