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In the Tri-Valley, San Ramon has a voluntary expenditure limit pledge. The expenditure limit is re-established each election based on the cost of two mailings to every registered voter. For the 2005 election, the voluntary expenditure limit was $21,544. At the close of the nomination period, the San Ramon City Clerk issues a press release advising which candidates have signed the voluntary expenditure limit pledge, and which ones have not. San Ramon's City Attorney advises that all candidates have historically signed the voluntary pledge, and monitoring is undertaken by interested third parties [not the City of San Ramon]. Providing Direction to Staff about Voluntary Expenditure Limits. If the City Council considers a voluntary pledge by candidates to adhere to a campaign expenditure limit, staff would need direction about: (a) amount of the expenditure limit (e.g. $1 per registered voter); (b) whether and how to notify the public about which candidates took the pledge; and (c) whether the City should try to monitor compliance. Political Action Committees /Independent Expenditure Committees. Under Federal election law, groups commonly known as "political action committees" or PACs are specifically defined to include a "nonconnected committee", which committees often undertake "independent expenditures" in support or against candidates for Federal office. An "independent expenditure" means "an expenditure by a person: (A) expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and (B) that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of such candidate, the candidate's authorized political committee, or their agents, or a political party or its agents." (See 2 United States Code §431(17).) Similar to Federal law, under State law, "Independent Expenditure Committees" can pay for communications (e.g. printed mailers, advertisements, etc.) which support or oppose a candidate or a candidate's position if the group making such communications are not doing so at the behest of a candidate or candidate's committee (e.g. not controlled or directed by the candidate or the candidate's committee). (See Government Code §82031.) Independent expenditures in support or opposition to a candidate are not required to be reported by the candidate or the candidate's committee in their Campaign Statements. However, Independent Expenditure Committees are subject to State reporting requirements regarding contributions and expenditures, which are submitted to the Fair Political Practices Commission and made available for public inspection. (See Government Code §§84101(c), 84200 et. seq.) Page 4 of 6