Posted on 07/03/2009 9:47:04 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Pair Try to Force Naming of More Commissioners.
BY DAN EGGEN
Seven years after their landmark campaign finance legislation became law, Sens. John McCain and Russell Feingold are reuniting under the banner of spending reform at a time when restrictions have come under fire both in the courts and at the embattled Federal Election Commission.
McCain (R-Ariz.) and Feingold (D-Wis.) announced this week that they were blocking the appointment of Democratic union lawyer John Sullivan to the FEC until President Obama agrees to fill two other open panel seats.
The two senators, who co-sponsored legislation in 2002 that banned "soft money" donations and other practices, said in a statement that the agency is "mired in anti-enforcement gridlock. The president must nominate new commissioners with a demonstrated commitment to the existence and enforcement of the campaign finance laws."
Liberal-leaning advocacy groups have complained that enforcement actions at the six-member FEC have effectively ground to a halt amid a partisan standoff between Democratic and Republican commissioners. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is considering whether to uphold a ban on corporate spending in federal elections, which is a key component of the McCain-Feingold statute.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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“Seven years after their landmark campaign finance legislation became law...”
Wow, it’s been seven whole years since money stopped influencing elections, angry advertising ceased to confuse voters, corrupt deals stopped being made, lobbyists went home and got real careers, pork-barrel spending grinded to a halt, and only the most honest and forthright of candidates rose to higher office?
Wait, none of that happened. Everything’s the same, except incumbents have a marginally easier time getting reelcted.
There, It's fixed.
Wanna know why I am no longer a Republican?
See above
What? They are going to team up again to make things even worse? McCain still thinks Feingold is his pal? And that their collaboration is going to do anything for Republicans. Give me a break.
Because McCain-Feingold really put the kabosh on money in politics. Obama raising $750 million showed just how serious Democrats were about dirty money in politics. Notice how the editorial boards and other liberals are stone silent now on CFR? Remember when Republicans had the money advantage and McCain worked feverishly to help destroy that.
Here is what needs to be in any election bill:
1. Public financing all elections.
2. Picture IDs required to vote.
3. Glean election rolls to eliminate duplicate names, dead people and ex-cons and convicted criminals who have lost their right to vote.
4. Investigate ACORN, all its subsidiaries and affiliates and funding for fraud, misappropriation of funds, malfeasance, coersion and RICO provisions.
The Man is Senile. Work for his removal in 2010.
He obviously didn’t take my advice to retire rather than fail in 2010.
And yes, we can all email and tell him . . . We told you so . . . after he loses.
Support the Conservative Candidate running against McCain.
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