From the Boston Globe

FEC won't limit 'soft money' donations
By Sharon Theimer, Associated Press | May 14, 2004
WASHINGTON -- Federal officials yesterday rejected new limits for political
groups pouring millions into ads and voter drives in the presidential
election, and Republicans predicted that the decision would prompt a surge
in big donations for their side.
Several Democratic groups have already begun spending large donations on
efforts critical of President Bush or supportive of Democratic candidate
John F. Kerry. Republicans had asked the Federal Election Commission to stop
the activities under the campaign law that broadly banned from federal
elections the big checks known as "soft money."
But four of the six commission members refused yesterday to step in, tabling
the issue for at least three months. Even if the commission acts then, it is
unlikely that any new rules would affect the November presidential and
congressional elections.
David Keating -- executive director of the conservative, antitax group Club
for Growth -- said the commission's decision tells major GOP contributors in
essence, "Come on in; the water's fine."
"I think that will reassure a lot of the donors that have been hesitant to
donate to the types of advertising campaigns the club is launching this
weekend on Bush and Kerry's policies," said Keating.
Representative Robert Ney, Republican of Ohio and chairman of the House
Administration Committee chairman, asked commission members to testify at a
hearing next week to explain the decision. Campaign finance watchdogs said
they were considering court action to try to reverse the commission's move.
"The FEC has fundamentally weakened a law it is charged to enforce and has
thereby betrayed its very purpose," Senators John S. McCain, Republican of
Arizona, and Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, said in a written
statement. They are the authors of the McCain-Feingold Act, which seeks to
curb soft money contributions.
Jim Jordan, a spokesman for three pro-Democratic groups targeted by
Republican complaints, said he was pleased with the commission's decision
and was not worried about a possible surge in soft money by GOP-leaning
groups.
"Republicans were always going to be lavishly funded, regardless of how they
ultimately decide to funnel that money," said Jordan, spokesman for America
Coming Together, America Votes, and Media Fund.