FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling

by Todd Beeton, Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 03:24:10 PM EST

After the public had an opportunity to comment on the prior FEC draft advisory ruling on the question of whether John Edwards's ActBlue contributions should be eligible for federal matching funds (the prior draft ruling found No,) FEC commissioner Ellen Weintraub has submitted an alternate draft (pdf), which would find in favor of Edwards.

The Commission concludes that credit card contributions made over the Internet by individuals using ActBlue's website and subsequently forwarded to the Committee by ActBlue may be eligible for matching funds under the Matching Payment Act and Commission regulations.

As I said yesterday, no matter whom you support for president, such a ruling would be a victory. It's currently being debated by the FEC.




Tags: 2008 presidential election, Democratic primary, John Edwards, FEC, ActBlue (all tags)

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Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (none / 0)

I agree.  Hopefully the net result of this will be the FEC and ActBlue getting together and change whatever it is that worries the FEC in terms of co-mingling funds and timely dispersal and create something which can stand as a precedent without destroying  the good intentions of ActBlue.


by Piuma on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 03:31:45 PM EST

Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (2.00 / 1)

My favorite line from the new draft?

The Commission received an unusual number of comments on this request.

It's almost as if a large number of people read the front page of Daily Kos.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 03:33:48 PM EST

Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (none / 0)

Bad news
http://www.dailykos.com/

"If you want to end war and stuff, you gotta sing loud"...Arlo Guthrie
by nogo war on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:03:18 PM EST

Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (none / 0)

Sucks, but I think Edwards said they would still get $10M in matching funds somehow.  


by benny06 on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:06:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (none / 0)

I should add..before all the "what a sap Edwards was/is"

Edwards believes we have to fight to take the power back.
Donations at his website..no link necessary..are still fine.

At least...going into 2008 we know. This may not have happened so soon without the Edwards initiating the situation.


"If you want to end war and stuff, you gotta sing loud"...Arlo Guthrie
by nogo war on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:07:53 PM EST

Re: FEC Considers Alternate ActBlue Ruling (none / 0)

Disagree.  In going to some of the links provided before to the FEC site, I saw some Obama stuff and looked into what that was all about.  People probably don't remember, but early on Obama pledged that he would abide by campaign financing rules if his eventual Republican opponent did the same.  Specifically he was taking about a scenario which could happen if McCain got the nomination and the two of them could take that step together.  Obama's campaign wrote to the FEC and sought a preliminary ruling about how they would need to handle the GE funds they may collect during the primary to make sure they were matchable under the FEC ruling if they chose that path.

This is what the Edwards camp should have done before making the arrangement with ActBlue.  No matter how you spin it, it was a failure in being cautious and in anticipation, by the Edwards advisors.  It's a pretty big mistake.


by Piuma on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:13:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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