LAUTENBERG ATTEMPTS TO DODGE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

Fossilized Frank Seeks to Have Special Interests Pay Back His Campaign Loans


Lawrenceville, NJ – In a letter quietly sent to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), lawyers for Senator Frank Lautenberg are asking federal regulators to disregard a law that prohibits him from accepting unlimited special-interest contributions to pay back his personal campaign loans after the election.

The 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law provides that any personal campaign loans exceeding $250,000 that are not repaid within 20 days of an election will be considered to be nonrefundable campaign contributions. The law was intended to avoid special-interest contributions going straight into newly elected or reelected officeholders' pockets.

If successful in his request to the FEC, Lautenberg will be able to use special-interest money raised after 2008 to repay his personal loans to the campaign. According to his most recent FEC reports, his 2008 campaign owed him $1.65 million as of June 30.

Lautenberg’s lawyers want the FEC to rule that the loan repayment provision at issue, which is part of the so-called Millionaires’ Amendment to the McCain-Feingold law, is unconstitutional. Click here to view entire Lautenberg letter. Ironically, Lautenberg endorsed the Millionaires’ Amendment just last month after other parts of it had been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. At that time he said he supported it because it “leveled the playing field” between rich candidates and their opponents (“Dick Zimmer races to raise cash and make a name.” The Star-Ledger. 6 July 2008).

The Zimmer for Senate campaign today issued the following statement:

“It is disgraceful that Senator Lautenberg would ask the FEC for special treatment that would benefit him financially. This type of selfish behavior shows that he has completely lost touch with average New Jerseyans. While New Jerseyans are trying to readjust their family budget to address soaring gas prices and the rising cost of living, Senator Lautenberg is off seeking special treatment to line his own wallet,” said Zimmer for Senate Communications Director Kristen Hainen. “It is time for change. New Jerseyans need a leader who will make New Jersey’s interests his top priority.”