Obama, Kerry, Feingold and Sherrod Brown threaten to block FEC nominees

[FrenchieCat]

Democrats threaten to block FEC nominees, possibly paralyzing panel
By Alexander Bolton
December 11, 2007

Leading Senate Democrats, including Barack Obama (Ill.) and John Kerry (Mass.), say they will not allow a slate of nominees to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) through the Senate in the days before congressional adjournment, threatening to freeze during a presidential election year the agency tasked with policing campaigns.

If the Senate does not confirm the four-person slate in the next several days, the recess appointments of three commissioners will expire at the end of the year, leaving only two members on the commission in 2008.
<>
Obama and Kerry, as well as Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have placed holds on the slate because one of the nominees, Hans von Spakovsky, a GOP appointee, has come under fire because of his record while at the voting section of the Department of Justice.

“Based on his record at the FEC and at the Department of Justice before that, Hans von Spakovsky does not deserve Senate confirmation,” said Feingold in a statement Monday. “It is unfortunate that President Bush and Republican Senate leaders are playing chicken with this important agency with the ’08 campaign in full swing. The president should nominate someone who has the respect and support of senators on both sides of the aisle. It is up to him whether the FEC will have enough commissioners to function next year.”

The impasse puts Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) at odds with his colleagues. Reid wants to see the nominees confirmed in part because one of them, Steven Walther, is a longtime friend who represented him in the legal battle following his narrow 1998 reelection. Reid won after a recount gave him a victory by 428 votes.

Obama may be able to enlist the support of other high-profile Democrats in blocking the nominations. Sens. Edward Kennedy (Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and Chris Dodd (Conn.), three influential members of the Democratic Conference, have voiced grave concerns over von Spakovsky.

The controversy over his approval stems from a letter signed by six former members of the Justice Department’s voting section who charged that von Spakovsky undermined the department’s “mandate to protect voting rights.”

By placing holds on the nominee, Obama and his colleagues have essentially threatened to filibuster the package of FEC nominees when it reaches the floor in the next week or two. The question is whether Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could marshal enough support to quash debate, or whether Reid would even try to defeat the opposition of the only black senator on a civil rights issue.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-threaten-to-block-fec-nominees-possibly-paralyzing-panel-2007-12-11.html

[ClarkUSA]

1. Nice! For more on how much Obama has been fighting for OUR voting rights in the Senate....

Read "Obama Champions Voting Rights": http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/11/191151/01/185/420863

Say, where's Clinton, Biden, and Dodd on this issue? Hmmm?

[Tellurian]

9. Where have you been.. Hillary has been a strong proponent of Voters Rights for years..

Hillary has been committed to working with "People for the American Way" right along..


Reforming Elections Comprehensively

"COUNT EVERY VOTE ACT"

Summary of the Count Every Vote Act of 2007 (CEVA)

Title I – Voter Verification and Auditing

* CEVA requires all voting systems to produce or require the use of a voter-verified paper ballot or record suitable for manual audits. The VVPAT constitutes the official record for any recount.

* CEVA requires that at least one machine per precinct must allow voters with disabilities and language minority voters to cast a vote in a private and independent manner.

Title II – Provisional Ballots

* CEVA requires provisional ballots to be counted even if voters are sent to the wrong precinct or polling place, as long as they are voting in the correct county.

* CEVA requires the appropriate state official to treat a provisional ballot form as a voter registration application if he or she concludes that the voter submitting a provisional ballot is not registered to vote in the election.

Title III – Amendments to HAVA

* Long lines - To address the problem of waiting lines at the polls, CEVA mandates that EAC issue standards to ensure that states meet minimum standards for the allocation of voting systems and poll workers for each precinct. States would prepare plans to prevent long wait lines; states with excessive wait times would develop remedial plans with the EAC.

* Emergency Ballots - CEVA would allow voters to cast an emergency ballot if there is a failure while they are waiting at a polling place. Any emergency paper ballot that is cast shall be counted in the same manner as a regular ballot, unless the individual casting the ballot would have been required to cast a provisional ballot.

* No Excuse Absentee Ballots - CEVA mandates that no reason shall be required to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail in a federal election.

* Poll Worker Training - CEVA requires states to provide training to poll workers in advance of elections. The bill also creates a grant program that would provide funds to states for the education and training of poll workers.

* Purging - CEVA requires each state to provide public notice, at least 45 days before an election, of all names removed from a voter registration list. Purging must be done in a form and manner prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission. States must also give individuals an opportunity to cure the problem that led to the purge.

* Election Day Registration - CEVA requires states to permit individuals to register to vote in a federal election on the day of such election.

* Early voting - CEVA requires early voting in each state. This requirement would encourage people to vote by allowing them to vote at times convenient for them and avoid long lines on Election Day.

Title IV – Voter Registration and Identification

* CEVA requires election officials to accept and process registration applications unless there is a material omission of information that specifically affects the eligibility of the voter.

Title V – Impartial Election Administrators

* CEVA makes it unlawful for chief state election officials or those who own or serve as the CEO, COO, CFO or President of an entity that designs or manufactures a voting system to take part in certain prohibited campaign activities with respect to any election for federal office.

Title VI – Ending Minority Vote Suppression

* CEVA allows for a private right of action for individuals or entities to bring suit against those who use deceptive acts to keep a voter from voting. Amends 42 U.S.C. § 1971b to include deceptive acts, and provides for a criminal penalty under Title 18.

Title VII – Civic Participation by Ex-Offenders

* CEVA requires states to end the practice of prohibiting convicted felons who have completed their prison term, parole or probation to vote.

Title VIII – Holiday for Voting

* CEVA requires a public federal holiday on Election Day. This would give more voters time to cast ballots, and allow more qualified people to serve as poll workers.

Title IX – Additional Improvements to Election Procedures

* CEVA would create a study on the feasibility of establishing a “Democracy Index”; a ranking system for assessing and comparing the quality of each state’s election administration procedures.

Title X – Strengthening the Election Assistance Commission

* CEVA extends the authorization of the Election Assistance Commission

* CEVA requires the Election Assistance Commission to submit budget estimates to the Congress.

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=23648

[MadBadger]

2. Wouldnt expect anything less from three of the best senators.

[orleans]

3. 2 questions

1. hypothetical pertaining to this:
"The impasse puts Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) at odds with his colleagues. Reid wants to see the nominees confirmed in part because one of them, Steven Walther, is a longtime friend who represented him in the legal battle following his narrow 1998 reelection. Reid won after a recount gave him a victory by 428 votes."

so--we should confirm them so harry can play payback and make up the favor to a friend?


2. who is going to keep the senate in session every third day so that the fuckhead can't do recess appointments?


(and 3. why doesn't spell check recognize the word "fuckhead?" i mean, i use it to reference a particular individual all the time...)

[FrenchieCat]

4. Reid needs to be made to understand

that what is at risk as little relation to his "friendships" and political payback........

Otherwise, try asshole instead of fuckhead.

How does one use "spell check" on this site? I never have, cause I didn't know such a feature was available.

[orleans]

5. when you post to someone (like i'm doing right now writing this)

and you go to the bottom of this message box to click "post message"
before you do that, just look to the left--there's a preview button and a check spelling button. let me know if you find it.

[pleah]

6. Keep the heat on Reid and Polosi

and make them do their jobs.

[blm]

7. It's pathetic that any Dem 'leader' should be MADE to do their jobs with integrity.

.

[pleah]

8. I know.

It is very sad.