Comments on: DNC Sues FEC Over McCain, Redux

By: cboldt

cboldt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:37:02 +0000

Just in case somebody wants to explore the statute further … In 26 USC (tax Code) …

CHAPTER 96–PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MATCHING PAYMENT ACCOUNT

By: cboldt

cboldt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:32:43 +0000

Make that 26 U.S.C. 9042 … the fine is levied by statute, not by regulation.

By: cboldt

cboldt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:23:06 +0000

The operative section, I think, is 11 CFR 9042. I haven’t found the text of it online.

By: cboldt

cboldt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:12:51 +0000

“The major penalty for violating the spending cap after agreeing to take the public subsidy is that you have to repay the government money.”

McCain didn’t take any government / public money.

http://www.campaignfreedom.org.....detail.asp

I haven’t sought or found the operative statutory or regulatory language to back up the basic assertion, that the bulk of the penalty is repayment of government money.

By: looseheadprop

looseheadprop — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:49:39 +0000

Joe Sandler held a conference call today about this. I was on it. A reporter from Politico raised the same issue that you brought up. Acccording to Sandler (I got the tens of millions of dollars quote from him) the fine can range up to the full amount that the candidate has gone over the limit and in this case, according to Sandler, that ranges in the tens of millions of dollars.

No one is saying that’s what fine will be assessed, just what the range is that is available.

By: cboldt

cboldt — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:45:10 +0000

The only thing McCain/Feingold and public election financing have in common is that both are administered by the FEC.

The fine(s) for the violation that McCain is accused of is trivial - it sure isn’t tens of millions of dollars, more like tens of thousands. There is also a criminal penalty, but chances of that being attached are slim to zero, closer to zero.

When the FEC is reconstituted, it will be evenly split, DEM and GOP. That is by design.

By: looseheadprop

looseheadprop — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:39:56 +0000

If the case does not bog down proceduraly, it could provide a resource drain on the McCain campaign. Plus it reminds us all about how McCain came to sponsor the legislation in the first place–to get out form under the fallout of the Keating five mess

By: CarolynU

CarolynU — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:23:34 +0000

In other news, our favorite federal prosecutor…..MARRIED !!!

[…bursts into tears…] I mean, congratulations to the happy couple. Fitz!

I share your pain egregious, but you hafta admit, it’s nice to think of the tall man in the rumpled suit having someone to go home to.

By: CarolynU

CarolynU — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:21:54 +0000

Bbbbut LHP,I thought IOKIYAR?

By: Teddy Partridge

Teddy Partridge — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:16:43 +0000

His district designation while he made this mockery of a speech made me laugh! Surely residents of San Diego, Oceanside, Vista are enthusiastic about drilling offshore!

What a tool! How’s the Hamilton campaign going?