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From the diaries -- kos)
So, here's what's happening right now on the FEC's proposed rulemaking on political activity on the Internet.
- All the comments are in. You can view them here, including your own, if you filed. Here's ours, if you haven't seen it yet.
- The FEC will be holding six sessions of open hearings on the proposed regulations next Tuesday and Wednesday at their headquarters at 999 E St, NW in Washington, DC. Here are the filed comments from everyone who'll be testifying.
Among those testifying are
my clients -- Markos, Atrios and Matt Stoller, who will be appearing as follows:
6/28, 9:45a-11:15a Markos, with Mike Krempasky (RedState), Larry Noble (Center for Responsive Politics) and John Morris (Center for Democracy and Technology).
6/28, 11:30a-1p Matt, with Carol Darr (IPDI), Don Simon (Democracy 21) and Mark Elias from Kerry-Edwards '04.
6/29, 2:15p-3:45p Atrios, with Mike Bassik (Online Coalition), Trevor Potter (Campaign Legal Center) and Karl Sandstrom (OMB Watch
Keen observers will note that each panel features one of our guys with one of the representatives of the
leading pro-regulation groups. If you'd like to watch from the audience and lend your support, come on down. You can see the whole schedule
via this link.
3. So here's a research topic if you've got some Google time: here are the six FEC commissioners, half from each party. Care to look -- on their websites, or through Google -- and post here anything you can find that they've said (or subscribed to) concerning the role of the Internet in politics or the "media exemption"?
Each commissioner has on his website a list of prior testimony and speeches given (see, e.g., Commissioner Mason's testimony from 2000.) Look there and elsewhere, if you can, and help me compile the materials that will let us know best how to prepare for next week.
As always, thanks for your time, and for any help you can provide.