FEC proposes plan to curb political groups (Dems upset -527 +501c3)

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=676&e=5&u=/usatoday/20040305/ts_usatoday/fecproposesplantocurbpoliticalgroups

FEC proposes plan to curb political groups

By Jim Drinkard, USA TODAY

Federal election officials proposed new rules Thursday that could sharply curb the activities of private political groups intent on influencing this year's presidential election.


<snip>That is because it could expand the number of political groups that fall under the FEC's regulations. Any group that has as its "major purpose" the influencing of federal elections could be made subject to a contribution limit of $5,000 from an individual, rather than the unlimited contributions they now receive.


<snip>Democratic commissioner Ellen Weintraub, who dissented in the 5-1 vote to propose the rules, said Republicans are behind the push to curb the groups: "It is an attempt to box the commission in and force us to respond to their agenda."


The FEC is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. It takes four votes for the commission to take any action. A decision on whether to regulate the outside groups is expected in May. If the ruling goes against the groups, a court challenge is likely.


NOTE: While the proposed regulations, drafted by the agency's general counsel, would severely crimp the fundraising and spending activities of "527" groups, named for the section of the tax code that governs their activities, advocates of the tough regulations suffered a setback when a Democratic commissioner in a position to cast the key swing vote said she is likely to oppose any changes in the rules that would take effect before the November elections