Posted on 06/30/2008 11:55:26 AM PDT by Red Steel
The Senate confirmed five new commissioners for the Federal Election Commission last night, ending a six-month impasse during which the agency was paralyzed by its lack of a quorum.
"We're finally going to restore the FEC," Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said as the chamber prepared for the voice vote.
The six-member panel has been unable to consider action this election year because only two commissioners were left after three recess appointments expired in December. Democrats blocked consideration of any replacements over objections to one of President Bush's choices, former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky, whom they accused of politicizing cases of voting rights.
The FEC thus could not resolve a range of disputes, including questions about Republican Sen. John McCain's withdrawal from the public financing system during the presidential primaries. And it was blocked from drafting congressionally mandated regulations to force congressional candidates to disclose how much money lobbyists are raising for their campaigns.
The logjam was broken last month when von Spakovsky withdrew his name from consideration.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I was going to praise this action until Reid was happy. lol.
At least 1/3 of those on the panel should have affiliation in a party other than the Republicrats, or no affiliation at all. Until then the FEC will continue to perpetuate the duopoly.
FCC ought to levy fines against Reid for his grating, unpleasant voice. Maybe one up side to an Obama presidency is that if the Dems go down in flames in 2010, Harry can be swept out. They nearly beat him in ‘98.
And that party would be.......?
You apparently don't think the FEC can operate effectively with Republicrat, are you happy with the Democrats on the commission?
Given Reid's lackluster performance as the Majority leader, this Senate session will go down as one of the worst in the history of the United States. Gone is any semblance of representing the wishes of the electorate. The lack of any energy policy is simply criminal.
If Reid is happy, then the FEC will never,never investigate Dem fraud . Fraud has been rampant for the last 3 Pres. elections and voting the dead, felons, illegals, and double-registered voters as Dems routinely do, should be illegal .The FEC is silly, inane and useless since it always takes a year to investigate any so called voting fraud.
Oops, I see this is the FEC. In my previous post I was referring to the FCC. Sorry. In either case, Harry is not only a lefty but he is one of the least telegenic Dems out there. I hope the NV GOP is gearing up to fund a strong challenge to him in 2 years.
Take your pick.
You apparently don't think the FEC can operate effectively with Republicrat, are you happy with the Democrats on the commission?
The FEC was designed by the Republicrats to make sure neither gets an edge over the other. Thus we have a 3/3 composition with four votes needed for a decision. However, this structure ensures that the Republicrats will collude to maintain the current duopoly since nobody else has a voice. Make it nine members, no more than three can be of the same party, seven votes makes a decision.
Must be past the point for McCain to receive matching funds...
The six-member panel has been unable to consider action this election year because only two commissioners were left after three recess appointments expired in December. Democrats blocked consideration of any replacements over objections to one of President Bush's choices, former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky, whom they accused of politicizing cases of voting rights.
They forced out the guy who had been a recess appointment. Now, they are ready to damage McCain using the FEC.
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