Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 24, 1993 TAG: 9309240091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The sum is about $100,000 less than commission auditors last year recommmended.
Even so, Robertson said he will appeal the 5-1 decision. He argued the commission missed federal deadlines for action against his campaign.
"The law clearly states that such determination must be made within three years of the close of a presidential campaign," Robertson said in a statement issued from his Virginia Beach office. "In the case of my campaign, the process took an unbelievable five years."
A commission spokeswoman said Robertson was notified of the complaint in a December 1989 interim audit.
"The main issue is, did we notify them within the statute, and we believe we did," said Sharon Snyder. "The interim audit report is the notification."
The commission directs Robertson or his campaign committee - Americans for Robertson - to return $290,794 to the U.S. Treasury and $105,634 to media organizations. Robertson received about $1.4 million in federal matching funds, which required him to meet rigorous standards involving spending limits.
The FEC is ordering Robertson to repay:
More than $240,000 for exceeding allowable spending limits in Iowa and New Hampshire. FEC auditors originally recommended about $338,000. The commission reduced the sum after hearing arguments from Robertson's lawyers.
$21,994 for taxes charged the campaign after Robertson quit the race.
$22,728 involving Robertson's travel costs to the 1988 Republican National Convention.
$5,189 involving the transfer of funds between federal and state accounts.
The media repayment is based on travel charges to reporters covering the campaign. The FEC said they exceeded "allowable billable amounts." Presidential campaigns routinely charter planes for reporters following the candidate and then bill news organizations.
Commissioner Lee Ann Elliott, the dissenting voter, noting "serious disagreement" with the commission's failure to fully consider Robertson's argument on timing. The majority dismissed those arguments because they were raised at a hearing, rather than in written materials filed earlier.
Robertson is far from alone among presidential candidates in running afoul of the FEC.
Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee, was ordered to return $491,000; Illinois Sen. Paul Simon, who sought the Democratic nomination, has been ordered to repay $413,000. Both have appealed.
Former President George Bush's 1988 campaign returned $118,000 at the FEC's direction.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB