DCCC Files Complaint Against Oberweis

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a complaint today against the Republican looking to succeed House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in a special election next month.

The committee alleges that dairy owner Jim Oberweis triggered the Millionaire’s Amendment, which applies to self-funding candidates who spend over $350,000 of their own money, without notifying his opponent, as required by campaign law.

The amendment is designed to limit the fundraising restrictions on candidates who are facing self-funded opponents.

“The Commission should aggressively investigate this matter and seek the highest civil penalties required by law,” wrote DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff to the Federal Election Commission’s general counsel, Thomasenia Duncan.

Oberweis is running against Democratic scientist Bill Foster, who has also spent millions of his own money on the campaign. The DCCC has also chipped in, spending over $70,000 in direct mail against Oberweis.

Both candidates have spent heavily on ads attacking each other. Oberweis is up with a new advertisement, accusing Foster of supporting a slew of higher taxes. And Foster is accusing Oberweis of “support[ing] Bush's scheme to privatize Social Security.”

The district, long held by Hastert, has been reliably Republican, but Democrats believe it is trending in their direction. The Foster campaign recently released a newly-conducted poll showing him leading Oberweis by a 45 to 41 percent margin.

The special election will be held next Saturday, March 8.