Press Release on the FEC's Advisory Opinion
February 9, 2007
Distributed by the Green Party of the United States, http://www.gp.org.
Green Senatorial Campaign
Committee
PO Box 8845, Minneapolis, MN 55408
612.720.8827
http://www.GreenSCC.org
Contact: Anita Wessling, GSCC Co-Chair, 870-426-2284
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Green Senatorial Campaign Committee recognized by FEC .
Greens warn Senators not to vote for further funding of Iraq occupation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (GSCC) was granted
national Senate campaign committee status by the Federal Election Commission on
Thursday, February 8, giving the committee the ability to raise and spend money
under rules similar to those for the Democrat and Republican House and Senate
national campaign committees. The GSCC assists Green Party candidates
running for the U.S. Senate.
Federal Election Commission Advisory Opinion 2006-36 (http://ao.nictusa.com/ao/no/060036.html)
represents the first time a political party other than the Democrats or
Republicans has been granted a national party campaign committee. Such
committees have higher limits on campaign contributions that they can accept and
give to candidates.
As its first act after receiving FEC recognition, the GSCC called upon all U.S.
Senators to vote against further funding of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, or any
resolutions promising such funding, including currently proposed concurrent
resolutions promising funding 'for troops'.
"Dozens of Democrats in the U.S. Senate are preparing to vote for a
stay-the-course resolution being marketed as an anti-'surge' resolution," said
Chris Lugo, Tennessee Green candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006, referring to
Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, sponsored by Sen. John Warner (R-Va.).
"The Warner resolution actually promises more funding for the occupation," noted
Mr. Lugo.
During the 2006 election cycle, 6 Democratic Senators who voted for the
occupation of Iraq (Dianne Feinstein, Calif.; Maria Cantwell, Wash.; Herb Kohl,
Wis.; Bill Nelson, Fla.; Joe Lieberman, Conn; and Hillary Clinton, N.Y.) were
opposed by Green Party candidates.
"When Democrats in Congress vote for war, their actions have consequences. One
of those consequences is that the Green Party will oppose them at the ballot
box. If the Democrats vote for more funding, or even promises of more
funds, they are supporting the occupation's continuance, not opposing it," said
Anita Wessling, co-chair of the GSCC.
"Don't let the Democrats hide behind the fog of war," said Rebekah Kennedy, 2006
Green candidate for Attorney General of Arkansas. "We don't need 60 votes
to overturn a filibuster and pass a fake anti-surge resolution. We just
need 50 votes, or a courageous committee chair, to block any funding bills or
resolutions. We got out of Vietnam when Congress refused any more funding.
We got out of Kosovo when a Republican-controlled Congress cut off funds.
It's up to this Democrat-controlled Congress to decide when the Iraq occupation
will end."
Brent McMillan, Political Director of the Green Party of United States and
life-long peace activist, was elated that the Green Party now has an FEC-recognized
Senate campaign committee to help Greens compete on a more equal basis with the
established parties' candidates. "We have been laying the groundwork to
become a force in Congressional elections. With the FEC's decision today,
the Party of Peace has a more level playing field with the twin parties of war."