cross-posted at Brad's BrainLooks like 72nd District VA House of Delegates candidate Republican Jimmie Massie, he of the Family Foundation of Virginia, doesn't seem particularly well-versed in the Code of Virginia. That's the list of laws and stuff that Massie is ostensibly running to have some say in.
The Republican Jimmie Massie sent out a campaign flier, advertising a "PACs and Corporations Breakfast Fundraiser" for his campaign last week. The problem: he refused to put the mandatory disclaimer on the ad, saying who sent and paid for the ad. You can see the actual ad in a scanned version by clicking this link: massie-invite.pdf.
The law as articulated in the Virginia Campaign Finance Disclosure Act (pdf) (Title 24.2, Chapter 9.3, 9.4, and 9.5 of the Code of Virginia) states in Chapter 14 - Political Advertisement Disclaimers, Section 1 that, "A disclaimer statement is required for all political advertisements which uses [sic] express advocacy to support the election or defeat of a candidate or group of candidates." It covers what it's not required on, such as yard signs, buttons, referendum ads, etc. but then covers what it "IS Required on" such as "advertisement disseminated through the mail," "fliers," and "pamphlets."
And it's not as if this is some weird Virginia quirk. All federal campaign ads have the same requirements, as you can see in this section at the Federal Election Commission website. It's the reason you hear that little "I'm..., and I approve this message" at the end of commercials.
The penalty in Virginia for such illegal actions is a $1,000 abuser fee -- er, I mean, fine -- via Chapter 15, Section 2 of the Virginia campaign finance code(pdf). (It's $2,500 if it occurs less than 14 days before Election Day.) But here's a fun fact: in Indiana(pdf) it's a "Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine, not more than one (1) year imprisonment, or both)." Ha! Massie's one lucky cat indeed.
You can visit his opposition Tom Herbert at his campaign site, or you can donate via his campaign or ActBlue page.