Associated Press reports that Rep. Tom DeLay's (R-TX) Americans for a Republican Majority PAC (ARMPAC) used "soft money" just before the 2002 election to fund a mailing for Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN), who first won election to the House that year. ARMPAC has reportedly "repaid" (to who?) about $200,000 in soft money questioned by a Federal Elections Commission (FEC) audit.

If ever there was a case for reform, it is in improper use of campaign monies. For all intents and purposes, there is no incentive to follow the rules: the worst that seems to happen is you have to give the money back and, maybe, pay a pittance of a fine. The damage is done: the illicit funds help to defeat candidates. If candidates who were elected due to illicit contributions had to forfeit their office ... perhaps both sides (Rs and Ds) would find it possible to keep their accounting straight. I'm not holding my breath; for most Americans, it's just politics as usual. No wonder so few of us bother to register and vote.

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ARMPAC, Campaign Finance, DeLay , Politics