Category Archives: campaign finance

“Brennan Center Launches Online Database of Empirical Evidence on Money in Politics”

May 2, 2017, 7:55 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Post: The confirmation of Neil M. Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court challenges citizens, lawmakers, and others concerned about the influence of big money in politics to bolster their efforts. While super PACs, the growth of secret spending,… Continue reading

“Brad Smith: Prevent the reckless restructuring of the FEC”

May 1, 2017, 7:30 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Brad Smith in the Columbus Dispatch: But today the FEC is under attack from members of Congress whose misguided proposal to “reform” the agency could take us back to the Watergate era. A bill co-sponsored by Rep. Jim Renacci, an… Continue reading

Bauer Ties Campus Free Speech Rights to Campaign Finance

May 1, 2017, 6:17 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Here.

“Surge in LLC contributions brings more mystery about true donors”

April 29, 2017, 12:04 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Open Secrets: Donald Trump’s inaugural committee did well by almost any standard: Doubling the previous record for cash raised to fund festivities around a new president’s swearing-in, it took in contributions from every major sector of the economy, and from… Continue reading

“Judge says ex-Congressman Bob Beauprez’s group must pay $17,000 in campaign finance fines”

April 27, 2017, 9:36 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Colorado Independent: Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, who ran for governor in 2014, should have registered a nonprofit as a political committee, a judge ruled. The decision came in response to a dark-money lawsuit filed by Matt Arnold, a… Continue reading

“Schock wants campaign finance charges dropped”

April 27, 2017, 9:34 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Hill: Former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), who has been indicted on two-dozen fraud-related charges, wants a federal court to dismiss five counts on the falsifying of campaign finance records. His lawyers at McGuireWoods argue that the charges infringe on… Continue reading

“Should ‘Dark’ Money Power the Resistance to Trump?”

April 27, 2017, 1:46 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Eliza Newlin Carney for TAP: Watchdogs have faulted the IRS for failing to put the brakes on political spending by tax-exempt groups, which operate outside the disclosure rules. Technically, 501(c)(4) social welfare groups may not focus on politics as their… Continue reading

“Klobuchar & Hirono Probe Thapar on Money in Politics”

April 27, 2017, 7:10 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

PAW: One of the several concerns that have been raised about Sixth Circuit nominee Amul Thapar centers on a case in which he used a severely flawed First Amendment analysis to strike down Kentucky’s ban on state judicial candidates contributing… Continue reading

Millions Spent on Soda Tax Fight in Santa Fe, NM

April 26, 2017, 8:53 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Albuquerque Journal: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made a $400,000 cash donation to the political committee supporting the proposed tax on sugary beverages in Santa Fe, bringing his investment in the effort to more than $1.13 million.… Continue reading

Free Speech for People, Prof John Coates File Complaint Against CITGO Contributions to Trump Inaugural Committee

April 26, 2017, 7:56 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Watchdog group Free Speech For People, joined by Harvard Law Professor John Coates, just filed an FEC complaint against Citgo and the Trump inaugural committee alleging that federal law prohibits “foreign nationals” from donating to presidential inaugural committees. Read the … Continue reading

TrackYourCompany.Org

April 26, 2017, 7:52 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Interesting new tool from the Center for Political Accountability: a corporate political spending database.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Alabama Campaign Finance Case

April 24, 2017, 6:59 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Today without noted dissent the Supreme Court denied cert. in Alabama Democratic Conference v. Marshall, a First Amendment campaign finance challenge to Alabama law brought by Democrats (unusual these days). The cert petition (signed by Bob Bauer, Rick Pildes,… Continue reading

“‘Dark money’ vs. corporate cash: Democratic rivals clash over funding”

April 21, 2017, 7:39 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo on the Va governor’s race.

On Party Line Vote, FEC Rejects Continued Exemption from Disclosure for Socialist Workers Party

April 20, 2017, 9:18 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

The Supreme Court has long recognized that a group facing a realistic threat of harassment for revealing its donors or vendors has a First Amendment right to exemption from generally applicable campaign finance laws. The case establishing this principle, Bro… Continue reading