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New FEC commissioners set for first meeting |
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By Sam Youngman
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Posted: 07/08/08 11:41 AM [ET] |
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After months of sitting idle during a heated presidential contest, the Federal Election Commission (FEC), complete with new commissioners, is set to hold its first meeting Thursday. The four new commissioners will convene for the first time following months-long Capitol Hill infighting over the controversial nomination of Hans von Spakovsky, which had crippled the FEC. Von Spakovsky was nominated by President Bush but withdrew his name in mid-May, setting up a compromise on appointments between the White House and Democrats on the Hill. The nomination battle lasted two and a half years before Bush "reluctantly" accepted his withdrawal. Because the commission has only had two confirmed commissioners, it has not been able to act on pending matters including public financing issues involving Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). The new commissioners are Cynthia Bauerly, Caroline Hunter, Donald McGahn and Matthew Petersen. They were unanimously confirmed by the Senate late last month. |
