From our perspective, having a relationship with Jack Abramoff explored is really never a good thing for a public official:

Just before boarding a plane to the Mariana Islands in 1999, then-Congressman Bob Schaffer announced he was embarking on a fact-finding mission to get to the bottom of repeated allegations of labor abuse in the American protectorate.

"I plan to walk right into those factories and living quarters to see for myself what conditions exist," Schaffer said in a news release in August of that year.

What he didn't say was that the trip was partly arranged by the firm of now-

jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who represented textile factory owners fighting congressional efforts to reform labor and immigration laws on the islands and who was being handsomely paid to keep the islands' cherished exemptions.

Schaffer and his wife stayed or free at a palm-studded beach resort and, besides factories, also toured historical sites and met with clients of Preston-

Gates, Abramoff's firm, according to a copy of the trip's agenda archived in Schaffer's congressional papers.

He left believing that allegations of widespread abuse were largely unfounded — blaming them on Big Labor's efforts to shut down a booming textile industry allowed to use the "Made in USA" label but dependent on tens of thousands of imported workers.

In a recent interview with The Denver Post, the Republican candidate for Colorado's open Senate seat described the protectorate's guest-worker program as a "model" lawmakers could use as they overhaul the U.S. immigration system.

Today, CREW filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that the non-profit group U.S. Term Limits (USTL) violated federal election law by running an advertisement advocating the election of Bob Schaffer for the U.S. Senate in Colorado.

As you can see from the picture below, the ad, which is posted on YouTube, is called the "Bob Schaffer for Senate video." The "About This Video" section reads "Bob Schaffer for Senate video paid for by TermLimits.org."

The ad depicts children and parents repeatedly thanking Mr. Schaffer by name for supporting charter schools. On the screen at the end of the ad is a written disclaimer: "Paid for U.S. Term Limits. U.S. Term Limits is responsible for the content of this advertising. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. U.S. Term Limits does not endorse candidates for public office."

The ad violates federal election law in two ways. First, anyone who pays for an ad expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate is required to file a report describing the expenditure within 48 hours after the ad first runs. This ad first aired on March 26, 2008, meaning that a report should have been filed with the Commission no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2008, but no report was filed.

Second, such television ads must include an audio statement that the person paying for the communication is responsible for the ad’s content, which the USTL ad does not.

CREW's Melanie Sloan said:

USTL tried to turn this Schaffer campaign ad into an issue ad by never mentioning that Mr. Schaffer is a candidate or referring to the upcoming election. USTL's intent to affect the Colorado senate race was revealed, however, when the group posted the ad on YouTube labeling it "Bob Schaffer for Senate video. This is nothing more than a campaign ad in issue ad clothing.

This is exactly the type of ad the FEC should be investigating, but the FEC's absence of a quorum means that the Commission cannot impose any penalties unless and until new commissioners are confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The total absence of election law enforcement will become more and more serious as we get closer to the November elections.