Category Archives: campaign finance

“Corporations Open the Cash Spigot for Trump’s Inauguration”

January 17, 2017, 7:43 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: When Donald J. Trump strides onto the inaugural ballroom floor this week amid the sprawling celebration of his swearing-in, he will have corporate America and many of its titans to thank for the rapturous greeting. Chevron, the oil giant,… Continue reading

“Republican group makes record $5 million bet on Virginia governor’s race”

January 15, 2017, 8:27 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: The Republican Governors Association just wrote a $5 million check — the largest single political donation in Virginia’s history — with the goal of putting a Republican in the governor’s mansion. The whopping contribution suggests Republicans like their odds… Continue reading

“FEC Deadlocks on Case of 501(c)(4) Group Touting Rubio”

January 13, 2017, 6:40 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: A nonprofit organization that sponsored more than $1 million worth of television ads highlighting Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in early presidential primary states won’t be subjected to enforcement action by the Federal Election Commission after the commissioners deadlocked… Continue reading

“Trump Tweet About L. L. Bean Underscores Potential Danger for Brands”

January 12, 2017, 8:59 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: With a single tweet on Thursday, President-elect Donald J. Trump pulled L. L. Bean, the Maine retailer known for its boots, jackets and preppy New England aesthetic, back into a political crossfire. The company was already facing a boycott… Continue reading

“FEC Deadlocks on New Rules Against Foreign Campaign Money”

January 12, 2017, 8:36 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: Proposals to write new Federal Election Commission rules aimed at preventing foreign campaign money from influencing U.S. elections led to a deadlock between Democratic and Republican commissioners at the FEC’s first meeting in 2017. FEC Democrats said… Continue reading

Profs Amicus Brief Seeking #SCOTUS Review in Independence Institute Campaign Disclosure Case

January 12, 2017, 8:36 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Prominent conservative and libertarian profs on this one.

FEC Delays Action Until March on Whether to Remove Social Workers Party Harassment Exemption from Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws

January 12, 2017, 7:18 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

As noted.

“Former Wisconsin judges seek rules on campaign donations”

January 11, 2017, 5:01 pmcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: More than 50 retired jurists on Wednesday asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to require judges and justices to step aside when hearing cases involving those who helped bankroll their elections. The proposal from the 54 former judges comes… Continue reading

“‘Soft Money’ Challenge Heads to Supreme Court”

January 11, 2017, 7:47 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The Supreme Court has been asked formally to review a challenge to restrictions on “soft money” contributions to political parties—the last remaining major element of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law passed in 2002. The filing of a “jurisdictional… Continue reading

“Philanthropy Roundtable petitions Supreme Court to uphold donor privacy”

January 11, 2017, 7:39 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Philanthropy Daily: The Philanthropy Roundtable filed an amicus brief Monday in the case Independence Institute v. Federal Election Commission urging the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold donor privacy and free speech for 501(c)3 charities. “Many philanthropists value… Continue reading

“Group appeals lawsuit challenging Alaska campaign finance laws”

January 10, 2017, 9:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Alaska Daily News: A group of Republicans trying to loosen campaign contribution limits in Alaska — following key decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years — is appealing a ruling by a federal judge in November that upheld… Continue reading

“Trump Shows That Money in Politics Still Counts”

January 10, 2017, 8:37 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy blogs.

“Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Plays Hardball With Her Wealth”

January 10, 2017, 8:36 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Like the Kochs, the DeVoses are generous supporters of think tanks that evangelize for unrestrained capitalism, like Michigan’s Acton Institute, and that rail against unions and back privatizing public services, like the Mackinac Center. They have also funded national… Continue reading

“FEC Draft Would End Socialists’ Waiver of Disclosure”

January 7, 2017, 10:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission would end the Socialist Workers Party’s nearly 40-year-old exemption from campaign finance disclosure laws under a proposed ruling set to be considered by the FEC commissioners Jan. 12. A draft advisory opinion (AO… Continue reading