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Panel debates tribes and election campaign act
Thursday, February 9, 2006

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Oversight hearing on Indian Tribes and the Federal Election Campaign Act, February 8, 2006. • Introduction - 3:43 - 872kb • Panel I - 23:18 - 5.3MB | Q&A - 31:03 - 7.1MB • Panel II - 20:59 - 4.8MB | Q&A - 27:58 - 6.4MB • Witness List | Webcast

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to examine tribes and the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Tribes aren't specifically mentioned in the law, witnesses from the Federal Election Commission said. So the FEC has had to interpret the law in light of the unique status of tribes as sovereigns with the ability to make political contributions.

That has led some to consider whether changes in the law are needed. While the FEC witnesses said they weren't coming to Congress with a specific proposal or endorsing one, they said they were open to clarification on the status of tribes under the campaign finance act.

Phil Hogen, the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, said more accountability is needed on the tribal side. He said tribal members are often the last to know about the political activities being undertaken on their behalf.

Ron Allen, the treasurer of the National Congress of American Indians, said tribes should not be singled out in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. "We feel there's nothing wrong with the system," he told the committee.

The panel also heard from James Thurber, a professor of lobbying and campaign studies at American University; and Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the committee chairman, indicated he had some problems with the existing system but he didn't say what types of changes might need to be made. He was a co-sponsor of the recent Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act.

On the House side, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Michigan), who is calling for a moratorium on Indian gaming, introduced H.R.4696 to close the "loophole" on tribal political donations.

Get the Story:
McCain, Witnesses Weigh 'Indian Loophole' Fix (Roll Call 2/9)
Tribes defend exemption (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 2/9)
Congress considers curbs to Indian political donations (The Shreveport Times 2/9)
Tribes face tighter rules on political donations (The Arizona Republic 2/9)
POLITICS: Senators consider restricting Indian campaign donations (AP 2/9)

FEC Advisory:
Indian Tribes (February 2, 2006)

Federal Elections Commission Opinions:
Advisory Opinion 1999-32 (January 28, 2000) | Advisory Opinion 2000-05 (May 15, 2000) | Advisory Opinion 2005-01 (March 14, 2005)

More Advisory Opinion 2005-01 Documents:
Advisory Opinion Draft A and Draft B | Tribe's Request for Advisory Opinion

Relevant Links:
Federal Election Commission - http://www.fec.gov
PoliticalMoneyLine - http://www.politicalmoneyline.com
Center for Responsive Politics - http://www.opensecrets.org

Related Stories:
FEC clarifies tribal political donation limits (2/9)
Listening Lounge: Hearing on tribes and campaign act (2/8)
Tom Cole on the 'warpath' for political donations (2/6)
Human Events: Closing the tribal donation 'loophole' (2/6)
Campbell says Abramoff shouldn't stop lobbying (2/3)
Tex Hall worried Abramoff scandal may hurt tribes (2/3)
Tribal political donation 'loophole' on the radar (2/2)
Tribal political donations at issue in Washington (1/31)
Republicans seek to close tribal donation 'loophole' (1/31)
Pombo has accepted more than $500K from tribes (1/30)
Bush won't release photos he took with Abramoff (1/27)
Tim Johnson: Don't tar tribes with Abramoff scandal (1/24)
McCain: A 'bipartisan' scandal in Washington (1/23)
Reform, gaming on agenda for members of Congress (1/20)
NIGA shies from Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal (1/19)
Bush mum on Abramoff contacts with White House (1/18)
Abramoff scandal claims another casualty (1/16)
Abramoff scandal a hot topic at gaming conference (1/13)
Abramoff pleads guilty in Washington lobbying scandal (01/04)
Burns to return $150K in Abramoff donations (12/16)
Bush discusses Abramoff tribal lobbying scandal (12/15)
McCain set to introduce lobbying reforms (12/15)
Coushatta Tribe made $330K in donations on same day (12/7)
McCain expects 'lots' of indictments over Abramoff (12/5)
Changes in tribal lobbying tactics discussed (12/5)
Dorgan vows to continue Abramoff lobbying probe (11/29)
Another Texas tribe involved in lobbying scandal (11/28)
Inside the BIA, according to Jack Abramoff (11/24)
Plea deal raises more questions about scandal (11/24)
Plea deal raises more questions about scandal (11/22)
Scanlon free to cooperate in lobbying probe (11/22)
Scanlon pleads guilty in lobbying probe (11/21)
Abramoff lobbying inquiry far from over (11/18)
Jack Abramoff lobbying probe touches DOI (10/26)
Pombo has received $90K from tribes this year (10/20)
Pombo collected $40K from tribes so far this year (04/25)
FEC ruling separates tribes from their businesses (03/14)
Pombo took $5K from tribe with bill before committee (07/19)
Pombo accepts money from tribes, tribal lobbyists (06/22)

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