FEC lowers its standards for the powerful
The FEC recently dismissed a complaint filed by Citizens United against Friends of Harry Reid, which alleged that the latter illegally used campaign funds to support staff employed by the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC, where Reid lives.
The FEC’s decision disappoints us.
First, the decision sends the signal that as long as you’re a powerful member of Congress and you only cheat by a few thousand dollars, it’s okay.
Second, the Democrats rode into office on promises of sweeping ethics reform. They assured us they’d clean up Washington. So it’s disappointing that the actions of the Democratic Senate Majority Leader remain uninvestigated. The amount of financial impropriety is not the point. Being above reproach is the point.
Update (3:45 pm): Here's our complaint and here's the AP article on the decision.
The FEC’s decision disappoints us.
First, the decision sends the signal that as long as you’re a powerful member of Congress and you only cheat by a few thousand dollars, it’s okay.
Second, the Democrats rode into office on promises of sweeping ethics reform. They assured us they’d clean up Washington. So it’s disappointing that the actions of the Democratic Senate Majority Leader remain uninvestigated. The amount of financial impropriety is not the point. Being above reproach is the point.
Update (3:45 pm): Here's our complaint and here's the AP article on the decision.
