Oct 5, 2007 -- Delayed FEC Confirmation Vote: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) have raised objections to the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to serve on the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Those objections will have the effect of subjecting the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the scrutiny it deserves and both senators are to be commended for raising them. The growing opposition to Mr. von Spakovsky's nomination is not about having a Republican or Democrat on the FEC. Both parties have always been equally represented on the Commission, and the way to fix this broken and ineffective agency is a fight for another day.

What this really is about, and Senators Obama and Feingold correctly see it as such, is that Mr. von Spakovsky's shameful record of partisan vote suppression clearly disqualifies him from serving on the Federal Election Commission. This fight is about an individual whose record of partisan manipulation and consistent miscarriage of justice as a government official make him unqualified for Senate confirmation to interpret and enforce our nation's election laws. Had there been any question beforehand about the fitness of Mr. von Spakovsky for the office, his evasions and equivocations before the Senate Rules Committee more than demonstrated that he does not meet even the minimum standards for appointment to any federal agency.

This is not a nomination that can be overlooked and rubber stamped in the interest of political expediency. The closer examination afforded by a delayed vote on von Spakovsky's nomination will reveal a demonstrated record of extreme partisanship and grossly inappropriate politicization of the Department of Justice by the nominee. This track record is a stark reminder of his unique and unquestionable unsuitability for confirmation to an agency where working across party lines is the only way to make hard decisions on complex issues that impact the ability of politicians and political parties to raise and spend campaign money.

# # #