Are firms receiving Troubled Assets Relief Program funds spending the money on lobbying?  Senators Feinstein and Snowe have proposed legislation addressing this issue, according to this press release.  The legislation is here.  The law would ban use of TARP funds for “political contributions,” a term defined in the law.  Under the definition, would the law ban contributions to political parties?  National parties and federal accounts of state and local parties cannot accept corporate contributions.