White House Announces FEC Nominations
By krempasky Posted in FEC — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Big news on Friday evening, folks.
The President intends to nominate Robert D. Lenhard, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2011. Mr. Lenhard currently serves as Associate General Counsel for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.The President intends to nominate David M. Mason, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2009.
The President intends to nominate Hans von Spakovsky, of Georgia, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2011.
The President intends to nominate Steven T. Walther, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring April 30, 2009.
Ok - good news: Thomas and McDonald have been retired to private life - or will, as soon as the nominations get approved in the Senate. The two most anti-freedom (let's call them "regulators") members of the current commission are out. David Mason, a solid vote on the Commission is renominated.
As far as bad news? Well, we'll just wait for Allison (who, by the way, nailed the surprise nomination of von Spakovsky) to get over here and brief us on the new nominees. As a rule - people with practical experience dealing with election laws (party, campaign, or union backgrounds) tend to have a more realistic (read: skeptical) view of regulations. At least two of the three new nominees I've heard good things about.
On a side note, it is perhaps fitting that earlier today the Pew Foundation announced another attempt to open its bloated coffers to stifle your right to speak. They've got money - but it looks like we've got the votes. Something about a knife to a gunfight...
Update [2005-12-16 22:15:53 by krempasky]: - Oh, and with the news that Michael Toner was elected Chairman of the Commission yesterday, I think we'll have to edit his RedState contribution to reflect that.
I think all in all Mike is right and this is pretty good news. Hans has made a reputation at the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, and that will be a likely source of controversy for the Democrats.
I also sense that he was chosen becasue of loyalty to the administration and because he would not need a time-consuming background check. I don't know that he has any practical experience in campaign finance law, and so initially I am not sure how easy it will be for him to cope with the massive number of new Shays rules up soon for Commission vote. And - since I believe the WH is still on the 527 warpath, I assume he's in favor of exten regulation there, but that has lots of potential consequences for other outside groups besides those we associate with George Soros, so I'd be wary of that path
I do not know either Bob Lenhard or Steven Walther (the Dems) personally, but hear from others that both are capable people. Which is not to say that we shouldn't expect them to be partisan from time to time - but I also think (hope?) they will not be naive, and will understand that in an area rife with the potential for unintended consequences it's best not to get real creative with the law.