New Fundraising Scrutinized

Washington Post ^ | 11/21/03 | Thomas B. Edsall

[TastyManatees]

House Republicans took aim yesterday at the fundraising vehicle that Democrats hope will help them equalize the money battle in the upcoming campaign -- organizations dubbed in political circles as "527s" or "501s," for sections of the tax code.

Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Administration Committee, was granted the power to subpoena leaders of six organizations seeking to mobilize voters in support of Democratic candidates after they refused to appear before the committee. Ney said they had "thumbed their noses" at the panel but declined to say whether he would exercise his subpoena power.

[TastyManatees]

As well it should be. I commented on one specific case involving George Soros a little while back. Democrat organizations appear to be blatantly violating campaign finance laws they supported wholeheartedly just a year or two ago. Groups such as MoveOn seem to be operating under the well-used legal principle of "we can probably get away with it". This issue is radioactive, and it is nice to see Congress paying attention to the aftermath of the campaign finance reform craze, even if congressional hearings are unlikely to lead to any serious penalties or criminal charges.

Tasty Manatees

[HarleyD]

Did anyone except John McCain really believe campaign finance reform would really work?

[gulfcoast6]

President Bush put the hurts on McClan in the President race and McCain will hold this agaist him forever. I just wish that his home state would get the true picture of him and put him out to pasture.