FEC approves candidate's use of campaign funds for childcare
NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The Federal Election Commission announced Thursday that NY congressional candidate Liuba Grechen Shirley could use campaign funds to pay for childcare.
Shirley, a mother from Long Island and Democrat who wants to replace Republican Rep. Peter King in Congress, told Newsweek that her babysitter was "just as important as my campaign manager."
According to the the FEC's Act and Commission regulations, candidates can use campaign funds for specific purposes including "ordinary and necessary expenses."
In their response to Shirley, the FEC wrote, "The Commission concludes that your authorized campaign committee may use campaign funds to pay for the childcare expenses described in your request because such expenses would not exist irrespective of your candidacy."
The money can only be used during the campaign. Shirley was the full-time caregiver to her two young children before running for office.
She immediately took to Twitter to announce the decision:
"WE WON! Thank you to the FEC Commissioners for their unanimous vote to approve our request to use campaign funds for childcare! This is a game changer for women and parents considering a run for office."
In another Tweet Shirley wrote, "It's time to remove the barriers that hold women back."