Election Panel Won't Impose New Spending Limits on Groups

WASHINGTON, May 13 — The Federal Election Commission today refused, for now, to put limits on independent political groups that collect and spend millions in unlimited contributions, opening the way for advocacy groups supported by Democrats and Republicans to play a dramatic role in the 2004 elections.

The decision to postpone the rules for 90 days was a victory for a group of Democratic organizations that have played a critical role supporting Senator John Kerry, spending tens of millions to bolster his campaign as he emerged from the primaries.

It was a setback to Republican efforts to maintain the party's financial advantage by shutting these groups down. Many now say the decision will force them to begin matching Democratic fund-raising efforts, using advocacy groups of their own to raise millions in unlimited "soft money" donations.

"The 2004 election is going to be the wild west," said Michael Toner, a Republican commissioner whose efforts to introduce tighter regulations were defeated by a vote of 4-2. "We are going to see Democratic groups and Republican groups taking full advantage of the legal landscape. Tremendous sums of soft money are going to be raised and spent on both sides."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/politics/campaign/13CND-FEC.html?hp

Yes!! Freepers must be having an aneurysm over this!!

The repuke big boys are the ones with unlimited funds. And they've stolen theirs, fair and square, with the neocons at the helm. Every fundie millionaire in the country will see this as gloves-off time.

I just wish the whole debate hadn't come up, but now that Pandora's Box has been opened, yep.....it's going to be the Wild West of election raids!


:kick::kick::kick::kick:

527 is my favorite number!

These groups are the only way to equalize the funding gap between Bush and the Democrats.

I just wonder what will happen in 90 days? The 527s need to shift into high gear.

Great news!

MoveOn RULES!!