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Citizens Launch Petition to Regulate 527 Electioneering
Groups Controversial groups such as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and the MoveOn Voter Fund should abide by the same contribution limits that candidates do, according to an Internet petition just launched by the non-partisan watchdog organization TheRestofUs.org. The recently formed group called on independent voters as well as Democrats and Republicans to help "deep six" the 527 loophole that allows these groups to accept massive contributions. The petition can be found at http://www.therestofus.org/527s.htm. "A lot of people are simply fed up with all the negative ads being fueled by huge contributions." said Derek Cressman, director of the group. "Many of these ads are from electioneering groups formed to evade basic campaign finance rules. Rather than relying on politicians and bureaucrats to solve the problem, we're calling on everyday Americans to make their voice heard and force these guys to deep six the 527 loophole." Organized under section 527 of the tax code, electioneering groups have sprung up in opposition to both President Bush and John Kerry in recent months. Most of them get their initial support from a few very large donors, although some go on to raise significant sums from smaller donors. "No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you are probably disgusted with the negative ads being paid for by big money players to attack George W. Bush and John Kerry," said Ned Wigglesworth, an analyst with TheRestofUs.org. "If you're a Republican, you've seen liberal groups spend millions of dollars to attack the President. If you're a Democrat, you've seen ads sponsored by 527s take John Kerry down several points in the polls. If you're an independent, you're fed up with big money on both sides and wish the race would get back to the real issues of the day. Hopefully all fair-minded Americans can agree that a few wealthy interests should not be able to hijack American elections." Prominent examples of large donations to 527s include New York investor George Soros giving $13 million to various groups for efforts to defeat President Bush, and Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens giving $2.5 million to groups attacking Kerry. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 banned national political parties from raising unlimited soft money contributions, but did not prevent outside electioneering groups from doing so. Representatives Marty Meehan and Chris Shays have filed a lawsuit seeking to force the FEC to tighten pre-BCRA definitions, which would bring many 527 groups under its regulations. President Bush has called for an end to the groups and filed a similar lawsuit. John Kerry says he sponsored legislation in congress that would have closed the 527 loophole. Senator Senators McCain and Feingold are introducing legislation to deal with the matter. But nobody is organizing citizens, according to Cressman, which is why TheRestofUs.org decided to launch the petition to deep six the 527s. #-#-#
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