GOP Seeks Curbs On '527' Groups (excited about "crippling" dem orgs)

[Rose Siding]

House Republican leaders proposed changes in lobbying laws yesterday that would include a crackdown on independent, big-money committees that heavily aided Democrats in the 2004 elections.
....
As part of the House GOP proposals, "527" organizations that operate independently of the political parties would no longer be allowed to collect unlimited sums from individuals. Democratic-leaning 527s have accepted tens of millions of dollars from such wealthy backers as investor George Soros and insurance mogul Peter B. Lewis.

Instead, the groups would be governed by federal campaign finance laws that would restrict such giving to a total of $30,000 from individuals per year. By contrast, during the 2004 election cycle, Soros gave $27 million and Lewis gave nearly $24 million to Democratic-oriented 527 groups, according to PoliticalMoneyLine, a nonpartisan research company.

Republicans were excited at the prospect of crippling these groups. "We strongly commend these efforts as an important step towards much-needed reform," said a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

In 2004, Democratic-oriented 527s raised $265 million, compared with the GOP-oriented groups' $154 million.......

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/15/AR2006031502384.html

[fearnobush]

1. Not that they worked.

If the 527 warned about Diebold, maybe we could vote again.

[Maat]

2. But their Swift-Liars and "Progress for America" efforts ..

were 527's.

If they push these through, it will hurt them as much as it will us.

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. But the Swift Boat Liars can buy a $5 ad on Podunk Access and then...

all the "news" shows will play it for free ad infinitum on every network.

[Boo Boo]

11. It will hurt them 111 million dollars less than it will hurt us. /nt

[Maat]

14. I guess that's true.

And I always planned to fight it, but I wonder if they won't be boxing themselves into a corner in the end. I guess we'll see.

Maybe Soros ought to give a big bunch of bucks to his favorite 527's right before the law takes effect (if we are unsuccessful fighting it that is).

[Tiggeroshii]

3. I don't see how this will have trouble passing

Anybody in their right mind should vote for it and understand that it hurts one person as much as ti hurts the others. I commend their actions asmuch as they do, or pretend they do.

[Psephos]

4. 527s are a plague on both houses and should be curbed...

for the good of the country, and not merely for the advantage of one party or the other.

Peace.

[ShockediSay]

5. Sure, and $30K for each registered lobbyist

fair is fair

and lobbyists are crooks IMHO


http://imageshack.us>



http://imageshack.us>

[radfringe]

7. they are REALLY worried

---snip---

Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) said he advocates legislation limiting contributions to 527s, but he added that any such measure should be brought to the House floor on its own. By mixing the 527 issue with the broader lobbying changes, he said, the leadership might politicize the ethics agenda and ensure that the 527 revisions never pass.

"We need some bold action," Shays said. "If we can't show some energy on this, I think you're going to see another party in control" of the House after the November elections.

[wordpix2]

13. Chris Shays will be out come November---Diane Farrell will trounce his ass

http://www.farrellforcongress.com/

[salin]

8. gee, there was so much campaign finance bribing by Abramoff

via 527s... glad they are going to plug the Abramoff problem :eyes:

[NewJeffCT]

9. In the last 10 weeks before the '04 elections

The Republic 527s significantly outspent the Democratic ones.

[donkeyotay]

10. Only slightly off topic, but I've always wondered if GOP television

charges the GOP and d'em dems the same rates.

[wordpix2]

12. fine if they pass it, MoveOn should just form a PAC we can contribute to

[Maat]

15. Something to think about ..

all 527's are PACs, but not all PACs are 527's.

It is tough to get through reading all of that code.