Campaign finance law sponsors sue FEC for refusing to block 'soft money'..

[Khephra]

Campaign finance law sponsors sue FEC for refusing to block 'soft money' groups in presidential race

WASHINGTON -- Two sponsors of the nation's campaign finance law sued the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday for failing to block the spending of unlimited donations in the presidential race, the second lawsuit the FEC has faced over the issue this month.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington by Reps. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Martin Meehan, D-Mass., accuses the agency in charge of enforcing campaign finance regulations of failing to do its job.

"The commission has once again 'subverted' the law," the lawsuit says. It asks the court to order the FEC to adopt rules limiting fund raising and spending by groups active in federal races.

Shays and Meehan were the lead House sponsors of a campaign law in effect for the first time this election cycle that broadly bans the use of "soft money" _ corporate, union and unlimited contributions _ in presidential and congressional races. The Senate sponsors, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., planned to file briefs supporting the lawsuit.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--shadowparties0914sep14,0,7534593.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire