http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/fec/ en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:54:13 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416139/posts Feingold, McCain, Lieberman Introduce Resolution to Reverse FEC’s Action to Gut Corporate Jets Provision. WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to reject a Federal Election Commission regulation that would effectively gut Congress’ work to crack down on Senators accepting rides on corporate jets. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the FEC’s decision and require it to redraft the regulation. In the regulation published in the Federal Register on December 7, the FEC undermined Congress’ decision in 2007 to... U.S. Sen. John McCain, RINO-Ariz. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416139/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:54:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409605/posts J.D. Hayworth yesterday took to the airwaves to pummel Grant Woods for filing a complaint with the FEC against the talk show host and potential Senate candidate. Woods alleged Hayworth is pulling in $540,000 a week in corporate in-kind contributions from KFYI/Clear Channel for using his show as a campaign platform. The response came in true talk show form as Hayworth called Woods an “ambulance chaser” who cashed in on a tobacco settlement lawsuit that was sold as a public health measure. “You’re even lower than some bacterial forms of algae, and that’s saying something,” Hayworth said, before chiding Woods... The Arizona Capitol Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409605/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:04:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408632/posts Link only, per FR copyright rules The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408632/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:29:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394054/posts By now, millions of Americans are familiar with Anita Dunn, who recently resigned her post as Barack Obama’s White House Communications Director after it was learned that she had previously cited Mao Zedong, the late Communist dictator and mass murderer, as one of her “favorite political philosophers.” By contrast, few people know anything substantive about Dunn’s husband, Robert Bauer, who has replaced Gregory Craig as President Obama’s White House Counsel. Craig resigned abruptly on November 13, after having repeatedly denied, for weeks, that he had any plans of stepping down. A 1976 graduate of the University of Virginia School of... Front Page Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394054/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:36:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2384636/posts A local architecture firm that recently won an $8.3 million federal contract to redesign a U.S. border crossing in California is being investigated by the Federal Election Commission for irregular campaign contributions to Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who is up for re-election next year. Henderson resident Randy Spitzmesser prompted the FEC probe of his former employer, Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects. On behalf of the architecture firm, Las Vegas attorney Stan Hunterton told the Las Vegas Review-Journal by fax last month, "We do not believe that anything was intentionally done wrong" regarding campaign finances. Spitzmesser also thinks Henderson-based Tate Snyder... LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2384636/posts#comment Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:54:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2367704/posts From http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/P80003338/ at FEC.gov, it shows you the information for “Contributions Made by This Candidate’s Committees” and “Committees Who Gave to This Candidate,” but it won’t show you any information for “Individuals Who Gave to This Candidate.” After a couple minutes of waiting, you’ll be presented with the page, “Failed to open page.” It's been this way as early as July 2009. It does show you which individuals gave to John McCain. Detailed information here: http://fauxcapitalist.com/2009/10/20/fec-dot-gov-wont-show-you-which-individuals-donated-to-president-obama/ Faux Capitalist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2367704/posts#comment Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:14:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343149/posts WASHINGTON – Independent advocacy groups will be able to spend more money to try to influence federal elections under a decision Friday from a federal appeals court that overturned rules limiting nonprofits' campaign spending. Three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington agreed with Emily's List, a nonprofit that backs women Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, that the regulations limited free speech rights. The Federal Election Commission enacted the rules in 2005, after concerns were raised about the amount of unlimited "soft money" contributions used to fund attacks in the 2004 election. The FEC said nonprofits would... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343149/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:28:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338745/posts The First Amendment, as rewritten under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except if it is funded by a corporation, unless it is a media corporation, or if the speech occurs just prior to an election, unless it is in the form of a book, which, even though the law covers books, too, the Federal Election Commission would never apply that law to books because we say so, though we said something entirely different a couple of months ago." In an apoplexy of righteous indignation over... The Las Vegas Review-Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338745/posts#comment Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:11:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2336028/posts The SCOTUS today appeared poised to strike down at least a portion of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of '02, after a majority of justices fiercely questioned Solicitor Gen. Elena Kagan and an atty for the legislation's sponsors, including Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI). The case -- Citizens United v. FEC -- was first heard by the court on 3/24, but, in an unusual move, the court held over the case and ordered a re-hearing before the start of its Oct. term. Citizens United, a nonprofit advocacy org, produced a 90-min. film titled "Hillary: The Movie" meant... National Journal's Hotline On Call http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2336028/posts#comment Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:43:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2334219/posts The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear arguments from campaign finance reform advocates and opponents in a case many insiders say will be the most significant decision in more than 35 years. The case the court will hear, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, has the potential to overturn key elements of campaign finance law that prevent corporate spending on elections, a move that would open the door to millions of dollars that could not be spent previously. “This is the biggest case in campaign finance law, really, since Buckley v. Valeo in 1976,” said Rob Kelner, a partner at... The Hill, Washington, DC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2334219/posts#comment Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:47:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330160/posts THE Supreme Court seems poised to reshape cam paign-finance law, affirm ing fundamental First Amendment rights by overturning restrictions on corporate political speech when it rehears Citizens United v. FEC next Tuesday. At issue is whether the government can ban distribution of a political documentary, "Hillary: The Movie," produced by Citizens United, a conservative group that received some corporate funding to make the film. The government argues that it can -- relying on a 1990 case, Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, that upheld a state law banning corporate political spending, and McConnell v. FEC, the 2003 case that upheld... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330160/posts#comment Wed, 2 Sep 2009 10:11:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326860/posts ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Federal Elections Commission has found that former Gov. Sarah Palin's political action committee gave excessive contributions to two well-known Republicans. The problem is highlighted in a letter sent to SarahPAC treasurer Tim Crawford. Crawford told The Anchorage Daily News that the problem has been fixed. He said SarahPAC has sorted out the $5,000 contributions to Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, and the campaigns have already refunded $200 each. Crawford blamed the problems on election software used to deal with required disclosures. . . . . . Crawford said SarahPAC has redesignated the $5,000 going... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2326860/posts#comment Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:00:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312692/posts WASHINGTON - Organized labor gave more money to congressional campaigns than any other interest group at a time when overhauling health care and easing the ability of unions to organize sit atop Congress’ agenda. Union political action committees shelled out $11 million to lawmakers during the first six months of this year. Ranking second were health care interests, which gave $9.5 million from Jan. 1 through June 30, according to a CQ MoneyLine analysis of the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). While labor PACs were the top contributors in the previous election cycle, the health care industry... CQ Politics via MSNBC.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312692/posts#comment Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:32:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307467/posts The Securities and Exchange Commission accused Bank of America on Monday of misleading investors about plans to pay billions of dollars in bonuses at Merrill Lynch, the troubled brokerage giant it bought last year. The development once again turns an uncomfortable spotlight on a defining moment of the financial crisis — the ill-starred merger of Bank of America and Merrill — and on Bank of America’s embattled chief executive, Kenneth D. Lewis. The $50 billion merger, completed at the behest of federal officials, has been the subject of heated hearings in Congress, as has the question of who knew what,... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307467/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 22:58:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307233/posts Bank of America has agreed to pay a $33 million penalty to settle government charges that it misled investors about Merrill Lynch's plans to pay bonuses to its employees. AP/YahooNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307233/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 17:40:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2293545/posts Lou Dobbs reported tonight that the Federal Election Commission does not require any proof of citizenship to run for Presidency. Lou Dobbs Tonight/CNN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2293545/posts#comment Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:25:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2291836/posts That's right, five months -- not six --  bacause as Allah notes at Hot Air -- SarahPAC wasn’t fully operational until the end of January: "By comparison, Romney’s PAC raised $1.4 million through the end of May, but then fundraising is pretty much Mitt’s full-time gig these days and he already has a polished team around him left over from the primaries. Let’s see what happens in the second half when he and Palin go toe-to-toe." Not only that, but as Meg Stapleton told Politico: SarahPAC was actually 'dark,' meaning it took in no money, from a period in mid-April... RedState.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2291836/posts#comment Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:44:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284926/posts Pair Try to Force Naming of More Commissioners. BY DAN EGGEN Seven years after their landmark campaign finance legislation became law, Sens. John McCain and Russell Feingold are reuniting under the banner of spending reform at a time when restrictions have come under fire both in the courts and at the embattled Federal Election Commission. McCain (R-Ariz.) and Feingold (D-Wis.) announced this week that they were blocking the appointment of Democratic union lawyer John Sullivan to the FEC until President Obama agrees to fill two other open panel seats. The two senators, who co-sponsored legislation in 2002 that banned "soft... The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284926/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:47:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283861/posts An investigator at the Securities and Exchange Commission warned superiors as far back as 2004 about irregularities at Bernard L. Madoff's financial management firm, but she was told to focus on an unrelated matter, according to agency documents and sources familiar with the investigation. Genevievette Walker-Lightfoot, a lawyer in the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, sent e-mails to a supervisor, saying information provided by Madoff during her review didn't add up and suggesting a set of questions to ask his firm, documents show. Several of these questions directly challenged Madoff activities that much later turned out to be... WaPo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283861/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 04:33:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2245379/posts FEC Complaint Filed To Cancel Hillary Clinton 2006 Immunity Deal New Evidence Offered of Hillary Clinton’s Admissions To Raising Illegal Funds May 2, 2009, Washington, DC. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, Harold Ickes and the Hillary Clinton for Senate Committee, Inc. have become the subjects of a new Federal Election Commission Complaint filed today. An original FEC complaint was filed against then-Senator Clinton and her agents including President Clinton, DNC Chair Ed Rendell, Finance Director David Rosen and Treasurer Andrew Grossman in July 2001. It detailed the facts surrounding the illegal solicitation and false reporting of... hillcap site http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2245379/posts#comment Wed, 6 May 2009 15:28:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2241669/posts Like any individual citizen, corporations have a stake in the outcomes of federal elections. A candidate’s economic, foreign, social and environmental policies can either threaten or provide hope for a particular organization. The stakes for corporations aren’t necessarily greater than those of the individual, but they are on a greater scale of complexity and scope. It’s no surprise, then, that corporations have long played a role in influencing the outcome of federal elections. For as long as campaign finance has existed, corporations have been a part of it – pushing the candidates who are best for business to the top.... Conservative Brawler http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2241669/posts#comment Fri, 1 May 2009 01:06:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232850/posts Al Sharpton and his group, the National Action Network (NAN), have been fined $285,000 by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for violating a host of election laws during Sharpton’s 2004 presidential campaign during which he received 2% of the Democratic primary vote. NLPC, which filed Complaints against Sharpton on February 2, 2004 and February 6, 2004, was notified of the FEC action last week and make it public today. As NLPC Chairman Ken Boehm was quoted in the New York Post today: We are pleased that the FEC has ruled on our Complaint and found that Sharpton ran an “off... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232850/posts#comment Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:11:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232775/posts The Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network have been slapped with a record $285,000 fine for violating a slew of federal election rules during his 2004 bid for president, the Post has learned. In a decision to be made public next month, the Federal Election Commission found that Sharpton's Democratic primary campaign accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from private sources. It also "kept poor records of its activities and expenditures" and commingled funds with Sharpton's civil-rights group. All are prohibited under the Federal Election Campaign Act. Earlier this month, Sharpton and former campaign manager... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2232775/posts#comment Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:19:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2229206/posts Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) is asking the Federal Election Commission for permission to use up to $7,500 in campaign funds to pay for increased security at his home, charging that he and his wife have repeatedly been harassed by an alleged drug addict. In a request to the FEC, Gallegly recounts a months-long ordeal for his family that began on Oct. 23, just two weeks before Election Day. According to FEC documents, a man approached Gallegly’s wife at their home, claiming to be a gardener. Gallegly’s wife told the man that she had no work for him and asked him... POLITICO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2229206/posts#comment Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:23:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219632/posts On Mar. 24, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Citizens United v. FEC, the latest installment in an ongoing series of challenges to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), better known as McCain-Feingold. This case has far-reaching implications for the future of campaign activities, and draws an important line between the right of citizens to speak out and the power of government to imprison them if they do. The group Citizens United produced a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton during her failed presidential campaign. (Citizens United also made a similar film about Barack Obama, though this lawsuit focused on the... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219632/posts#comment Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:30:42 GMT