WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court Thursday questioned whether the Federal Election Commission is undermining the campaign finance law aimed at cleaning up abuses of money in politics.
Examining the FEC's rules implementing the 2002 reform act, a three-judge panel suggested the agency had defined terms on political fund-raising so narrowly that the statute was easy to circumvent.
Is a candidate's comment to prospective donors about the need for $100,000 donations to a state political party a solicitation? Judge David Tatel asked.
It's a "gray area," FEC lawyer David Kolker said.
"That's not gray," Tatel replied.
http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20050512/D8A1NIV00.html