The Federal Election Commission voted on Thursday to allow legally married same-sex couples to make joint campaign contributions to federal candidates, following a Supreme Court decision last month that gay couples were entitled to the same federal benefits as straight couples.
Under existing rules, a husband or wife can make a political contribution in the other’s name, even if the other spouse does not have any income of his or her own. The new advisory opinion extends that right to same-sex spouses married in the District of Columbia or one of the 13 states that permit gay marriage, in effect doubling the amount that many gay couples will be able to contribute to candidates. The commission also voted to allow candidates who are in same-sex marriages to use assets jointly held with their spouses to finance campaigns.
The ruling came in response to petitions from Dan Winslow, a candidate in the Republican primary in April for the special Senate election in Massachusetts, and from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
