RGA, State Attorneys Square Off Over Nearly $200K Penalty (NC)

[struggle4progress]

POSTED: 6:30 pm EDT June 7, 2005
UPDATED: 6:30 pm EDT June 7, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- <snip>

At the hearing before Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison Jr., the Republican Governors Association asked Morrison to strike down a $196,260 fine the State Board of Elections assessed last fall against the RGA. <snip>

The elections board said the RGA ad was unlawful because the group did not register as a political committee in North Carolina and did not segregate corporate and union contributions from individual donations. Donations of up to $4,000 from individuals and other political committees may be used to pay for ads that advocate for a particular candidate.

The RGA said it did not file as a committee because it believed the ads were issue oriented, and thus did not fall under the state's restrictions.

Board members voted unanimously last fall that the ad expressly backed Ballantine. The commercial in question included the phrase "Patrick Ballantine for North Carolina," which appeared directly above text that read "Paid for by the Republican Governors Association." <snip>

http://www.wral.com/apncnews/4581314/detail.html

[yella_dawg]

1. I can understand how Middle America is duped.

I mean, how can you react to such bald-faced audacity? The only way to protect your sanity is denial.

The old joke: "Who you gonna believe, your loving husband or your lying eyes?"

Same thing. Every day, in every way.

[highnooner]

2. Believe it or not....

Patrick Ballentine is more like a Democrat that Gov. Easley is. This was the one instance where I voted for a Republican candidate in my lifetime.