President Bush sent the Senate a slate of Federal Election Commission nominees Tuesday, but the gesture may not end the long impasse over the agency’s roster.

Bush’s move — a response to a suggestion by Majority Leader Harry Reid — is intended to seat a full six-member commission by Memorial Day. But the list of nominees still contains Hans von Spakovsky, a Republican who is opposed by Senate Democrats.

Bush’s list has three new names: Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly and Republicans Donald F. McGahn and Caroline C. Hunter. McGahn would replace Commissioner David M. Mason, who had been awaiting confirmation as a reappointment.

Two previous nominees are still awaiting confirmation: von Spakovsky and Democrat Steven T. Walther. In addition, Bush heeded Reid’s advice and allowed Commissioner Ellen Weintraub to remain in her current seat.

“You will note that this nominations package incorporates your proposals for the three Democratic seats on the commission and provides a clear path to our shared goal of a fully functioning six-member FEC,” White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten wrote to Reid. “We look forward to working with you both to accomplish a fully functioning six-member FEC by Memorial Day.”

Democrats object to von Spakovsky for his enforcement of civil-rights laws while at the Justice Department. Reid said the Senate would vote him down if Bush did not drop the nomination. That strategy stirred opposition from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republicans, who insisted on approving nominees in pairs to assure von Spakovsky’s confirmation.

Bush’s announcement did not appear to end the impasse. A Reid spokesman said Democrats would work to defeat von Spakovsky and confirm the other nominees.

“By abandoning Mr. Mason and instead sticking by Mr. von Spakovsky, the White House has abandoned experience and independence for partisan loyalty,” said spokesman Jim Manley. “That is the White House’s choice. It is a regrettable one.”

McConnell said the Democrats should just confirm all six nominees.

“This compromise is a blueprint for a fully functioning, bipartisan FEC — a goal we all share — and an end to the bottleneck created by the Democrats’ opposition to one well-qualified nominee,” McConnell said.

The FEC has only two sitting members — Weintraub and Mason — and has been unable to investigate complaints or pursue legal cases for lack of a four-member quorum.

First posted May 6, 2008 7:29 p.m.