Soft Money, White Lies and a Lame Duck

With one Democratic member joining three Republicans, the Federal Election Commission voted 4-1 late Wednesday that the only way a federal candidate or officeholder could violate the ban on raising soft money that takes effect in November would be by explicitly asking for such contributions. ''

- Associated Press

'' Frequently joining the Federal Election Commission's three Republicans, a lame-duck Democrat on Wednesday provided the fourth vote needed to alter new regulations that reform advocates say may weaken the soft-money ban in the new campaign finance law.

Vice Chairman Karl Sandstrom's term on the FEC expired more than a year ago, but he has continued to serve on the campaign watchdog agency while his replacement's nomination is stalled.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) has tapped Democratic election lawyer and ethics expert Ellen Weintraub to take Sandstrom's place, but President Bush has not yet moved to make her official nomination, and there is no deal yet with Senate Republicans for confirmation hearings on Weintraub. ''

- RollCall.com