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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
Posted by Reverend Edward Allen on April 17, 2003 at 13:00:44:
REV. EDWARD ALLEN Federal Election Commission To Whom It May Concern: This letter serves as formal notice to the Federal Election Committee (“FEC”) that New Jersey’s 13th District Congressman, Robert “Bob” Menendez (“Mr. Menendez”) is in BCRA places limits on the amounts and types of funds that can be raised by Federal candidates and Officeholders for both Federal and State candidates (See 2 USC 444 I In § 300,60 the Code mandates that restrictions apply only to “Federal candidates and officeholders, their agents, and entities directly or indirectly established, maintained, or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, any such candidates(s) or officeholders(s).” It is beyond contention that Mr. Menendez holds a Federal office and therefore a recitation of the definition of “Federal Office” will be dispensed with. In addition\, Donald Scarinci is Mr. Menendez’ long time friend and Treasurer and otherwise agent, and therefore his conduct is limited by the rule as well. Pursuant to Code § 300.61, a Federal candidate or officeholder is prohibited from, soliciting, receiving, directing, transferring, or spending non-federal funds in connection with an election for federal office, including funds for any federal election activity described in 11 CFR 100.24. (After opening this section to debate, the Commission added the word “disburse” to the list of covered activities in § 300.61). Importantly, according to Code § 300.62, any federal candidate or officeholder, his or her agent, successors or assigns is prohibited from: In their comments for this provision, and specifically in connection with the restrictions on the solicitation and spending of non-federal funds by federal officeholders, the co-sponsors of the bill stated that these provisions were part of a “system of prohibitions and limitations on the ability of federal officeholders and candidates, to raise, spend and control soft money [in order] to stop the use of soft money as a means of buying influence and access with federal officeholders and candidates.” See 148 Cong. Rec. S2139 (Daily Ed. March 20, 2002) (Statement of Sen. McCain). Accordingly, the Commission has allowed candidates to solicit, receive, direct, transfer, spend or disburse funds in connection with federal and non-federal elections only There are several exceptions to the fundraising prohibitions for non-federal candidates, as well as for federal candidates and officeholders attending, speaking, or appearing as a featured guest at fundraising events. (See, respectively 11 CFR 300.63 and 300.64). After much debate as to the proper involvement a federal candidate may have at a fundraising event. The following is an excerpt from the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 145, Monday, July 29, 2002, Rules and Regulations, and is directly on point: “Accordingly, candidates and officeholders are free under the rules to speak at such functions without regulation or restriction…The Commission concludes, Congressman Bob Menendez has directly solicited funds for the Hudson County Democratic Committee and has even employed his agent, Donald Scarinci, to do the same. It is clear that the law was established just so these types of actions would not be utilized. It is clear that Mr. Menendez, perhaps because of the reputation of Hudson Reverend Edward Allen
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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
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