Russ Feingold: “this is a whole new procedure invented, I have to assume, because some Members of Congress are, in effect, out to…”

“this is a whole new procedure invented, I have to assume, because some Members of Congress are, in effect, out to ``get'' Mr. Noble and Mr. Surina. Oh, and by the way, there is not a single agency where the Staff Director is a political appointee or has to be reappointed by the commissioners themselves after a set term. Not one. Frankly, Madam President, the inclusion of the Staff Director in this provision in the House Appropriations bill seems to me to be a smokescreen designed to make this provision seem even-handed. What is really going on here, I believe, is that some in the Congress are trying to send a message to Mr. Noble, the General Counsel, and through him, to the Commission. Some powerful members of Congress don't like some of the cases that Mr. Noble has recommended bringing. So they want him out. In recent years, the FEC has undertaken a number of controversial actions in an attempt to enforce the law that the Congress has written. Some of these cases have taken on powerful political figures or groups. The FEC pursued a highly publicized case against GOPAC, a group closely connected to the Speaker of the House. It has an ongoing action against the Christian Coalition alleging that that group illegally coordinated its activities with Republican candidates. And, of course, it has pursued cases and rulemaking proceedings under a more expansive definition of what constitutes express advocacy than some in this Congress believe is appropriate.”