Michael Toner Weighs In on $1,000 Giveaway Proposed by Presidential Candidate

September 16, 2019

Michael E. Toner, chair of Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted by The Washington Post and NBC News in coverage of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s plan to give a $1,000 monthly “Freedom Dividend” to 10 randomly selected families for a year. Mr. Yang has said the program, which would be funded by campaign contributions, would demonstrate how his proposal for a universal basic income would work.

Mr. Toner, a former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, said the FEC’s restrictions on the “personal use” of campaign funds would likely prohibit the type of giveaway proposed by Mr. Yang. 

The Washington Post article can be found here.

The NBC News article can be found here.