Federal Election Commission…The $67 Million Vanishing Government Agency

[The Straight Story]

Federal Election Commission…The $67 Million Vanishing Government Agency

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) may soon be virtually leaderless due to a lack of nominees put forth by President Barack Obama and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

By the end of April, five of the FEC’s six commissioners will be gone because their terms will have expired. Obama is entitled to choose anyone he wants for the commission, although historically the commissioners have been split between three Democrats and three Republicans.

But Obama hasn’t even nominated his three, and McConnell hasn’t offered any names either. And even if the president were to appoint someone, their confirmation would be filibustered in the Senate.

In theory, the FEC performs important tasks. Its mission is to “prevent corruption in the Federal campaign process by administering, enforcing, and formulating policy with respect to Federal campaign finance statutes.” In February the FEC submitted a budget for FY 2012 that exceeded $67 million, most of which goes to pay the salaries of its 375 employees.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Federal_Election_Commission__The_67_Million_Dollar_Vanishing_Government_Agency_110408

[Scuba]

1. The Banana Republic. n/t

[xchrom]

3. +1

[FormerDittoHead]

2. Why bother having it? DIEBOLD can tell us the winners IN ADVANCE! n/t

[valerief]

4. Premier! Now they're a name we can trust. If we're an exploitive, ruling class asshole. nt