Toner Resigns As FEC Chair
Per a statement from FEC chairman Michael Toner:
This morning I sent President Bush a letter indicating that I plan to step down from the Federal Election Commission this winter to pursue other professional opportunities. My one-year term as Chairman of the Federal Election Commission ends on January 1, 2007.It has been a tremendous honor to serve as a Commissioner at the Federal Election Commission for the last 4 1/2 years. During that time, the Commission successfully implemented the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which made the most significant changes to the federal election laws in a generation. I am particularly pleased that earlier this year the Commission issued regulations protecting on-line political speech from many of the restrictions and prohibitions of the campaign finance laws. In so doing, the Commission ensured that millions of Americans in the future will have the ability to use the Internet to support the candidates of their choice without fear of FEC investigation or restriction.
The Federal Election Commission has never been stronger and more effective than it is today. During the first half of 2006, the FEC collected over $5 million in civil penalties, which is more than the Commission has ever collected in an entire year during the agency’s 30-year history. Moreover, seven of the 10 largest civil penalties that the FEC has ever collected were obtained during the last four years. This enforcement record reflects the terrific work of Lawrence Norton, the FEC's General Counsel, and Rhonda Vosdingh, the Head of Enforcement, and the efforts of all the Commission's attorneys in the Office of General Counsel. I am very proud of the vigorous enforcement record that the Commission has compiled during the last several years.
I have been honored to serve on the Federal Election Commission, particularly during a time of such historic change in the campaign finance laws. It has been a great privilege every single day to work with my fellow Commissioners and with all the professional staff at the Commission. I will always treasure my tenure at the FEC.
I have stewards hearing. for A.R.S. 38-431.03(A(3)