Category Archives: campaign finance

“WGME, other Sinclair stations, run stories promoting Trump campaign merchandise”

August 19, 2019, 1:41 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Portland Press Herald: Maine television station WGME, Channel 13, has again been swept up in a national media ethics controversy after its corporate parent apparently directed it to publish and publicize a news story on its website that promotes President… Continue reading

“Personal Data About Small-Donor Democrats Is All Over the Internet”

August 18, 2019, 8:16 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

David Primo NYT oped: One of the largest single disclosures of small-donor information in American history took place on July 31. On that day, the names, addresses, occupations and employers of at least 2.3 million people who contributed money… Continue reading

Four Separate Draft Advisory Opinions Signals Potential Deadlock at FEC on Tom Price Plan to Use Campaign Funds for 501c(4) Electioneering

August 17, 2019, 6:30 pmcampaign finance, federal election commission, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

See here. If the FEC deadlocks, Price will have to decide whether to go forward with his plan and risk liability for doing so. But given how lax FEC enforcement is these days, it is not clear how much… Continue reading

Breaking: Republican FEC Commissioners Block Investigation into NRA Russian Ties in 2016 Election

August 16, 2019, 11:54 amcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub (whose full statement is here): BREAKING: @FEC's Republicans block all investigation of & enforcement against Russians Torshin & Butina re the NRA & the 2016 presidential election. Result: FEC does nothing to find out… Continue reading

“Deregulating Corruption”

August 15, 2019, 7:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming Harvard Law and Policy Review). Here is the abstract: The Roberts Supreme Court has, or to be more precise the five most conservative members of the Roberts Court have, spent the… Continue reading

“A Realistic Version of Campaign Finance Reform and Two Essential Steps Toward a Return to Effective Governance”

August 15, 2019, 7:18 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Richard Pierce has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming George Mason Law Review). Here is the abstract: This essay is a contribution to a symposium on “The Administration of Democracy.” Professor Pierce argues in support of a system of campaign… Continue reading

I Was on The Hill.TV’s “Rising” Talking About My Atlantic Article About a New Campaign Finance Case Heading to the Supreme Court

August 14, 2019, 7:41 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Watch here: The Atlantic article is: Unlimited Donations to Candidates, Coming Soon?

Tom Steyer Buys His Way into Dem Debates

August 13, 2019, 7:44 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Mark Murray: The lesson here: Being a billionaire with a big email list matters more than any previous debate performance — or campaign work on the ground in the early states. https://t.co/R8Z14kvUZO— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) August 13, 2019

Ninth Circuit Upholds Montana Campaign Finance Disclosure Law Against First Amendment Challenge; Strikes Provision Requiring that Organization Treasurer Be a Registered Montana Voter

August 12, 2019, 3:06 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Unanimous opinion in National Association for Gun Rights v. Mangan.

“A Better Hope for Campaign Finance Reform”

August 9, 2019, 7:03 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ed McCaffery has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: There is too much money in American politics, and too much of it comes from too few citizens. Mega-donors like Sheldon Adelson or Tom Steyer make $100… Continue reading

“Trump’s Opponents Want to Name His Big Donors. His Supporters Say It’s Harassment.”

August 8, 2019, 6:24 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: But the Supreme Court’s support for campaign finance disclosure laws has a built-in exemption for people who can show a realistic threat of harassment, and the renewed scrutiny on Trump donors has also raised questions about what qualifies as… Continue reading

A “Call Mitch McConnell” Ad That Really Does Seem to Want You to Call Mitch McConnell (About Election Security)

August 8, 2019, 8:00 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Bill Kristol: We can't count on Trump for election security. And Mitch McConnell is blocking the Senate from even considering bipartisan election security legislation. Enough. This ad from @ForTheRuleOfLaw is on the air in DC and KY. pic.twitter.com/RdbmIcRaNy—… Continue reading