According to an Op-Ed article in today’s New York Times by Jan Witold Baran and Robert F. Bauer, the new legislation proposed by the architects of McCain-Feingold (less McCain) would replace the current Federal Election Commission with a new Federal Election Administration. Instead of six members, the new agency would have "a more nimble three." The chairman would be more powerful and would be appointed for a ten-year term. Also, the members could not include recent candidates, party officials or election law lawyers; i.e., people who might know what they are doing.
That is a scary proposal: A nimble federal agency with a powerful chairman appointed to a ten-year term, effectively accountable to no one, and members with no real world experience – all with power over the bedrocks of our democracy: our election process and our freedom of speech.
Being a naiveté sort, it is mind-boggling to me this kind of an anti-free speech proposal could attract any support at all, let alone enough support to have a chance to pass, but attract support it will. If the Supreme Court continues to fail to protect our free speech rights, then our best hope, until the case for freedom can be more effectively made, is that the parties will split, one opposing what the other favors for fear their opponents will gain an advantage. If, however, the bipartisan party of incumbency unites behind this proposal, our democracy and our freedom will take a hit.
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