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FEC To Consider Easing Campaign Ad Restrictions For "Grassroots Lobbying" Spots
August 4, 2006 at 11:19 AM (PT)
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The FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION is circulating a proposal by Commissioner HANS VON SPAKOVSKY to exempt political ads by special interest group from campaign ad restrictions. The present rules prohibit lobbying groups funded by corporations or unions from buying ads mentioning candidates for federal elections within two months before the general election or one month before a primary.
The exemption would be for "grassroots lobbying" groups and would require the ads to be about public policy issues in front of Congress or the President and targeted at incumbents on the basis of their role as officeholders rather than as a candidate, with a message that urges the incumbent to take a particular position or for constiuents to contact the incumbent.
An unusual alliance of labor and business groups, including the AFL-CIO and the UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, is backing the measure, which will be considered by the Commission on AUGUST 29.

