Franken Asks FEC To Investigate Chamber For Foreign Donors

[babylonsister]

Franken Asks FEC To Investigate Chamber For Foreign Donors
Rachel Slajda | October 6, 2010, 4:10PM


Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) wants the Federal Elections Commission to investigate whether the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is violating election law by raising money from foreign donors. In a letter to the agency, he also asked the FEC to review its own regulations.

The Chamber raises thousands from foreign individuals and companies through its overseas branches, ThinkProgress reported yesterday. The money reportedly goes into the Chamber's general fund, which it is using to run a $75 million midterm campaign, mostly against Democrats. (The Chamber denies doing anything illegal, and says it only raises about $100,000 in dues from its foreign branches.)

It is illegal to solicit or accept donations from foreign nationals, directly or indirectly, for election activity.

"I am profoundly concerned by recent reports that foreign corporations are indirectly spending significant sums to influence American elections through third-party groups," Franken wrote. "I am writing to ask that you investigate these claims, enforce existing laws and regulations prohibiting foreign spending in American elections, and strengthen those very laws through new regulations and policy guidance."

You can read the full letter at link~

The Chamber report is the latest in a slew of stories about questionable spending by third party groups, including the Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads. The overwhelming majority of this third-party money is being spent on Republican candidates and causes.

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/franken_asks_fec_to_investigate_chamber_for_foreig.php?ref=fpi

[SpiralHawk]

1. Thank you for you American patriotism, Al

Flush out the Republicon goobers using foreign payola to subvert America and American democracy.

Here's your freaking Republicon so-called Family Value:

[Scuba]

2. Yay Al !!!!!!

[howaboutme]

3. There are no public American corporations

and all public corporations are foreign owned to one extent or another.

Corporations have no USA allegiance and no USA citizenship and the owners come from every corner of the globe.

They should have zero influence on our USA elections.

[Spazito]

4. I certainly hope there will be an investigation...

Supreme Court Justice Stevens warned everyone the Citizens United decision would result in foreign corporations would now be free to influence U.S. elections and this is certainly, imo, a case in point.