The Hill
written by Alicia M. Cohn
Wednesday April 4, 2012
Ron Paul's presidential campaign regularly reports expenses well below the $200 minimum to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and in at least 160 reports so far in the campaign has reported purchases costing a dollar or less.
Paul's diligence goes beyond the letter of the law and is unusual for a presidential campaign, according to an analysis by the nonprofit investigative news site ProPublica.
"We take the trust our donors place in us very seriously and are deeply committed to transparency and accuracy in our reporting," Paul's campaign manager Jesse Benton told ProPublica.
Paul's reports show a range of expenses, including bank fees, 22 cents at FedEx, $1.09 for office equipment at the Dollar Tree in Baton Rouge, a $1 toll on the Florida turnpike and $26.72 for catering from a Little Caesars pizza in Colorado on New Year’s Day.
Under FEC rules, campaigns are required to disclose expenditures of more than $200, yet, according to ProPublica, few campaigns track every dollar below that line.
But Paul has campaigned on his desire for increasing government transparency, particularly in financial decisions. According to ProPublica — which found similar results when looking at Endorse Liberty, a super-PAC supporting Paul — the candidate lives out his advocacy in his campaign.
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CNN Political Ticker
written by Gregory Wallace
Friday March 16, 2012
GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul kept his winless campaign afloat in February by spending nearly $300,000 more than he raised in the same month, according to a monthly financial disclosure his campaign filed with the Federal Election Commission on Friday.
Paul’s February spending of $3.54 million outpaced his fund-raising of $3.27 million, and he ended the month with $1.36 million in the bank. His campaign reported carrying no debt.
His February haul included a $1.7 million “money bomb” which the campaign reported mid-month.
February saw nine Republican contests – more than the four in January – and Paul had no wins, but two second-place finishes. CNN estimates he won 26 delegates in February, and currently has 69, far behind front-runner Mitt Romney, who has 498.
Paul has focused his efforts on caucus states, which to date have given him the majority of his delegates.
In January, the candidate reported raising $4.5 million – the same amount rival Rick Santorum reported that month.
February financial disclosures are not due to the FEC until March 20.
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