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Difficulty: HardGifts, Gratuities, Political Contributions, and Outside Business Activities

Under MSRB Rule G-37, if a Municipal Finance Professional (MFP) makes a $200 political contribution via a check drawn on a joint checking account to an issuer official for whom the MFP is entitled to vote, and the check is signed by both the MFP and their spouse, the contribution does not trigger a two-year ban on negotiated municipal securities business for the MFP's broker-dealer.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is True. When a political contribution check drawn on a joint account is signed by both joint owners, MSRB Rule G-37 attributes the amount equally between the two individuals (100each),whichkeepstheMFPwithinthe100 each), which keeps the MFP within the 250 de minimis allowance for candidates for whom they are eligible to vote.
The statement is correct because MSRB Rule G-37 attributes joint account contributions equally between joint account holders when both sign the check. The MFP's resulting 100contributionfallsbelowthe100 contribution falls below the 250 de minimis threshold for candidates for whom the MFP can vote.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the attribution of the political contribution drawn on a joint account under MSRB Rule G-37.
Because both the MFP and the spouse signed the check, the 200totalissplitequally(200 total is split equally ( 100 attributed to the MFP and $100 to the spouse).
MSRB guidance explicitly states that joint account checks signed by both parties are split 50/50, whereas checks signed by only one owner are attributed 100% to that signer.
2
Evaluate the MFP's attributed contribution against the MSRB Rule G-37 de minimis exemption limits.
The MFP's attributed contribution is $100 to an official for whom the MFP is entitled to vote.
The de minimis exception permits MFPs to contribute up to $250 per election to candidates for whom they are eligible to vote without triggering a ban.
3
Conclude whether a two-year prohibition on negotiated municipal securities business is triggered.
No ban is triggered because 100doesnotexceedthe100 does not exceed the 250 threshold for an eligible candidate.
The firm remains eligible to engage in negotiated municipal securities business with the issuer.

Key Concept

MSRB Rule G-37 Joint Account Contribution Attribution and De Minimis Voting Exceptions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Gifts, Gratuities, Political Contributions, and Outside Business Activities