The United State Senate approved two of President Barack Obama’s nominees to the Federal Election Commission today restoring the panel’s full line-up and giving the Commission fresh voices for the first time in years.

In June, the President nominated Lee Goodman, a Republican attorney from Virginia, and Ann Ravel, chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. After an uneventful Senate confirmation hearing, the pair was approved unanimously by both the Senate Rules Committee and the full Senate.

Earlier this year, Common Cause criticized the President for his inaction on the Federal Election Commission. Karen Hobert Flynn, senior VP for strategy and programs said in April:

« La balle est dans le camp du président Obama pour nommer les nouveaux commissaires de la FEC, comme c'est le cas depuis son entrée en fonction », a déclaré Karen Hobert Flynn, vice-présidente principale de Common Cause chargée de la stratégie et des programmes. « Une fois qu'il aura pris ses fonctions, le Sénat devra procéder rapidement à des auditions de confirmation et voter pour ou contre les nominations. La première étape, cependant, requiert l'initiative présidentielle. Il est inexcusable que d'ici demain soir, tous les sièges de la commission soient expirés ou vacants », a-t-elle ajouté.

Common Cause continues to call on President Obama to replace the four remaining commissioners whose terms have expired long ago. The FEC is seen by many observers as one of the most dysfunctional agencies in the Federal government. The confirmation of Goodman and Ravel is unlikely to solve the partisan splits that have plagued the Commission which has been held captive by ongoing partisanship on major policy and enforcement matters. However, Goodman and Ravel could bring new ideas to solve the ongoing ramifications of Citoyens Unis and the growing problem of money in politics.