“In the last two decades, Congress and almost all the States have passed laws regulating campaign financing. Analyzing these laws, commentators have delineated the following four legislative goals: stemming the rising costs of campaigns; maximizing the distribution to the public of information about the candidates; equalizing the opportunity of every aspirant to political office; and reducing the potential for corruption by large contributors. Theoretically, a law that achieves *1081 these four goals would be considered an ideal regulation of a privately or publicly financed electoral system.”
“Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of this section shall, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by this chapter, pay to the State a sum equal to twice the amount contributed in violation of this chapter. Each campaign treasurer shall pay all amounts contributed in violation of this section to the State for deposit in the General Revenue Fund.”
“Under the statute, the judge could not fine the accused less than double the tax required for a license to sell spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors, $600; but he could impose a fine in excess of that amount, provided the fine imposed did not violate the bill of rights, which prohibits ‘excessive’ fines. In the case of Frese v. State, 23 Fla. 267, 2 South. Rep. 1, it is held that a fine of $900, under the same statute that the plaintiff in error was convicted under, was not excessive; and we so hold in this case.”
“Any candidate, or any person on behalf of a candidate, who accepts contributions after such candidate has withdrawn his candidacy, after the candidate has been eliminated as a candidate or elected to office, or after the second anniversary of the date the campaign account of such candidate was established, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.”
“Any contribution received by a candidate with opposition in an election or the campaign treasurer or a deputy treasurer of such candidate, or by the treasurer or a deputy treasurer of a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate with opposition or supporting or opposing an issue on the ballot in an election, on the day of that election or less than 5 days prior to the day of that election shall be returned by him to the person or political committee contributing it and shall not be used or expended by or on behalf of the candidate or political committee. Any contribution received by a candidate or the campaign treasurer or a deputy treasurer of a candidate after the date at which the candidate withdraws his candidacy, or after the date the candidate is defeated or elected to office, shall be returned to the person or political committee contributing it and shall not be used or expended by or on behalf of the candidate.”
“Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of this section shall, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by this chapter, pay to the state a sum equal to twice the amount contributed in violation of this chapter. Each campaign treasurer shall pay all amounts contributed in violation of this section to the state for deposit in the General Revenue Fund.”
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