WASHINGTON — Note to political candidates: The Federal Election Commission doesn't want fundraisers using your name in vain. Even if you're the one getting the cash.
At stake are joint political fundraisers, a common practice for politicians and their party organizations to cast a wider net for campaign dollars. To do that, they must register a joint fundraising committee with the FEC to account for their contributions and their spending. The word"victory"or something equally upbeat is usually in the committee name, so is the year of the election as in"Victory 2006."
To distinguish themselves from other"Victory 2006"committees, fundraisers have been attaching the candidate's name. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., raised money through the"Chafee-Rhode Island Victory 2006."Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., relied on the"Santorum Victory Committee."Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, tapped the"Mike DeWine Victory 2006."And so on.
Not so fast, says the FEC. In letters to the Chafee, Santorum and DeWine joint fundraising committees and a handful of other candidate-related groups, the FEC warned that such eponymous organizations violate federal election regulations. The letters have been addressed to the same Republican campaign finance veteran, Keith Davis of Arlington, Va., the treasurer of more than 20 joint fundraising committees.
"We don't understand the FEC's argument,"Davis said."These are indeed committees that are authorized by the candidates. We have full confidence that they have the right to use the candidate's name."
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Davis is hardly alone. The FEC has been demanding that joint fundraising committees eliminate candidates'names for some time, to no avail. Whenever the FEC cites one section of election law to make their case, treasurers for the committees respond by citing another section that upholds their argument. With no resolution, the committees ignore the admonitions.
Democrats created a Kerry Victory 2004 joint fundraising committee in March 2004 toraise money for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign. Within weeks, the FEC demanded a change in name. Earlier this month, the committee filed its required monthly report. Its name? Still the same: Kerry Victory 2004.
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WASHINGTON (AP) _ Say New Jersey, and people think Bruce Springsteen, the hit HBO show"The Sopranos,"and what exit on the Turnpike. Say New Jersey politics, and some people think corruption.
Talk of wrongdoing shadows the tight Senate race between Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and Republican Tom Kean Jr., with the GOP challenger questioning Menendez's association with two state officials under ethics investigations. The Democrat has accused Kean of bending the law by accepting contributions from gambling interests.
Menendez has defended his campaign finance chairman, Joseph Simunovich, the subject of a state investigation into whether he violated ethics laws as head of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Simunovich has acknowledged taking flights on a private plane owned by one of the authority's largest contractors.
The Democrat also has vouched for state Attorney General Zulima Farber, who is being investigated on allegations that she used her influence in a traffic stop involving her boyfriend. She said she made a mistake but will not resign.
Menendez said recently that he has known both Simunovich and Farber for a long time and they both have distinguished records of public service.
"I'm simply saying that the processes should work out. As a lawyer, I was trained that people have their day in court, and their opportunity to have a process worked out,"Menendez said.
Kean campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker called Menendez"simply a magnet for corruption."
"Part of this is a function of Menendez being around so long _ he's been in politics essentially for all of his adult life,"said Montclair State University political scientist Brigid Harrison."You're going to know people who went to jail, people who were indicted, and also know more noble people as well."
Rider University political scientist David Rebovich said Kean painting Menendez as a political boss"is a tag Jerseyans can understand and relate to."
Menendez has criticized Kean, a state senator, for accepting $11,000 in campaign money from companies with gambling interests. Casinos are prohibited by New Jersey law from giving contributions to state officials and candidates since the state regulates them. However, they can contribute to candidates running for federal office.
Menendez campaign spokesman Matthew Miller said Kean"doesn't have the standing to lecture anyone on ethics"because he's taken casino money.
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Associated Press Writer Donna De La Cruz contributed to this report.
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