FEC Votes to Curb Nonparty Donations

[TacticalPeek]

FEC Votes to Curb Nonparty Donations
Stricter Rules Will Go Into Effect in January

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 20, 2004; Page A06

The Federal Election Commission yesterday adopted new regulations that will make it significantly more difficult for independent political groups to continue to raise and spend millions of dollars in contributions for the 2006 election.

The new rules become effective Jan. 1 and will not limit this year's explosion of spending by non-party groups such as America Coming Together and the Media Fund, which are closely aligned with the Democrats, and Progress for America on the Republican side.

"We have done something huge," said Ellen Weintraub, the Democratic vice chairman of the FEC, after the 4 to 2 vote. Scott Thomas, a Democratic commissioner and strong advocate of tough regulation, dismissed the regulations as "tinkering" that "will prove inadequate." Weintraub countered: "It isn't tinkering. It's a big deal."

The FEC adopted two major regulations.

The first involves fundraising solicitations. If an appeal to a prospective donor "indicates that any portion of the funds" will be used to support or oppose a federal candidate, then the maximum that can be contributed would be $5,000. Currently, groups that refer specifically to President Bush and John F. Kerry are raising contributions that in some cases exceed $10 million. A group raising money for both federal and nonfederal candidates must raise at least half of its funds in amounts of $5,000 or less, according to the new rules.

The second rule governs the way the groups collect both "soft money," defined as unlimited donations from corporation, unions and wealthy individuals, and "hard money," defined as limited donations from individuals.


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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17049-2004Aug19.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. In principle I agree with this (although a $100 is better than $5000)

But the loophole big enough to drive a truck through is in the word "indicates."

[w4rma]

2. Note, big media is *owned* by wealthy Repugs. Big media has no such

restrictions about how much money they spend promoting one candidate over another.

[2Design]

3. this is actually going to take the power away from ordinary folks.

rethugs own the air waves and they own schools and the rest of the government at this time....

this needs to all collapse...because it is not working...bush uses the taxpayer money to campaign...the corporates donates millions of dollars and the rest of us little people need a way to funnel money....

So many of the laws they make are just a strangle hold on the masses...

Well on this negative note... I must go ZZZZZzzzzzzz