FEC Complaint filed against David O

Circle City Pundit blogger Jacob Perry has filed a complaint against State Representative David Orentlicher for accepting contributions in excess of the federal limits. You can read the complaint here. We support all efforts to make sure political candidates do not run roughshod in their attempts to obtain public office. Kudos, Jacob.

Perry is the third Indiana blogger who has recently filed a public complaint against a federal candidate. Democrat Thomas Cook filed a complaint against John McCain alleging that John McCain did not submit the required number of signatures in a particular congressional district; the complaint was dismissed. Scott Fluhr of The Hoosierpundit and Hoosier Access filed a complaint that Barack Obama's presidential campaign violated Indiana campaign law "Pay to Play"/"No Purchase Necessary" provisions with its "free" Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds concert. What does all this mean? If you are walking the line on campaign regulations in Indiana, our blogging community has no qualms about reporting you.

Interesting aside: both of the presumptive presidential nominees have tangential roles in the David O donation fiasco. Of course, it was McCain Feingold that set the contribution limits Orentlicher is accused of violating. Barack Obama may also have a role in whether this case sees the light of day before the November election. Obama and his fellow Senator supporters have blocked President Bush's recent appointments to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), leaving it dangerously close to not being able to legally achieve quorum to transact business. As a result of Obama's blocks, the FEC may not be able to issue rulings on complaints such as Perry's until after the next president takes office in 2009.