FEC

FEC Fined Realtors $78,000 for Burr Campaigning

In a little noticed action in 2007 the National Association of Realtors was fined $78,000 by the Federal Election Commission for violations of election law including $282,500 spent on mailings and advertisements expressly advocating the election of Richard Burr for Senate in 2004. The FEC found that the National Association of Realtors 527 Fund failed to register and file disclosure reports as a Federal political committee and accepted contributions in violation of Federal limits and source prohibitions. In total the NAR 527 Fund spent $2.8 million advocating the election of 9 federal candidates in 2004 including Richard Burr, their favorite son Johnny Isakson, a Georgia realtor, and the disgraced Rick Renzi.

The campaigning for Richard Burr spurred the complaint by one North Carolina man, Thomas Strini, of Mint Hill, and subsequent enforcement action by the FEC.

Kissell Triples Cash on Hand, Hayes Doubles Expenditures

Teacher and congressional candidate, Larry Kissell, has narrowed the money gap with Multi-millionaire congressman, Robin Hayes. The gap is still huge, but the great news is Larry Kissell is not only in a better position in the polls at this point this cycle, but he has five times the staff to run his ground game, three times the cash on hand and Robin Hayes has more than doubled his expenditures in order to........run about even with Larry.

Elizabeth Dole and the FEC

"Maybe Elizabeth Dole doesn't stand by her ad because she knows that for the past six years she hasn't been standing up for North Carolina's families."

Today the NCDP filed their second ethics complaint in a week against Elizabeth Dole. This time its Federal Election Law that Elizabeth Dole has violated. For more, continue below the fold.

Congressional Dem FEC Filings - Overview

Our congressional candidates have entered their busiest campaign and fundraising schedule. The end of year reports are in and I've been curious whether Democrats were having an easier time raising money now that they are in the majority. If so, is that showing in the fundraising numbers of the challengers as well?

Generally, our Democratic congressmen have had some success with their fundraising. Only Mike McIntyre has less cash on hand this cycle compared to the same reporting period last cycle. Of course, Mike McIntyre has a larger war chest than any other North Carolina Democrat serving in congress or running for congress.

Federal Election Commmission Fiesta

I'm going to bring your attention to two articles that have posted recently concerning the FEC. The first was posted on November 27 in the Charlotte Observer and the second is found on MSNBC. Both are Associated Press articles and are worth a quick read.

I won't spend too much time picking them apart, but it's safe to say that I will be spending a lot of time delving into FEC records over the next several weeks and I wanted to give you a basis for why I am spending my holidays checking out GOP donors.

In the first article I linked to, Newt Gingrich endorses eliminating McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms, saying they infringe on First Amendment rights. Now, I want to protect our First Amendment rights as much as the next person, and making a campaign contribution does make a statement and is a type of expression, but, hell, so is leaving someone's gray matter oozing from their eye sockets after you've blown their brains out. I wonder if Newt thinks we should protect murderer's rights to express themselves, or pedophiles, or thieves and will we continue to put limits on exactly how they can express themselves?

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