What is meant by “soft money”?

Soft money is a term used to describe money that is donated to political candidates and parties, but is not subject to the limitations and regulations that typically apply to most political donations. This money is often used to fund certain types of political advertisements, such as “issue ads” that don’t explicitly support a candidate. This kind of money is especially important in the state of Washington because of the state’s tight regulations on the amount of money individuals and corporations can donate to campaigns. Soft money is intended to be used for more general election-related activities. It can’t be used to explicitly support or oppose a candidate, nor can it be used for directly promoting a specific candidate or issue. It’s still subject to regulations, but it’s usually much easier for donors to donate soft money than it is to donate hard money. The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission handles the reporting and regulation of soft money. Candidates and committees must disclose how much soft money they receive and how it is used. This helps the public and state government keep track of how the money is being spent and ensures that candidates and parties are not using it for illegal activities.

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