Wiley Rein’s Michael Toner Discusses Democrats’ New Fundraising Tactic

Michael E. Toner, co-chair of Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted in a January 20 article in the Financial Times about the increased fundraising pressure Democratic Members of Congress are facing from the party’s national campaign committee.

According to the article, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has started tallying fundraising efforts on a points system to rank each Member’s performance in raising or transferring funds to the DCCC.  The article notes that the DCCC’s tallying system is becoming more important to individual Democratic Members of Congress if they wish to receive prestigious committee assignments and to advance in the House.  The DCCC is “broadening activities which they are going to count, which means you have to do more,” said Mr. Toner, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission.  “It is not so much your legislative knowledge or committee meetings attended that determines promotions, it’s this [money].”