FEC Issues New Limits on Big Donations

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20040219/ap_on_el_ge/shadow_parties

FEC Issues New Limits on Big Donations
Thu Feb 19, 3:35 AM ET By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission has set new limits on non-party political groups raising big corporate and union checks, making its first foray into an issue with high stakes for Democrats and Republicans in this fall's elections.
<snip>

The commission will consider the question of whether limits should apply to such groups next month in a formal rule-making process that could determine how much special-interest money flows into the elections. <snip>

Harold Ickes, raising millions of dollars in large individual donations to run ads promoting the election of a Democratic president, said he doesn't believe the ruling affects his group because it isn't under the FEC's jurisdiction. <snip>

Weintraub said the FEC's decision affects only political groups registered with the commission and collecting limited individual donations known as hard money — which they can use for direct candidate support, such as ads calling for someone's election — and also raising soft money, donations they can only use for more limited purposes. <snip>

The commission ruled that when such groups air ads, conduct get-out-the-vote drives or undertake other activities that promote, support, attack or oppose only federal candidates, they must use hard money. If a state or local candidate or the general party ticket also is mentioned, they can use a mix of hard and soft money. <snip>

[bigtree]

1. I wonder how this applies to that first Bush ad that was mailed out?

The 'special interests' one that he neglected to put his signature on?

[papau]

2. good point - it must be - like the medicare nothings changed ad - a public

service announcement.

Maybe we should check with NBC, ABC, and CBS's legal staff as to what is "political"