Cronies At The FEC

James Sample
January 05, 2006



James Sample is Associate Counsel in the Democracy Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. The Brennan Center was part of the legal team that defended BCRA at both the District Court and Supreme Court levels.

Last night, with lobbyist Jack Abramoff having entered his second guilty plea in as many days, was a moment begging for integrity in government. Instead, Congress and the White House colluded to deny the American people a public confirmation process for the individuals charged with regulating federal elections. Their action was shameless and straightforward: they used the president’s recess appointment power to sneak through a slate of politically cozy Federal Election Commissioners who will further weaken the already toothless FEC.