McCain: Fec Must Do its Job in 527S Tomorrow

MCCAIN: FEC MUST DO ITS JOB ON 527S TOMORROW
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement again calling for the Federal Election Commission to end the illegal use of soft money in federal elections by 527 groups: "The Federal Election Commission has one last chance on Thursday to act responsibly and adopt regulations to prevent 527 groups from illegally spending soft money to influence federal elections. "To date, a majority of FEC Commissioners, led by Chairman Brad Smith and Vice Chair Ellen Weintraub, have turned their back on the problems with 527 groups, ignored the nation's campaign finance laws and undermined the interests and rights of the American people. "This kind of irresponsible conduct is contrary to law and cannot be allowed to continue. Commissioners Michael Toner and Scott Thomas put forward a bipartisan proposal to address the problems with 527 groups last May and have done so again. I continue to support their efforts to address this critical issue. "Some Commissioners claimed earlier this year that they did not want to 'change the rules' in the middle of an election. While I think that argument is wrong-headed and legally unsupportable, the FEC General Counsel's current proposals before the Commission would not take effect until after the 2004 election. Accordingly, that excuse for FECdelay is no longer available. "There is no conceivable justification for the FEC to fail to act on Thursday to make clear that 527 groups who are out to influence federal elections must comply with federal campaign finance rules. "The proposal put forward by three obstructionist Commissioners yesterday, Commissioners Smith, Weintraub and David Mason, is a travesty. They would have the FEC continue to ignore the central legal question before the FEC-what groups qualify under existing law as federal political committees, and must therefore register and use hard money for their political activities. "The FEC has had this question before it for over three years, and it is at the heart of the 527 issue. The law and binding Supreme Court precedent are indisputable-groups whose 'major purpose' is to influence federal elections must register as federal political committees and comply with federal campaign finance laws, including the restrictions on the contributions they can receive. "For these three Commissioners to refuse yet again to define when a group has to register as a federal political committee is an abdication of their sworn responsibilities, and makes a mockery of the campaign finance laws. I hope they will come to their senses and do their jobs, out of embarrassment at their failure to be responsible public officials so far, if for no other reason."