Chris Van Hollen Issues Challenge to Tom Cole: No Outside Groups in House Races

DCCC Press:

On Fox News Sunday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen issued a challenge to National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole for both campaign committees to call on shadowy outside groups to not run ads in congressional races and ask their supporters not to contribute to those groups.

"My colleague Tom Cole and I should agree to follow the lead of Senator McCain and Senator Obama when it comes to these outside shadowy groups, these 527 attack groups," said Chairman Van Hollen.  "I hope he will agree with me today that we should call upon those groups not to run ads in House races and call upon our supporters not to give to those shadowy attack groups.  That's reform that the presidential candidates have called for and I think we should join in that effort."

NRCC Chairman Tom Cole has not yet responded to Van Hollen's challenge.

Background

The Campaign Finance Institute (CFI), a non-partisan, non-profit institute, affiliated with The George Washington University said, "Soft money groups are poised to play a major role in the 2008 election."  According to CFI's analysis of IRS  reports through January 31, 2008, federal 527 political organizations raised a net total of $76.9 million in 2007.

CFI has concluded, "While soft money groups do not spend nationally on the scale of parties and candidates, they may spend enough on key races to help turn the balance in federal elections. In 2008, we are seeing strong early fundraising, changing practices among the 527s and the continued rise of a newer kind of 501(c)(4) actor. Some of these developments stem from earlier political controversies over 527s and the resulting regulatory response."