FEC deadlocks; soft money still allowed for redistricting fights
AP reports:
A New York congressman can raise corporate and union money to help cover legal fees in a redistricting case, according to the Federal Election Commission.Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel asked the agency's advice on whether he could use such monies. The panel reached a 3-3 deadlock on the question Thursday, meaning past FEC decisions allowing the use of such ``soft money'' for redistricting fights apply. The commission issued those opinions before a new law banned the use of corporate and union money for federal election activity.
Engel was involved in a lawsuit over the redrawing of New York's congressional map after the 2000 Census. He asked the FEC whether the new campaign finance law would restrict fund raising by a redistricting committee he planned to form to pay his legal fees.