OMAR Act

This bill would prohibit campaign committees controlled by federal candidates or officeholders from using campaign funds to compensate the spouse of that candidate or official for services. It would also require these committees to disclose any disbursements made to a spouse or immediate family member. Additionally, the bill proposes that any penalties for knowing violations be paid personally by the candidate or officeholder without reimbursement from the committee.

This bill affects candidates for federal office and current federal officeholders, as well as their authorized political committees and committees they maintain or control. Spouses of these individuals are directly impacted by the prohibition on receiving compensation for services provided to these committees. Additionally, immediate family members of candidates and officeholders are affected by new requirements for committees to disclose disbursements made to them.

• Prohibition on campaign payments to spouses. The bill bans authorized candidate committees and other political committees controlled by federal candidates or officeholders from providing direct or indirect compensation to a spouse for services rendered to the committee.
• Disclosure of payments to family members. Political committees are required to report all disbursements made to the spouse or immediate family members of a candidate or federal officeholder.
• Personal liability for violations. If a candidate or officeholder is aware of a violation of these rules, the resulting penalty must be imposed directly on that individual. The bill further prohibits the involved political committee from reimbursing the individual for the cost of the penalty.
• Exemption for political party committees. The prohibition on compensating spouses does not apply to political committees associated with a political party.

The bill modifies federal campaign finance regulations by establishing new prohibitions and disclosure requirements for political committees regarding payments made to the spouses and immediate family members of candidates or federal officeholders.

The bill seeks to increase financial oversight and transparency by prohibiting federal candidates and officeholders from using campaign funds to compensate their spouses. It also establishes mandatory disclosure requirements for payments made to a candidate's spouse or immediate family members.