They Voted For You: Campaign Finance

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, helped pass an amendment that would "prevent the Justice Department from enforcing certain advertising restrictions in campaign finance law," The Associated Press reports.

Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, and Nick Rahall, D-3rd, voted against the measure in the 215-205 roll call.

Prompted by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling targeting campaign finance law, the amendment would bar "criminal enforcement of any of the law's advertising provisions," the AP reports. "It would not affect any civil penalties imposed against violators by the Federal Election Commission. Most campaign finance infractions are handled by the FEC."

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., proposed adding the measure to a pending appropriations bill.

"The Senate has not acted on its version of the spending bill and advocates of strict campaign finance laws vowed to kill the House provision there," the AP article notes. " Campaign watchdog groups objected to Pence's amendment, arguing that the Supreme Court did not declare all restrictions on electioneering communications unconstitutional."

Mollohan is the lead sponsor of the "Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008." It passed Thursday 281-142 with Mollohan, Capito and Rahall voting in favor.

Capito successfully proposed three amendments to the spending bill:

* "An amendment to reduce appropriations (by transfer) for the Periodic Censuses and Programs by $10 million, and increase appropriations for the Office of Justice Programs," which passed 229-196 (Rahall and Mollohan both nay);

* "An amendment to increase appropriations (by transfer) for the Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs, and reduce appropriations for the National Science Foundation operations and award management program by $10 million." It passed 243-186
(Rahall and Mollohan both nay);


* "An amendment to prohibit the use of funds be used in contravention of section 402(e)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996," which passed by a voice vote.