|
BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE: DAILY BRIEFING | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
|
BW ONLINE DAILY BRIEFING |
 | |
 | |
 |
||||||
The Feds Open the Door to Political Info Web Sites Nonprofits -- even corporations -- would be able to provide information, as long as it's not an in-kind contribution to a candidate Web sites that provide information to voters about candidates and campaigns are popping up all over the Internet. While that may seem to be a healthy development in a democracy, many are operating in legal limbo. How could that be? Federal election laws bar corporations and most nonprofits from giving anything of value directly to political candidates. Only individuals -- and political action committees (PACs) -- can contribute directly. And the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has said that costs associated with creating and maintaining a Web site could be construed as in-kind contributions, depending on the nature of the site and its purpose. But in a ruling that could come as early as Oct. 28, the FEC may clear the way for nonpartisan Web sites to provide information about candidates. Specifically, the FEC will give its blessing to the Democracy Network (DNet), an interactive site for candidates and voters. Launched in 1996 as a joint project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund and the Center for Governmental Studies, DNet provides one-stop-shopping for people who want to be informed voters. It also offers links to candidate Web sites, their statements on issues, voter-registration information, and online debates. E-BUMPER STICKERS? The FEC's decision "will open up the gates to many other entities that aim to provide online information on candidates and campaigns or to be portals for political information and activity," says Trevor Potter, a lawyer with Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington, who represents DNet. While the FEC commissioners agree that the path should be cleared for DNet, a ruling has been delayed because the commissioners can't agree on a legal underpinning for its decision. The FEC also remains stymied over whether political banner ads that individuals slap onto their own Web sites are campaign contributions or just e-bumper stickers. Watch for the FEC to sort out these and other Web-site issues as the 2000 Presidential campaign unfolds. By Amy Borrus in Washington
EDITED BY DOUGLAS HARBRECHT
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |
| |
 | |
 Assistive Technology barker.online Byte of the Apple Eye on Japan Hers.online Inside Wall Street Not-So-Neutral Corner Online Asia Power Lunch Privacy Matters Sector Scope Sound Money Street Wise Washington Watch News Flash Archive | ||||||
