Campaign Finance Sponsors Want FEC Abolished
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The lead sponsors of the nation’s new campaign finance law (search) have a new goal: abolishing the federal agency responsible for enforcing it. Lawmakers including Sens. John McCain (search) and Russell Feingold (search) proposed legislation Thursday that would replace the Federal Election Commission (search) with a new agency. They and campaign finance watchdog groups have long argued the FEC — headed by three Democratic and thould be replaced by a federal election administration, comprised of three members — a chairman and two members — to eliminate the possibility of deadlocked votes. The president would appoint the three, with the Senate’s consent; the two members would be a Republican and a Democrat. Suspected violations of campaign finance laws would be considered by administrative law judges. “It is sad when the agency charged with enforcing the election laws is jokingly referred to as the ‘failure to enforce commission,”‘ Feingold, D-Wis., said in a statement, adding that the public wants the new campaign finance law enforced. “This new agency will provide a new and better structure for achieving that goal.” The FEC, created by Congress more than a quarter-century ago as one of several post-Watergate reforms, enforces the nation’s campaign finance laws, including limits on campaign contributions. More : foxnews.com |