GOP Seeks Curbs On '527' Groups

The Washington Post ^ | March 16, 2006 | Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Jonathan Weisman

[yoe]

House Republican leaders proposed changes in lobbying laws yesterday that would include a crackdown on independent, big-money committees that heavily aided Democrats in the 2004 elections.

[snip] Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), recently elected House majority leader, has argued that it is far more important to increase disclosure requirements for lobbyists and lawmakers than to limit their interaction. But in a surprising development yesterday, House GOP leaders decided to try to intervene in a fast-growing sector of campaign finance that has mostly benefited Democratic candidates.

[snip] Instead, the groups would be governed by federal campaign finance laws that would restrict such giving to a total of $30,000 from individuals per year. By contrast, during the 2004 election cycle, Soros gave $27 million and Lewis gave nearly $24 million to Democratic-oriented 527 groups, according to PoliticalMoneyLine, a nonpartisan research company.

[Mo1]

later read

[XR7]

This just shows the stupidity of our "campaign finance" laws.
An individual (not PACs or corporations) should be free to give any amount he wishes to his favorite candidate (with full public disclosure).
It's a free country.
Instead, the law limits how much an individual can give, and PAC and corporate giving proliferates unchecked.

[TexasCajun]

C.F.R., brought to you by "The Maverick" Republican and the "ImpeachThePresident" Democrat.

[So Cal Rocket]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

What part of "no law" don't these people understand????

[yoe]

Please read that article and this one: (Saipan's Willie Tan & Hillary)

[proxy_user]

Actually, I believe an individual is free to pay for whatever campaign ads he wants, without any restrictions. But he must act as an individual, not as a committee or an agent for someone else.

[XR7]

Actually, I believe an individual is free to pay for whatever campaign ads he wants...

But you can only legally contribute $2000 per year to a candidate directly.

[eureka!]

McVain is an idiot bump....

[Wristpin]

"What part of "no law" don't these people understand????"

The Supreme Court has already ruled the "Money" doesn't equal "Speech".

[Wristpin]

Correction:

The Supreme Court has already ruled THAT "money" doesn't equal "speech".

[Leatherneck_MT]

This CFR needs to make a revisit to the SCOTUS. I have a bit more confidence it will be trash canned than I did before.

[Phlap]

Thanks to John Mcpain(The Lone Republican among the Keating 5 to be caught with their hand in the Cookie Jar)the congress passed, the president signed and the SCOTUS upheld a clear rebuke of the constitution. With laws and lawmakers like this I grieve for your democracy.

[Oh Brother]

Expect the MSM to come out against this.

[Hank Rearden]

Republican parasites hate competition from 'Rat parasites.

Our entire government needs an enema, top to bottom.

[Tree of Liberty]

But he must act as an individual, not as a committee or an agent for someone else.

What's proper about that limitation? If I want to peaceably assemble with others of like mind, and we wish to spend our money in concert, who are you to stand in the way?

[proxy_user]

I'm just stating what the current situation is. No endorsement is implied.

[Tree of Liberty]

I misunderstood you, then. Thanks for clarifying.

[montag813]

Banning Gambling. Castrating 527s. Raising the debt limit. What the hell kind of priorities are these? Did y'all vote for this?

I don't care how much MoveOn.org raised last cycle...it didn't work. But OUR 527, the SwiftBoat Vets, in my opinion made the difference. Without that 527, the weak Bush campaign could well have lost that election. The Swifites killed Kerry. Leave the damn 527's alone.

[montag813]

Expect the MSM to come out against this.

As should we all.