donation question - federal contractor

[m4ff3w]

4. I am not a Federal government contractor and this contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.

Federal law requires all online contributors to confirm that the following statements are true and accurate. If you cannot confirm each statement, you are not eligible to contribute to the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign Committee. Unchecked statements will result in your donation not being accepted.

The company I work for until I get out of school holds government contracts for travel. The company provides travel arrangements for the Department of Defense, Department of State, and other agencies.

Am I barred from donating?

 

[JoshLowry]

You would probably be best off contacting them by phone tomorrow.

You can also send an email, here is campaign headquarters contact page: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/contact/

 

[m4ff3w]

Thanks. I can't donate much (full time student + stay at home wife + 2 kids = little cash) but do want to donate.

 

[RPFever]

Wow...

Thanks. I can't donate much (full time student + stay at home wife + 2 kids = little cash) but do want to donate.

Wow, that is very admirable. if this doesn't say how powerful the message of liberty is, I don't know what does.

 

[mesler]

My understanding is that contractors don't have much to worry about, the regulations are mainly for federal employees.

 

[mesler]

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepoliticalsystem/a/contriblaws.htm

# Federal contractors -- individuals or businesses under contract to provide goods or services to the Federal government are prohibited from contributing to candidates or parties in Federal elections.

Actually, I'm not so sure now.

This may mean that employees != contractors:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynam...s.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/11cfrv1_03.html

It does seem as though as long as you are making a personal contribution and you are not the contractor (ie you are just an employee) that you can contribute.

 

[m4ff3w]

Wow, I stumped Election HQ!

They are going to all me back after they clarify.

 

[m4ff3w]

I called corporate HR and they said I can donate what I want to who I want.

 

[qednick]

I called corporate HR and they said I can donate what I want to who I want.

Cool beans. I'm going to send a check off today too.

 

[Nathan Pannbacker]

Good for you! And thanks for donating. I'm in a similar financial situation, but I fully intend to scrape up some funds for the Ron Paul campaign too.

 

[Bradley in DC]

Thanks. I can't donate much (full time student + stay at home wife + 2 kids = little cash) but do want to donate.

I'm pretty sure that federal contractor are prohibited from donating though I suspect the rule in practice is not as simple (what if someone has a short-term contract part of the year? what if it is a consulting gig not full-time in addition to a "real" job? etc.)

If the wife and kids aren't federal contractors though....(of course, kids shouldn't be giving money online and the rules reflect that).

 

[qednick]

Also, I don't think you have to state your employer/occupation if the donation is under $200.

 

[mdh]

I'm a federal contractor as well. My wife makes the contributions in our household.

 

[dspectre]

I take it, that you are ineligible if you are doing "business" with the federal government, and not so much an employee of the federal government?

Usually with this kind of thing, you already know if you can do this or not(That is, if I'm selling military hardware to the government, then there would be a conflict of interest).

 

[m4ff3w]

Matthew:

Here's the link to the FEC brochure:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contrib.shtml

And the text of the specific section regarding contributions by government contractors, their employees, etc.:

Government Contractors
Contributions from federal government contractors are prohibited. The prohibition applies to contributions from the personal or business funds of individuals or sole proprietors who have entered into a contract with the federal government. It does not apply, however, to personal contributions by employees, partners, shareholders or officers of businesses with government contracts; nor does it apply to separate segregated funds established by corporations or labor organizations with government contracts. 11 CFR Part 115.

Thank you for your interest in Dr. Paul's presidential campaign, and support!

Regards,
Karl