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Senate approves Republicans' choice for Federal Election Commission

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.

FEC

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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Wednesday, May 24, 2000

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