New York Times Editorial: Having the Watchdogs to Tea

Congress rarely remembers that it is responsible for overseeing the Federal Election Commission — the party-hack-ridden agency that enables campaign abuses. The House elections subcommittee has now summoned commission members to a rare hearing on Thursday about its work. Rather than a severe grilling, it’s more likely to be a meet-and-greet smile among professional backslappers.

The need for a vigilant F.E.C. has never been greater as the nation enters the most money-drenched campaign in history, thanks to the new “super PAC” bundlers and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision blessing unlimited corporate donations. While all this looms, the six-member F.E.C. has been stymied by its three Republican appointees who apparently believe the best campaign regulation is none and regularly reject professional staff findings of campaign abuses and block enforcement.

Politicians know a toothless watchdog when they see one. In the latest outrage, Senator Mike Lee, a Republican of Utah, asked the F.E.C. for an advisory opinion on whether he can raise unlimited funds for his own leadership political action committee. This is clearly barred by law. It would ensconce moneyed princes on Capitol Hill to buy lawmakers’ favors from within. Surely the F.E.C. can muster the courage to shoot that down. Surely?

Congress should be reforming the agency, and President Obama should be challenging Congress to do it. The F.E.C. needs commissioners who don’t owe their positions to either party machine. The president can drive the issue by proposing truly independent appointees to the Senate to replace lame-duck members.