Comments on: Why Is The FEC Discriminating Against Unity 08?

By: PatHMV

PatHMV — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:47:00 +0000

So far as I’ve seen, Unity ’08 is going out of the way to claim it is NOT a political party. So why is it complaing that the FEC is not treating it as a political party?

And why don’t they take this opportunity to realize just how screwball campaign finance reform laws are and object to the whole ball of wax. Like it does with so many issues, Unity ’08 wants to have it both ways on this issue.

Just by whining about this issue, they have moved away from their original promise to discuss only issues of critical importance to the American people, and not the normal political finger-pointing.

By: ascap_scab

ascap_scab — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:58:14 +0000

In looking at the FEC / IRS rules. Donations to the Political Committees (RNC, DNC, etc.) are not tax deductable. Unity ’08 is currently registered as a 527 “issue” tax-exempt group. Unity ’08′s plan is/was to remain a 527 until the selection of nominees in 2008, at which time they would then switch to Political Committee status.

http://www.clcblog.org/assets/attachments/aor2006-20.pdf

During Unity ’08′s Request for Advisory Opinion comment period, they stated that were self-limiting contributions to $5,000. In doing so, I think the commissioners were willing to set that limit while Unity ’08 remains a 527.

http://www.clcblog.org/assets/attachments/AO_2006-20_Blue_Draft_Packet.9.29.06.pdf

http://www.fec.gov/agenda/2006/approve06-65.pdf

In the draft ruling, the FEC, I think correctly, ruled that Unity ’08 would have to register as a Political Committee and thus removing its tax-exempt status. Presumably when it does so, contributions to Unity ’08 will then be made equal to the other Political Committees.

Here is the FEC final ruling.

http://ao.nictusa.com/ao/no/060020.html

What is telling, I think, is that those in charge of Unity ’08 chose not to share these documents while crying foul.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 21:22:39 +0000

Um Glen, you did read the part where Unity ’08 said they were already limiting incoming contributions to $5,000, right? That would strike me as inconsistent with “scrabbling for some obscene money of their own”

By: Glen Wishard

Glen Wishard — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:47:36 +0000

So a 25K contribution is an “obscene” amount, and 5K is a monstrous injustice? Instead of scrabbbling for some obscene money of their own, maybe Unity 08 should propose limiting everybody to $5,000 contributions.

By: Richard Winger

Richard Winger — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:23:47 +0000

The FEC recognizes 8 parties as “national committees”. They are the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Socialist, Constitution, Green, Natural Law and Reform Parties. They can all receive contributions of $25,000. In the past, the FEC has refused to recognize a party as a “national committee” until AFTER it has been on the ballot and run a presidential candidate and a few candidates for Congress. So it is consistent that Unity.08 can’t be a “national committee”. But it is outrageous for the FEC to put any limits on Unity.08 at all, since it is not sponsoring or in any way boosting any particular candidate.

By: Alan Stewart Carl

Alan Stewart Carl — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:51:15 +0000

Looks like the FEC is treating Unity ’08 as a PAC, probably considering it a form of multi-candidate PAC. Guess the question is, does Unity ’08 consider itself a political party and did it file as such? I wonder what restrictions exist for say the Libertarian Party or Constitutional Law Party. If those are also restricted to $5000 contributions, then we’d really have to question what trick the FEC is trying to pull. But if those other parties are allowed contributions up to $25,000, then it would appear Unity ’08 should have filed different paperwork if they wanted higher limits.