By Joseph Picard: Subscribe to Joseph's RSS feed
October 10, 2010 11:11 AM EDT
A United States Senator has asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce may be using money from foreign corporations to help fund its ad campaigns for the 2010 elections.
"I am profoundly concerned by recent reports that foreign corporations are indirectly spending significant sums to influence American elections through third-party groups, including 501(c)(6) trade organizations," wrote Sen. Al Franken, D-MN, to the FEC on Wednesday.
"I am writing to ask that you investigate these claims, enforce existing laws and regulations prohibiting foreign spending in American elections, and strengthen those very laws through new regulations and policy guidance," Franken said.
As the Senator makes clear in an accompanying press release, the principal 501 (c)(6) trade organization he refers to is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Franken's call for an investigation follows fast upon a report published Tuesday on the ThinkProgress website alleging that the Chamber was using fees and donations from foreign members and affiliates to help fund its massive $75 million ad campaign to elect Republican candidates in the upcoming mid-term elections.
Follow us
The ThinkProgress report said "the Chamber funds its political attack campaign out of its general account, which solicits foreign funding. And while the Chamber will likely assert it has internal controls, foreign money is fungible, permitting the Chamber to run its unprecedented attack campaign."
It is illegal for foreign entities to influence American elections, on the federal, state or local levels, by directly or indirectly contributing to political campaigns. The Chamber, which openly opposes many of the principal policies of the Obama administration, is one of the most active domestic spenders in campaign ads this years, about $25 million so far, all of it for Republican candidates.
But the Chamber vehemently denies soliciting or using foreign money in the campaigns, and insists that it has broken no laws.
"We're careful to ensure that we comply with all applicable laws," said Tita Freeman, a Chamber spokesperson. "No foreign money is used to fund political activities."
Another Chamber spokesperson was more emphatic.
"No foreign money - from AmChams of otherwise - is used to fund political activities," said P.J. Fielder. "None of the AmCham money is used for political activities."
AmChams are foreign chapters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, composed both of American companies operating abroad and foreign companies. There are 115 AmChams, according to the Chamber. They each pay dues to the Chamber. The Chamber insists that these monies are nominal and that they do not enter into the monies spent for campaign ads in the U.S.
"Collectively, AmChams pay nominal dues to the Chamber - approximately $100,000 total across all 115 AmChams," Freeman said. "Under our budgeting system, the nominal funds received from AmChams and business councils are used to support our international programs."
Faiz Shakir, who wrote the investigative aritcle on ThinkProgress, said the Chamber is soliciting funds from foreign companies and that AmCham dues are the smallest part.
Mark Zuckerberg's $6.4 Billion Loss: Value Of Facebook CEO's Stake A Gambler's Nightmare
Tasha Reign Says ‘Super Hot’ Bill Clinton Wanted To Meet Her and Brooklyn Lee, ‘Sympathetic’ For Viral Photo
Larry Flynt Blasts ‘Prudish And Delusional Right Wing’ Over S.E. Cupp Hustler Photo As ‘The View’ Hosts Jump To The Defense
Joe Biden Says He Understood Suicidal Thoughts In Wrenching Speech To Families Of Fallen Troops
US Cities with Most Underwater Mortgage [SLIDESHOW]We value your privacy. Your email address will not be shared.
