Nader/Gonzalez Calls on McCain to Act to Break FEC Logjam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Driscoll
202-360-3273
chris@votenader.org
http://www.votenader.org
NADER/GONZALEZ CALLS ON MCCAIN TO ACT TO BREAK FEC LOGJAM
The Nader/Gonzalez campaign today called on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the Republican National Committee to move to break the logjam at the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
It takes four FEC commissioners to certify candidates to receive federal matching funds. But the FEC currently has only two commissioners in place. The Republicans and the Democrats can't get past their differences to allow two more nominees to take their seats at the FEC. As a result the FEC has no quorum.
Sen. McCain wrote last month saying the FEC wanted to turn down matching funds. The FEC said they would not be able to rule on whether Sen. McCain could withdraw unless four commissioners voted on it. Again, there is no quorum.
"There is an obvious solution," said Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader, "Sen. John McCain, a champion of campaign finance reform, should demand that the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee urge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to lift the blockade and break this log jam in the Congress. Sen. McConnell (R-Ky.) is the problem because he refuses to hold up-or-down votes on each of the four nominees for FEC commissioner. Candidates have been waiting for the Federal Election Commission to respond to their requests for rulings and advisory opinions for months now.
"The only candidate that has the power to begin to turn this around and put the tax-payer funded Federal Election Commission back to work again is Sen. John McCain," added Mr. Nader. "He has told the American people that he is decisive. That is not what his record of inaction has been during these past several months regarding the lack of quorum at the frozen Federal Election Commission.
"It's time now to act."
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