Readers: I am presently engaged in an “information gathering exercise.” Below you will see an informal questionnaire. If you give money to political recipients, or work for them or for people who do, you probably have information I can use. Feel free to copy the survey text, answer the questions, and email it back to me.
Please complete as many of the following questions as you can. If you include your name, we will be able to follow up with you later. Your information will be kept confidential (I will see it, but no one else), and any reported results from this project will feature no names or other identifying information. Return your completed survey by email to Allison Hayward, GMU Law School, ahayward - at - gmu -dot - edu. If you need to mail it, send to 3301 Fairfax Dr. MS 1G3, Arlington, VA 22201.
1. Do you contribute money to federal candidate campaign, party and/or political committees?
Yes____ No _____
If yes, please answer A-G below (if no, proceed to #2 below):
A. Please indicate the amount of your total aggregate contributions to federal candidate campaign, party and/or political committees in the 2007-08 cycle so far.
Under $100___ $100 to $1,000 ____ $1,000 to $5,000____
$5,000 to $10,000 ____ Over $10,000 ___ Uncertain/Don’t Know _____
B. When making a contribution, do you consider whether it will, either by itself or added to other funds you have already contributed, exceed $200 to the recipient, and thus require the recipient to list your name, address, occupation and employer information on their FEC reports (if they have it)?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
C. Has the fact your personal information would be reported to the FEC ever caused you to contribute less (or more) that you otherwise would? Or does it make no difference?
Less ____ More ____ It depends (explain)
No Difference ____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
D. Have you ever purposefully chosen not to provide a federal political committee to which you contributed with your occupation and/or employer information?
Yes ____ No ____ Uncertain/Don’t Know _____
E. Have you ever reviewed FEC reports, or FEC material online, to see whether friends, acquaintances, or other individuals have made contributions, and/or to whom?
Yes ____ No ____ Uncertain/Don’t Know _____
F. Please add any additional comments here:
2. Have you made contributions to political organizations that are not federal (or state) committees but are exempt from income tax under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code (popularly known as “527s”)?
Yes _____ No _____ Uncertain/Don’t Know _____
If yes, answer A-D below; if no skip to #3 below:
A. When making a contribution, do you consider whether it will, either by itself or added to other funds you have already contributed, exceed $200 to the recipient, and thus require the recipient to list your personal identification information on their IRS reports?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
B. Has the fact your personal information would be reported to the IRS ever caused you to contribute less (or more) that you otherwise would? Or caused you to seek from the group their agreement to pay tax on the funds, in return for your identity remaining confidential? Or does it make no difference?
Less ____ More ____ It depends (explain)
Sought Anonymity/Group Pay Tax ____
No Difference ____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
C. Have you ever reviewed IRS reports, or IRS material reproduced online, to see whether friends, acquaintances, or other individuals have made contributions, and to whom?
Yes ____ No ____ Uncertain/Don’t Know _____
D. Please add any additional comments here:
3. As part of your occupation, do you work for or advise federal candidate campaign, party, or political committees?
Yes ____ No ____
If yes, please answer A-F below: (If no, please return as instructed at the top of the survey)
A. In the course of your work, have you prepared or assisted in preparing federal disclosure reports filed with the FEC?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
B. In the course of your work, have you prepared or assisted in preparing federal disclosure reports filed with the IRS?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
C. Have you observed instances where donors try to keep their contributions under $200 so as to remain free from itemized disclosure?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
D. Has a recipient asked you how a donor’s identity could be kept confidential?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
What was the reason(s) for seeking anonymity, if you know:
E. Has a donor asked you how his or her identity could be kept confidential?
Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain/Don’t Know ____
What was the reason(s) for seeking anonymity, if you know:
F. Please add any additional comments here:
(Optional) Please provide your name and email address