Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - FixTheFEC.org

The FEC is operational again, but don't expect any decisions anytime soon

crew — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:40:37 -0500

CREW has been calling for a functioning FEC for awhile now. Finally, the Senate has approved the full slate of Commissioners, but don't expect any decisions anytime soon:

“The FEC moves at a snail’s pace,” said Richard Hasen, an election law expert a Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “People think the FEC wakes up in the morning and just starts issuing rules on things it doesn’t like,” Hasen added. “It just doesn’t work like that.”

The commission has been unable to issue rulings since January due to a standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats over nominees that left it without a working quorum. But the decision last month by former Republican Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky to withdraw his nomination quickly ended the deadlock.

The Senate confirmed five nominees Tuesday. An FEC spokesman said they will be sworn in within days.

With one holdover commissioner, Democrat Ellen Weintraub, and five new ones, the commission faces pressure to hit the ground running.

The Democratic National Committee has filed a complaint with the FEC charging McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, committed himself to remaining in the public financing system through August by using the prospect of having the money as collateral for a loan. As a result, McCain has broken the law by spending private funds, the DNC charged.

A spokeswoman said a related DNC lawsuit filed Tuesday aims to “make it clear this issue should be at the top of the FEC’s agenda.”

McCain’s camp calls the lawsuit a publicity stunt. FEC watchers agree that while the DNC complaint may help highlight the candidate’s maneuvering around laws he has championed, the commission almost certainly will not take a step that affects McCain’s chances before November.

“There is little chance they are going to do anything to hurt a presidential candidate,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

CREW: FEC nominee Donald McGahn must answer questions about role in FEC case against Tom DeLay's PAC

crew — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 12:45:28 -0500

CREW has serious concerns about the nomination of Donald McGahn as FEC Commissioner. We're raised them before at FixTheFEC.org. McGahn is being sued for malpractice in a case stemming from his representation of Tom DeLay's leadership PAC. As Melanie Sloan states so forcefully, McGahn must answer questions about that case:

Before voting on the nomination of Donald McGahn to be a member of the Federal Election Commission, the Senate should require Mr. McGahn to answer questions about his role in a FEC enforcement case against Tom DeLay’s former leadership PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority PAC (ARMPAC). Former ARMPAC treasurer Corwin Teltschik has sued Mr. McGahn for malpractice in federal court for settling the case, which included claims against Mr. Teltschik, without his knowledge or consent. In his complaint, Mr. Teltschik alleges that he may lose his license to practice law in Texas as a result of McGahn’s allegedly improper conduct.

If Donald McGahn committed malpractice in settling a campaign finance matter, clearly he cannot lead the agency charged with enforcing those very same laws. Mr. Teltschik’s case raises questions not only regarding Mr. McGahn’s credentials as a campaign finance lawyer, but also his understanding of legal ethics.

It's time for Mitch McConnell to Fix The FEC.

crew — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:19:00 -0500

Today, CREW launched a new website, FixtheFEC.org, created to prompt Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow for a vote on federal election commissioners that can get the FEC back to policing federal elections business. We are in the midst of the presidential campaign season, but the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has been rendered ineffectual -- unable to perform its function, to administer and enforce campaign finance laws. Melanie Sloan explains:

CREW’s site features a letter that can be emailed from FixtheFEC.org directly to Sen. McConnell’s office. It also posts all of the FEC complaints that have not been addressed this year. Currently, there are nineteen.