Schock will retain control over millions in campaign fund - News -

 

PEORIA — Though he’s stepping down from office, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock will have the potential to remain a power player in GOP politics thanks to his campaign fund.

At the close of the last reporting period on Dec. 31, the Peoria Republican had more than $3 million in the various funds he controls, from his actual campaign account to his political action committees.

The majority of that, nearly $3.3 million, is in his official Schock for Congress campaign fund. Far smaller amounts adding up to about $60,000 are in his GOP Generation Y and Schock Victory Fund accounts.

It’s not clear how much Schock has spent since that Dec. 31 reporting period elapsed, or how much may be billed for services already conducted but not yet paid.

Lawmakers who retire or step down voluntarily can still access campaign funds for political activities — and in Schock’s case those dollars are also available for covering some of his legal fees in relation to the controversies that have embroiled him since the start of February.

That would enable Schock to, for example, donate to other political candidates — up to the limits allowed by federal law — or give to other causes.

It’s not uncommon for politicians at the state or federal level to do so. Locally, for example, retired state Sen. George Shadid maintained a campaign account after leaving the Legislature in 2006, parceling out small amounts in donations. Only late in 2013 did he decide to close out the account for good and donate what remained to Bradley University at the Institute for Principled Leadership and Public Service.

Others have held onto the cash and used it to attempt to mount political comebacks down the line, while still others have returned it proportionally to donors.

Still others, particularly those who plan retirements like Schock’s predecessor Rep. Ray LaHood, zero out their accounts. Records show that’s what LaHood, whose son Darin announced Wednesday he will seek the 18th District seat, did at the close of 2008.

Some of that money was spent in operation costs, but LaHood also made a hefty series of donations, including to his son’s campaign for state’s attorney, which received $60,000 from his father’s campaign account. The House Republicans’ campaign arm also received some $105,000 in what was labeled “excess campaign funds.”

If he chooses to continue the inquiry into any of his campaign spending and whether past reports need to be adjusted to account for some of the expenditures on trips or other matters that have come up in the last six weeks, he can continue to pay the individuals he hired with his campaign cash to work on that as well.

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