House GOP Campaign Officials Plan to Defy FEC on Spending

WASHINGTON — House Republican campaign officials are preparing to defy the Federal Election Commission and inject huge amounts of party money into key congressional races this fall without waiting for a Supreme Court appeal that will determine whether the practice is legal.

Republican strategists say the extra money could make their candidates competitive in at least seven districts where Democrats are believed to have an advantage. With control of the House next year hinging on a few dozen contests, the strategists said the funds could decide whether the GOP retains its six-seat majority.

Federal law limits national parties to direct expenditures of $33,780 in House races and restricts the kinds of ads they may run. But the GOP is seizing on a ruling in May from the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, which allowed parties in several Rocky Mountain states to spend unlimited amounts to help a candidate.

The FEC has said it plans an appeal to the Supreme Court and has issued a warning that it would seek fines if the parties ignored the limit while the case is pending.

GOP strategists are preparing to do just that in races throughout the country. Party lawyers contend that the Supreme Court will agree that such limits are unconstitutional.

Democratic officials said they might follow suit.