Common Cause Letters

March 26, 2008

Senator Barack Obama

United States Senate

SDB 40B Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Obama:

As you know, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) does not have a quorum of commissioners because of the deadlock on nominations in the US Senate. Until the Senate can agree on appointees, the FEC is powerless to enforce campaign finance laws during this critical presidential election year. I am writing to urge you to use your influence as a leading presidential candidate and your prominence in the US Senate to do everything possible to break the current deadlock on FEC nominations.

The fact that the country does not have a functional election watchdog during the most important presidential election in a generation is a national embarrassment. It is like playing the World Series without an umpire. Without effective enforcement, our campaign finance laws are essentially meaningless.

Just this week, a National Journal column noted that the absence of a functioning FEC has “given politically minded activist groups the green light” to pour unprecedented, unlimited and undisclosed amounts of money into various organizations, such as 527s and 501(c)4 groups.

We make an urgent appeal to you to use your influence as a leading presidential candidate and your prominence in the US Senate to do everything possible to break the current deadlock on FEC nominations, triggered by the controversial appointment of Hans von Spakowsky, so that Americans can have some measure of faith that the 2008 elections will be fair, transparent and honest.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Bob Edgar