Lawmakers can raise `soft money' for redistricting

By SHARON THEIMER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal election officials say members of Congress helping their parties finance redistricting battles can raise "soft money," the unlimited corporate and union cash that a 2002 law bans them from collecting for their campaigns.

The Federal Election Commission on Friday unanimously granted the National Democratic Redistricting Trust's request to let lawmakers raise unlimited contributions for the legal fights likely to develop as congressional district boundaries are redrawn after this year's census. How a district is drawn - and which voters are included in it - can be crucial to whether a Democrat or Republican gets elected to represent it.

The Democratic group contends there would be no risk of corruption in lawmakers raising unlimited donations for redistricting because the money wouldn't be used for elections.