Category Archives: campaign finance
D.C. Circuit, in 2-1 Votes, Makes It Much Harder to Challenge Decisions by Republican FEC Commissioners Not to Enforce Federal Campaign Finance Laws
This opinion by Senior Judge Randolph, joined by Judge Kavanaugh is most unfortunate. As Judge Pillard suggests in her dissent, the opinion insulates FEC Commissioners’ refusal to enforce certain campaign finance laws from judicial review under the guise of “prosecutorial… Continue reading
Federal District Court Holds Colorado Law Allowing Private Individuals to File Campaign Finance Complaints Violates the First Amendment
This opinion (by Obama appointee Raymond Moore) is perhaps the worst-written and reasoned election law opinion I’ve read from a federal court.
I’m not saying the result is necessarily wrong (though my early thoughts are that it is). But much… Continue reading
“IRS revokes dark money group Americans for Job Security’s tax exempt status”
Big news from Issue One:
This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it revoked the dark money group Americans for Job Security’s tax exempt status. The announcement followed a complaintfrom Issue One and the Campaign Legal Center… Continue reading
8th Circuit Holds Unconstitutional Missouri Law Requiring Political Committees Influencing Elections to Be Formed at Least 30 Days Before an Election
This ruling makes sense to me:
Assuming, without deciding, that this [anti-corruption] interest is compelling, the formation deadline is unconstitutional because it is not narrowly tailored. The formation deadline indiscriminately prohibits (or significantly burdens) speech by individuals or groups who… Continue reading
“Maine Democrats Focus on Campaign Finance in Congressional Primary”
“Second member resigns from California campaign finance watchdog panel”
“Hidden Super-PAC Contributors Win Round as Court Upholds Secrecy”
Bloomberg BNA:
A federal court upheld the Federal Election Commission’s dismissal of disclosure charges involving two wealthy contributors who allegedly funneled $14 million to super-political action committees through obscure companies.
The FEC’s three Republican commissioners, who voted to dismiss the… Continue reading
“Trump learns to love megadonors”
“Missouri House drops effort to get documents from Greitens’ secretive nonprofit”
KC Star:
The Missouri House has dropped its effort to enforce a subpoena demanding documents from former Gov. Eric Greitens’ secretive dark money nonprofit.
Lawmakers had asked Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem to force Greitens’ nonprofit, called A… Continue reading
“Washington state sues Facebook, Google over political ads”
CBS:
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday sued Facebook (FB) and Google (GOOG), saying the companies failed to maintain information about political advertising as required by state law.
Washington law requires the companies to maintain… Continue reading
Montana Governor to Sign Executive Order Requiring More Campaign Donor Transparency
Via email comes this news:
Montana Governor Steve Bullock “sign an executive order that requires disclosure of dark money spending by corporations with large government contracts. President Obama proposed a similar order at the federal level a few years ago,… Continue reading
“In Three California House Races, Wealthy Democrats Have Spent $16 Million of Their Own Money So Far”
David Dayen for The Intercept.
“Missouri’s dark money scandal, explained”
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for Salon.