WASHINGTON–Could it be donor fatigue? I’ve learned the Obama 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee is poised to take corporate money–reversing its self-imposed 2008 ban. The second Obama inauguration–on Jan 21– will be smaller and far more modest than the first, I am told.
On Nov. 25, 2008, the Obama team announced: “The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced today that it will abide by an unprecedented set of limitations on fundraising as part of President-elect Obama’s pledge to put the country on a new path. Unlike previous inaugural committees, the PIC will not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, current federally-registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents. The PIC will not accept individual contributions in excess of $50,000. Current law does not restrict the size of donations. In past inaugurations, contribution limits have run as high as $250,000.”
