We will file suit [against the
Federal Election Commission]," said James Bopp,
a GOP election lawyer who has made a career out of suing the
FEC and representing groups such as the
Christian Coalition, the National
Right to Life Committee and a number of other
conservative
organizations.
"We have been laying the groundwork to do
that,"added Bopp, who also represents the tax-exempt
James Madison Center for Free Speech, an
organization that, according to its Web site, supports "litigation
and public education activities in order to defend the rights of political
expression."
McConnell is honorary chairman of the group and Bopp
serves as general counsel.
"I believe in preparation," Bopp said of an
anticipated court battle, which would be launched in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia, with McConnell named as a lead
litigator.
The GOP attorney went on to explain that the "three
most vulnerable" sections of the campaign finance bill to legal
challenge are the 60-day ban on mentioning the names
of candidates in issue advertisements, a coordination provision
that "would rended a communication with a
legislator unlawful if you then communicate to the general public
about it, because it would treat it as a contribution," and the restriction on soft-money fundraising by political parties. |
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Other GOP opponents of the bill have questioned other
aspects of it.
Dave Mason, a Republican who is currently chairman of the
Federal Election Commission - which will be responsible for drafting new
regulations contained in the legislation if it passes - said he finds troubling
the so-called millionaire provision contained in
the Senate version.
Mason said the provision may be difficult to enforce,
particularly because it uses a complicated formula with
eight variables and would potentially require audits of nearly every campaign to
ensure compliance.
Source: http://www.RollCall.com/pages/news/00/2002/02/news0218a.html
http://www.FEC.gov/
http://www.Brookings.org/gs/cf/cf_hp.htm
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