North Dakota Attorney General Challenges Advocacy Group

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Attorney General Wayne

Stenehjem is challenging an advocacy group's claim that it should

be able to make pre-recorded phone calls in the state.

North Dakota law bans "robo-calls" unless they are introduced

by a live operator. A group called American Future Fund Political

Action is asking the Federal Election Commission to override the

law.

The group supports conservative political causes. It contends

that federal election campaign law allows the pre-recorded calls,

and that federal law on telemarketing should trump North Dakota's

restrictions.

The American Future Fund asked the Federal Election Commission

for an advisory opinion last month. Stenehjem filed a response this

week to support North Dakota's law against robo-calls.

The attorney general says North Dakotans are already sick of

political advertising, and the election is a year away. He says the

law helps protect North Dakotans from being bombarded by political

calls.

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