Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

California's Fair Political Practices Commission announced Friday that it has imposed an $80,000 penalty on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for violations of campaign finance disclosure regulations in 2000. The commission, which seeks to enforce campaign finance laws, collected the fine as part of a settlement of a lawsuit alleging that the Democratic committee failed to properly file campaign reports publicly disclosing the donations.

The longest-serving member of the Illinois delegation in the House says he's calling it quits, giving an opening for Republican gains in the state.   Rep. Jerry Costello, a Democrat from the southwest Illinois, said he won't seek reelection next year, citing others pursuits. "I said when I was elected in 1988 and many times since that I did not intend to stay in Congress forever as I had other interests that I wanted to pursue," Costello said in a statement, adding that he wouldn't be retiring.

The man charged with preserving Democrats' majority in the House said Thursday his party's effort to shine a spotlight on the "huge" spending fueled by undisclosed donors had narrowed the gap as election day neared. Speaking with reporters in Washington at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, also predictably predicted that Democrats would hold their majority in a new Congress.

With Rep. David Wu set to resign his post following allegations of sexual misconduct, Democrats were optimistic Tuesday they would keep hold of his Oregon seat in an upcoming special election. The district, which trails along the Columbia River from the coast in northwestern Oregon before dipping south, has been in the Democratic column for decades. “We are confident that a Democrat will continue to represent the families in this overwhelmingly Democratic district,” said Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.)

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, a former advisor in the Clinton White House, was selected Sunday as head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) selected the second-term lawmaker to succeed Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento), who died Jan. 1 of a rare blood-related disorder. In the 1980s, Emanuel held senior staff positions at the committee, and in 1992 helped Democrat Bill Clinton win the White House.

In a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee alleged Monday that Rep. Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) violated election laws last year, including one that prohibits government contractors from contributing to federal campaigns. In a four-page complaint, the committee's treasurer, Genie M. Norris, charged that Kim violated several areas of federal election law that prohibit corporations from contributing money or services to federal campaigns.

Though the 1986 campaign is long over with, your editorial staff just could not resist reprinting that old pack of lies about my military service record, "Dornan's Broken (War) Record," (Dec. 6). But why should I expect otherwise? After all, the lies were originally spread by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee with the willing compliance of your paper during that campaign. It also comes as no surprise to find out that the author of this attack-dog "Commentary," Joseph N. Bell, is a registered-Democrat doing his liberal party leadership's bidding.

After failing to muster much financial support for his congressional campaign against Rep. Mary Bono, the man who played Pa on TV's "The Waltons" has bowed out of the race. Democrat Ralph Waite was unable to build support for his campaign despite weeks of effort. Fellow Democrats in Congress, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other political organizations are focusing their attention on more competitive races, his campaign said. "Mr.

Congressional Democrats will air television advertisements in Republican Rep. Robert J Lagomarsino's district through "Earth Day" weekend to portray Republicans as weak on protecting the environment. One of the two cable ads in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties depicts workers cleaning up oil spilled from the Exxon tanker Valdez. "When the Valdez went on the rocks, Republicans took a wait-and-see attitude. . .," a narrator says.

With Rep. David Wu set to resign his post following allegations of sexual misconduct, Democrats were optimistic Tuesday they would keep hold of his Oregon seat in an upcoming special election. The district, which trails along the Columbia River from the coast in northwestern Oregon before dipping south, has been in the Democratic column for decades. “We are confident that a Democrat will continue to represent the families in this overwhelmingly Democratic district,” said Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.)

The White House declined Wednesday to weigh in on the scandal involving Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner, amid new pressure for him to step down. Tim Kaine, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee who is now running for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia, told a local television station earlier that "lying publicly" about his behavior was "unforgivable and he should resign. " He was the first prominent Democrat to expressly call for him to do so. Asked for President Obama's position, press secretary Jay Carney said at his daily briefing that he had "no comment on that story.

Nancy Pelosi, whose four-year run as speaker of the House of Representatives could be in its final months, offered an optimistic prediction about the outcome of Tuesday's election during a brief photo opportunity on Capitol Hill. "With the early returns and the overwhelming number if Democrats who are coming out, we're on pace to maintain the majority," she said. Pelosi, the first woman and first Californian to lead the House, appeared with Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the Democrat charged with heading the party's campaign effort, at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's offices just south of the U.S. Capitol.

President Obama will attempt in the final week before election day to draw a clearer contrast between Democrat and Republican philosophies on a range of issues, starting Monday with a trip to a small business in Rhode Island. Last week, Obama made the longest sustained campaign trip of his presidency, a four-day swing through Western states that ended in Minnesota on Saturday. Obama will spend more time this week at a mix of official and campaign events, primarily focused on the major issue that has driven voter unease this year: the economy.

The man charged with preserving Democrats' majority in the House said Thursday his party's effort to shine a spotlight on the "huge" spending fueled by undisclosed donors had narrowed the gap as election day neared. Speaking with reporters in Washington at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, also predictably predicted that Democrats would hold their majority in a new Congress.

Ever since her headline-grabbing upset of conservative Republican icon Rep. Robert K. Dornan back in 1996, Rep. Loretta Sanchez has won reelection in her working-class district by wide margins. Now, however, Republicans believe they stand a fighting chance of unseating Orange County's only Democratic member of the House. Armed with years of local political experience, strong ties with the area's ascendant Vietnamese American community and the backing of Republicans in Washington and around the nation, Republican state Assemblyman Van Tran is giving Sanchez her first serious challenge in more than a decade.

Two months before election day, the U.S. economy is teetering. President Obama's approval ratings are anemic. Republican voters are pumped. The smart money is betting against Democratic incumbents. With the political and economic landscape tilted so steeply against the Democrats, the biggest question is: How in the world could Republicans not win control of Congress? But despite all its assets, the GOP still faces hurdles. It suffers a disadvantage in fundraising, a national organization in shambles, an inconsistent message, and bruises from a tumultuous primary season — all factors that could make the difference between winning and winning big. "This isn't going to be as easy as it looks, by any means," said Terry Holt, a top aide to George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign who has been informally advising House Republican leaders.

The longest-serving member of the Illinois delegation in the House says he's calling it quits, giving an opening for Republican gains in the state.   Rep. Jerry Costello, a Democrat from the southwest Illinois, said he won't seek reelection next year, citing others pursuits. "I said when I was elected in 1988 and many times since that I did not intend to stay in Congress forever as I had other interests that I wanted to pursue," Costello said in a statement, adding that he wouldn't be retiring.

Rahm Emanuel was seething. The head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was hurtling down an asphalt road in upstate New York on the 47th trip of his ferocious effort to win control of the House. A lecture, even from political consultant James Carville, was the last thing he needed. In just 12 days, his campaign would end either in a historic victory -- a triumph that almost no one believed possible when he took the job nearly two years ago -- or in colossal failure.

Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack of Palm Springs has a new title these days: "Patriot. " That's the term leaders of the National Republican Congressional Committee are using for House members they believe to be most vulnerable to a Democratic challenge this fall. Rep. Jerry McNerney, who wrenched his Northern California district from GOP hands four years ago, is a " Frontline Democrat," the name the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has bestowed on its party members facing strong challenges.

Driven by increasing anger at Democratic policies and by recent Supreme Court decisions unshackling corporate contributions, business and conservative groups are preparing a flood of campaign money to try to wrest control of Congress from the Democrats. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest collection point for corporate contributions, has increased its spending for the congressional election in November from $35 million in 2008 to a projected $75 million this year. Officials say it may go even higher.