On the recordMarch 7, 2019
It is a good amendment because it allows the FEC to be represented in an effective way. As to the underlying bill, I can't think of another agency of the Federal Government, commission, where you have an even number. Most have an uneven number so you don't have deadlocks. We are deadlocked at the FEC. They are dead in the water. Is it because of bipartisanship? Right now there are two Republican commissioners, one Democratic commissioner, one independent commissioner, and two vacancies. They can't make a decision. There are backlogged cases that go on for years. This is really a disservice to America to not be able to play that cop on the beat, because it is a completely dysfunctional agency. We need to change that. And that is what the underlying bill does. It allows a nonpartisan career staff to make initial fundings. It provides that there can be no more than two commissioners in the same party, so we are not going to have a partisan takeover. And then it allows the commission to overrule the nonpartisan staff, if necessary. We need reform at the FEC. This amendment is part of it, and I credit the gentleman for offering it.
