One topic we’ll discuss with next week’s panel is the dismal state of affairs at the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The agency charged with enforcing our campaign finance laws has been moribund by the failure of the Senate to confirm pending nominations that would give the Commission its quorum (it currently has only two of six members). Senate Democrats oppose Republican FEC nominee Hans von Spakovsky because he allegedly refused to attack voter identification laws while at the Department of Justice. Liberal opposition to his nomination has not diminished even in the face of the recent Supreme Court decision which upheld the right of states to require some form of identification for voters. As a result, Republicans have refused to budge on Democratic nominees to the FEC, which is supposed to be made up of Democrat and Republican appointees.

So the FEC has been unable to issue decisions or levy fines, as it lacks the necessary 4-person quorum. A recent effort by the White House to break the impasse has led to even more controversy. The White House sent the Senate a new slate of nominees that included von Spakovsky but did not include current FEC Chairman David Mason. Democrats are screaming that Mason is being pushed out of the FEC because he is at odds with Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign. (They’re probably right.)

This partisan struggle exposes so much about the way this corrupt city operates.

Can one really expect the FEC to fairly administer our nation’s campaign finance laws when the members of its governing body are appointed according to the rules of naked political patronage?

New JW Panel: “Election 2008: What the Media Isn’t Telling You”

Next Thursday, May 15, Judicial Watch will host an educational panel entitled, “Election 2008: What the Media Isn’t Telling You.” The panel will be held here at 1:00 p.m. in the National Press Club (in Washington, DC) and will feature special guests Jim Bopp, Attorney for Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom; Cliff Kincaid, Editor of the Accuracy in Media Report; and Curt Levey, Executive Director of the Committee for Justice.

Our discussion will highlight issues being downplayed by much of the media during this election season, including political scandals, problems in the campaign finance system, and current and future battles over judges.

If you are interested in attending next week’s panel, we would love to have you join us. (All of Judicial Watch’s educational panels are free of charge.) To register, email or call 202-646-5172.

Tom Fitton
http://judicialwatch.org/