Obama Nominates New FEC Commissioners

President Barack Obama announced on Friday his nomination of Ann Ravel and Lee E. Goodman to fill two commissioner seats on the Federal Elections Commission. The commission consists of six full-time members, and administers and enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act.

State political watchdog Ann Ravel is former Santa Clara County counsel and has chaired California's Political Practices Commission since March 2011. The 64-year-old has been particularly vocal about money's influence over politics. Ravel would fill the Democratic vacancy on the commission.

Washington, D.C., attorney Lee Goodman would fill the Republican vacancy. Goodman currently works for LeClairRyan and served as GOP candidate Ron Paul's political adviser in 2012. Goodman would succeed vice president and current chairman of the commission, Donald McGahn, a Republican. McGahn hasn't been too popular with liberal campaign-watchdog groups due to his role in deadlocking votes between Republicans and Democrats.

As many well know, I have long desired to leave, but committed to stay to prevent the FEC from further trampling on our First Amendment and due process rights, said McGahn about the nomination for his replacement.

Obama's nominations would have to be confirmed by the Senate. If confirmed, the FEC would be brought back to full strength with six members. There are currently five members serving on the FEC, each one serving past the end date of their original terms.