HOUSE MEMBERS AS RESIDUAL CLAIMANTS - CAMPAIGN SPENDING IN THE 1980S

Through 1992, federal election campaign laws and House rules permit U. S. Representatives holding office on 8 January 1980, to personally cla im unspent campaign contributions when they retire, while other House members have to forfeit such sums. These rules provide differential in centives to pre-1980 members to more aggressively seek and yet refrain from spending political contributions than other House members. Regre ssion estimates suggest that the privilege was worth almost $71,700 to the typical pre-1980 House member during the 1987-88 election cycle.