FEC restricts use of 'soft money'

Washington Times ^ | 2/19/04 | Steve Miller

[kattracks]

The Federal Election Commission yesterday voted 4-2 to place restrictions on political advocacy groups with no expressed party affiliation that use "soft money" to influence elections.

At the same time, the six-member commission delayed a decision on a campaign-finance law that prohibits money from big businesses and unions from going to tax-exempt groups that are connected to political parties.

[The Shrew]

The Republican chairman of the commission, Bradley Smith, chastised his party yesterday for pushing for a prohibition of soft money after blocking campaign-finance reform efforts for years.     "It is not our place to measure the law in partisanship," said Mr. Smith, who was nominated to his post in 2000 by President Clinton.     "Frankly, I'm disappointed that my party seems to be afraid to combat this campaign on ideas. If they think they can win by silencing their opponents, I think they are going to lose," he said.

What kind of a Republican gets nominated by Bill Clinton?

Thanks for posting this Kattracks! You're a credit to this site!

Regards,

TS

[Moosehead]

So does this mean no more kids in a sweatshop from Moveon.org?

[sourcery]

Be careful what you ask for: you may get it.

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[GeronL]

"Today's ruling effectively shuts down illicit 527 groups that operate in the shadows by using unregulated soft money to influence federal elections," said Ed Gillespie, Republican National Committee Chairman

This won't make the left happy.

[GeronL]

That recommendation was denounced by supporters of Democrats, particularly a coalition of 324 special-interest and advocacy groups

Yes!!!!

[GeronL]

The coalition, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's National Voter Fund, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund, sent commissioners a letter saying that any restrictions "would entirely shut down many of the advocacy activities of our organizations."

I have trouble accepting unelected bodies making laws, but this doesn't seem so bad =o)

This should be in FRONT PAGE NEWS!!!

[aposiopetic]

What kind of a Republican gets nominated by Bill Clinton?

Sort of like Bill Cohen at DOD.

[Howlin]

OMG, it's THIS GUY:

http://www.commoncause.org/publications/june99/060399_brennan.htm

Remember him??????

[kcvl]

Hillary is not going to be happy that her group of Hollywood liberals can't contribute to defeating President Bush, especially Soros. ROFLOL!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Today's ruling effectively shuts down illicit 527 groups that operate in the shadows by using unregulated soft money to influence federal elections," said Ed Gillespie, Republican National Committee Chairman.

I wonder if there is a list of these 527 groups out there some where.

[Howlin]

Look at my #10........remember him?????

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

No doubt there would be Ketchup/Heinz Foundation "Charitable" money in 527 groups too.

[Howlin]

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Oppose the Nomination of BRADLEY SMITH to FEC

March 3, 2000

Dear Senator,


On Wednesday, March 8, the Senate Rules Committee will conduct hearings regarding the nomination of Professor Bradley A. Smith to serve as a Commissioner to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

As the Brennan Center for Justice said when this nomination was originally offered by the Republicans in 1999, Brad Smith is a wholly inappropriate choice to serve as a Commissioner to the FEC.

The enclosed memo, prepared by the Brennan Center, outlines the facts about Smith and his self-described "radical" position on campaign finance laws and their enforcement.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed Smith neatly summed up his feelings about the nation's federal campaign laws: "The most sensible reform is a simple one: repeal of the Federal Election Campaign Act."

An FEC Commissioner is called upon to uphold, administer, and enforce the nation's campaign finance laws and regulations. Smith, however, has consistently voiced his strong disagreement with the mission of the FEC and the election laws that he would be called upon to enforce as a Commissioner. Indeed, Smith does not disagree with only a few aspects of current campaign finance law; rather he believes that the entire federal campaign finance scheme is fundamentally flawed and unworkable.

As The New York Times wrote in a July 13, 1999 editorial: "Mr. Smith's writings make plain that his agenda as a commission member would be a further dismantling of reasonable campaign limits intended to curb the corrupting influence of big money rather than serious enforcement of current campaign finance laws."

While FEC Commissioners must administer and enforce the nation's campaign finance laws, Smith has a long, documented history of vigorously opposing them. A decision to appoint Smith as an FEC Commissioner would be tantamount to voting to repeal the Federal Election Campaign Act.

In short, Smith would be a disastrous FEC Commissioner. The Brennan Center for Justice strongly urges you to reject the nomination of Bradley A. Smith to the Federal Election Commission.

Sincerely,

E. Joshua Rosenkranz
President
Brennan Center for Justice At NYU School of Law

[GeronL]

Mr. Smith is a sensible guy.

There should be no limits or rules about who you give your money to in the election process.

But it should all be PUBLIC INFORMATION.

[The Shrew]

Oh man! Thanks for the reminder!

Regards,

TS

[GeronL]

The coalition, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's National Voter Fund, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund, sent commissioners a letter saying that any restrictions "would entirely shut down many of the advocacy activities of our organizations."

That would be these TYPES of groups.

[AmericanVictory]

It may not survive the constitutional scrutiny it is sure to get because it sets up the FEC to pick and choose among causes.

[yoe]

"No doubt there would be Ketchup/Heinz Foundation..." Oooh yes indeed!

Teresa Heinz Kerry: Bag Lady for the Radical Left
By Ben Johnson
FrontPageMagazine.com | February 13, 2004