Category Archives: campaign finance

Judge Lynn Adelman: “How Big Money Ruined Public Life in Wisconsin”

December 21, 2017, 11:31 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Federal district court judge Lynn Adelman has posted this draft (forthcoming Cleveland State Law Review) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This Article discusses how Wisconsin fell from grace. Once a model good government state that pioneered many democracy-enhancing laws,… Continue reading

FEC Commissioner Weintraub Statement on Ongoing Litigation to Stop FEC from Revealing Identity of Those Found to Have Illegally Hid Names of Contributors

December 19, 2017, 4:59 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Troubling: COVER LETTER TO THE STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER ELLEN L. WEINTRAUB IN MUR 6920 (AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION) DECEMBER 19, 2017 Due to pending litigation, I must take the unprecedented step of releasing the attached statement with the identities of certain… Continue reading

“Facebook Political Ads Get Bare-Bones Guidance From FEC”

December 14, 2017, 8:06 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: Candidates and political groups may be heading into another congressional election cycle without guidance about what their ads should reveal about who’s paying to influence Facebook’s almost 160 million U.S. users. The Federal Election Commission deadlocked along party… Continue reading

“Proposal to Let Churches and Other Nonprofits Get Political Blocked from Tax Bill”

December 14, 2017, 7:55 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

WSJ: Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) says the chamber’s parliamentarian has blocked a proposal to let churches and charities engage in partisan politics, keeping it out of the final tax bill set to be unveiled Friday. The repeal of… Continue reading

Point-Counterpoint in Compliance Week on Proposed SEC Disclosure Rule on Corporate Political Spending

December 14, 2017, 9:11 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Read.

“Seattle’s Creative Campaign Finance Reform”

December 13, 2017, 7:46 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Democracy Journal on campaign finance vouchers.

“Facebook and the New Red Scare”

December 12, 2017, 8:06 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

David Keating and Paul Jossey in The Hill: Various interests have seized on Russian chicanery to push “reforms” lacking priority in less neurotic times. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) sent a “Dear Colleague” letter seeking new rules… Continue reading

“Montana political watchdog says Democratic Party violated campaign finance laws”

December 11, 2017, 7:58 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

AP: The Montana Democratic Party failed to identify the issues and candidates that benefited from its spending of about $375,000 on the 2016 general election, the state’s top election watchdog found.

“Secret super PAC backing Jones in Alabama exposed”

December 11, 2017, 2:22 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico: A mystery super PAC backing Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama is controlled by a pair of groups closely aligned with the national Democratic Party, even as the candidate strives to dissociate himself from Washington interests. Highway 31, which… Continue reading

“A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations”

December 11, 2017, 12:05 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Steven Sholk has published an updated version of his very useful publication. Depending on what happens with the tax bill, he may have to write a whole new guide in January.

Must-Read Ellen Aprill NYT Oped: “Leave the Johnson Amendment Alone”

December 10, 2017, 7:51 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Ellen in the NYT: Contributions to charities are deductible; contributions to PACs and section 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations are not. Because charities can have enormous influence on political campaigns with very little expense, many who wish to intervene in political… Continue reading

“New Alabama-based Political Action Committee spends millions to support Doug Jones, draws fire”

December 7, 2017, 3:10 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WHNT: A new Alabama-based political action committee, Highway 31, is taking an active role in the Alabama special election for a U.S. Senate seat, and it’s drawn criticism for avoiding disclosure of its donors. The group was formed in early… Continue reading