WASHINGTON _ The Federal Election Commission ruled Thursday that a candidate can use campaign funds to pay for child care.
The FEC ruled in favor of Liuba Grechen Shirley, who is running in New York's 2nd District and requested an advisory opinion last month on her requesting to use her campaign funds to pay for child care for her young children while she was involved in campaign activities.
Shirley mentioned in her request before she ran that she worked from home and cared for her 3-year old daughter and 1-year-old son.
"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 FEC ruled.
The commission said the expenses could be considered part of "ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with duties of the individual as a holder of Federal office."
