Bundling Campaign Contributions

"A Bunch of Money Trouble" [October 1] asserts that bundling is a result of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold), which set contribution limits to individual candidates at $2,300.

McCain-Feingold actually increased contribution limits from $1,000 to $2,300. Contribution limits were first imposed by the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1974. However, if McCain-Feingold had adjusted the 1974 limits for inflation, a married couple today would be able to legally contribute $168,000 directly to the Republican or Democratic parties and almost $8,500 to a political candidate like Hillary Clinton. Bundling is simply the political answer to the failure of the law to adjust for inflation. Bundling rose to prominence because it works by allowing like-minded individuals to join together in support of a candidate.

Bradley A. Smith
Chairman
Center for Competitive Politics
Arlington, Va.