Senate approves Republicans' choice for Federal Election Commission
From CNN Producer Dana Bash
May 24, 2000
Web posted at: 5:09 p.m. EDT (2109 GMT)
Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved the nomination of Bradley Smith
to serve on the Federal Election Commission, despite objections from Democrats who say his opposition to regulating campaign fund-raising makes him
unfit for the post.
By a vote of 64-35, the Senate confirmed Smith, a Republican nominee
sponsored by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), a chief foe of limiting campaign
contributions.
Democrats, who up until now had blocked Smith's nomination from coming
before the Senate, relented after Republicans agreed to allow votes on more
than 60 of President Bill Clinton's nominations, including 16 judges.
Smith, a law professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio,
fundamentally opposes regulating campaign contributions. He said in his
confirmation hearing in March, however, he would respect current election laws.
But supporters of tighter campaign fund-raising restrictions called Smith
an "anarchist" who supports an unregulated system.
"He favors no laws," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota). "This
is not the Marshall who will save the day in Dodge City ... confirming Brad
Smith is more like asking Billy the Kid to preserve the peace."
McConnell called Smith "ethical" and argued his nomination was important
to maintain balanced views in the FEC. He urged his colleagues to vote based on
whether Smith is qualified, and not to use the nomination as a "litmus test"
for campaign finance reform.
"Smith's understanding is that he has to enforce the laws, even when he
doesn't agree with it," said McConnell.
McConnell and the majority of the Senate also voted to approve the
Democrats' choice for FEC Commissioner, Danny Lee McDonald, by a vote of 98-1.
Democrat Russ Feingold, (D-Wisconsin), a campaign finance reform leader, took a
jab at his own party, pointing out the irony of the rush to vote on Smith early
in order to attend a record-breaking soft money fund-raiser.
"Tonight the Democratic party will host the largest fund-raiser in
history ... the party expects to rake in 24 million dollars in one night," said
Feingold. "Can anyone honestly say that the donors who give that money will get
no special treatment in return? We all know this money can be corrupting."
President Clinton sent the Smith nomination to the Senate earlier this year
in what White House spokesman Jim Kennedy called a nod to the tradition of
Republicans choosing half of the six commissioners.
Kennedy denies Clinton sent up Smith's nomination as part of a "quid pro
quo" for confirmation of his judges, though soon after Smith was nominated,
Senate Republicans ended their opposition to some of the president's judicial
nominees.
Some Democrats, including Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) voted to confirm
Smith -- even though he disagrees with him -- in deference to the tradition that
each party chooses half of the commissioners on the six-member panel.
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