Sep 28, 2007 -- Legal Center Sends Letter to Sen. Harry Reid Urging Separate Vote on Hans von Spakovsky

Dear Senator Reid,

On behalf of the Campaign Legal Center I a writing to strongly urge you hold a separate vote in the Senate on the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission. This has happened previously with controversial nominees to the FEC, and seems particularly appropriate here given the compilation of misdeeds by this nominee that has been presented to the Senate.

Mr. von Spakovsky's lengthy record of minority vote suppression has been well documented and leaves him singularly unqualified to serve in a position interpreting and enforcing our nation's election laws. His nomination was condemned not only by a number of retired career-Justice Department prosecutors who worked with the nominee, but also by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, which represents hundreds of civil and human rights organizations and unions - including the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the ACLU, AARP, the National Organization for Women, the AFL-CIO, the NEA, the United Mineworkers, and the Teamsters. The Conference has never weighed in before on an FEC nomination, normally advocating for or against U.S. Supreme Court nominees, but its membership was so offended by Mr. von Spakovsky's record that they have urged the rejection of his nomination.

The nomination of Mr. von Spakovsky deserves an individual vote on the floor of the Senate. Constituents nationwide are entitled to know where their Senators stand on a nominee who is not just a party operative, but who has worked both in the private sector and while serving at the Justice Department to suppress minority voting by disenfranchising and intimidating potential voters, particularly those who are poor and elderly

As noted above, there is precedent for having an individual vote on Mr. von Spakovsky. In 2000, the Rules Committee reported out two nominees to the Federal Election Commission: Mr. Danny McDonald and Mr. Bradley Smith. Mr. Smith's record was of such concern that Senators insisted on an individual vote in the full Senate. While Mr. Smith was eventually confirmed, Senators who had bona fide concerns that Mr. Smith would not enforce the law were at least given the opportunity to vote on his nomination separately. The same thing should happen with regard to Mr. von Spakovsky's nomination.

The Campaign Legal Center strongly urges you to conduct a separate vote in the full Senate on the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky. Voters nationwide deserve to know if their Senator votes in favor of this nominee who is wholly unqualified, having devoted much of his professional career to undermining minority voting rights.

Sincerely,

J. Gerald Hebert

Executive Director

cc Members of the United States Senate