Advocacy Grps ( MoveOn) Allowed to Raise Unlimited Funds

[DeepModem Mom]

ON EDIT: The Washington Post and LA Times report this story with a somewhat different slant --

WP, "FEC Moves On Groups Opposing Bush"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52815-2004Feb18.html

LAT, "FEC Ruling Curbs Use of 'Soft Money'"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-money19feb19,1,5049824.story?coll=la-home-politics



NYT, page one, re. Federal Elections Commission ruling:

Advocacy Groups Allowed to Raise Unlimited Funds
By GLEN JUSTICE

Published: February 19, 2004

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 — The Federal Election Commission said on Wednesday that advocacy groups that were established to get around fund-raising restrictions in the new campaign finance law could continue to spend unlimited contributions for television commercials and other communications, though they must do so under far more restrictive rules.

The commission's ruling on so-called 527 committees could have profound effects on the 2004 election by helping Democrats, who have been much more aggressive than Republicans in creating these committees to help the party compete with the Republicans' overall 2-to-1 fund-raising advantage. None of this money winds up in the candidates' hands but it can be used to raise issues and attack or promote candidates by name.

Perhaps the best known of these groups, America Coming Together and MoveOn.org, gained widespread attention when George Soros, the philanthropist and international financier, pledged millions to each. Another organization, called Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values ran television advertisements attacking Howard Dean's presidential bid, showing a close-up of Osama bin Laden and questioning Dr. Dean's ability to compete with President Bush on foreign policy. Robert G. Torricelli, the former Democratic senator from New Jersey and a fund-raiser for Senator John Kerry, helped finance that organization with $50,000.

The Federal Election Commission took up the matter after Republicans filed a request hoping the commission would curtail the use of unlimited donations, known as soft money contributions, by the committees. Republicans object to the use of the committees because it far outraises the Democrats in so-called hard money, which parties raise in smaller increments.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/politics/campaign/19DONA.html

[DeepModem Mom]

1. KIcking very important issue for Dems -- posted early in a.m.

Will the Repubs prevent Soros from using his money to help defeat Bush? Will they stifle MoveOn's ability to use funds for same?

[Just Me]

2. I saw another one of the ads this morning,...it was VERY effective!!!

McCain is apparently freaking out *LOL*!!!

What would we do if we didn't have groups like MoveOn trying to get the truth out to all the American people? I think they are absolutely fabulous!!!!

[Mountainman]

3. I heard that Trent Lott and someone in the house will hold hearings

that they hope will itimidate these groups and slow them down.

[GRClarkesq]

4. Repubs historically hold advantage in raising "hard money"

No more huge single source contributions from someone like Soros.

[jean]

5. last week Andrea Mitchell reported on this and called MoveOn

a "shadow" group...which ticked me off since * is always referring to shadowy figures, shadowy groups, etc.

If there is any group that is more un-shadowy, that is standing out in the full light of day, please let me know.