Judge Says FEC Failed to Curb Soft Money

[brooklynite]

WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission failed to give a good reason for refusing to rein in nonprofit political groups that spent huge sums in the 2004 presidential elections, a judge has ruled in a case brought by President Bush's campaign and lawmakers.

In a 34-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the FEC failed to give "a reasoned explanation" for its decision not to issues rules to require so-called "527" groups to register as federal political action committees and face the same strict fundraising, spending and disclosure rules PACs do.

But Sullivan stopped short of saying the FEC had abused its discretion. Nor did he order it to develop rules to crack down on the groups' fundraising and spending.

Instead, the judge in his ruling Wednesday sent the issue back to the FEC and ordered the commission to "articulate its reasoning," or come up with a rule for the groups "if necessary."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060330/ap_on_go_ot/shadow_parties_1