DNC Ends Ban on Money From Legal Residents

WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee decided as expected Saturday to abandon its self-imposed prohibition on taking money from legal permanent residents of the United States.

The ban on taking money from permanent residents, who can legally make political donations even though they can’t vote, was adopted in the wake of controversy during the 1996 elections over contributions from foreign donors.

The DNC’s executive committee approved a recommendation to lift the ban at its meeting here.

The DNC has already junked its pledge to limit donations to $100,000 and is considering getting rid of a ban on contributions from U.S. subsidiaries of foreign firms--the final self-imposed rule adopted after the 1996 election in hopes of quieting the uproar over the party’s activities.