(AAPC) weighs in on State's Robo Call Laws
(AAPC) weighs in on State's Robo Call Laws
WASHINGTON, D.C.The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) submitted a letter to the FEC on Friday urging the FEC commissioners to reject the conclusions of its initial draft advisory opinion and to issue an opinion "holding that state laws effectively prohibiting the use of pre-recorded telephone calls in federal elections-including those state laws requiring that prior consent be obtained by a live operator-are preempted" by federal campaign finance laws.
These comments were a response to a draft advisory opinion posted on the Commission's website that would override restrictions on political "robocalls" of more than a dozen states. The AAPC's comments were in support of a request by the political action committee of a conservative group called the American Future Fund.
The comments were submitted on behalf of the AAPC in a nine-page letter signed by both Joseph Sandler, of the firm Sandler Reiff & Young which represents Democrats and William McGinley, of the firm Patton Boggs, which represents Republicans.
The letter urges the FEC commissioners to reject the conclusions of the states. The Federal Elections Commission is set to decide this matter on January 14 in a meeting of the commissioners.
About AAPC
The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) is the world's largest organization of political and public affairs professionals. Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a bipartisan trade association with over 1,200 members from all fifty states and other countries. The AAPC membership reflects a wide range of ideologies, partisan affiliations and professional specialties, including students and academics. The AAPC represents the interest of political campaign and public affairs professionals, provides opportunities for education and training and sets a high standard of professionalism for the political consulting and public affairs industries.