Here's the Difference Between State and Federal Campaign Finance Laws

Vice President Joe Biden is coming to town next month to raise money for U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby), who faces a tough re-election against state Rep. Scott Bruun (R-West Linn) in Oregon's Fifth Congressional District .

Here are the financial details of the July 8 fundraiser:

Reception: $200 per person

Host: $5,000 per person

Hosts are invited to a special VIP reception

For this event, contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents, political action committees, or minors under the age of 16 are prohibited.

The voluntary prohibition of money from lobbyists and PACs mirrors President Obama's policy of distancing himself from special interest donors. And in the federal system, individual donors are limited to a maximum gift of $2,400 per election per candidate.

Oregon is currently one of only five states that place no limits on political contributions in non-federal races. Limits in Oregon—including a voluntary prohibition on lobbyist and PAC money—would change politics here entirely, ending commonplace big dollar gifts such as the $15,000 that Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro) reported yesterday from the Oregon Beverage Political Action Committee, which has been busy lately.