Category Archives: campaign finance
“California bill takes aim at dark money in politics — will Jerry Brown sign it?”
Mercury News:
The barely legible print that briefly flashes on-screen at the end of political ads will be gone, replaced by information people can clearly read, if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a closely watched bill targeting “dark money” in campaigns.… Continue reading
“The most and least transparent companies for political spending”
WaPo:
Major public companies are letting a little more sunlight into their wallets, making more disclosures about their political spending on their web sites and adding more board oversight to monitor it, according to a new study.
The report released… Continue reading
“Slashing corporate taxes opens floodgate on ‘dark money’ ads”
Ezra Reese oped:
Political organizations very rarely withhold donors currently because the 35 percent tax is simply too high. A cut in that rate to 20 percent, however, would lead a number of political organizations and their donors to… Continue reading
“FEC fines contractor that gave pro-Clinton super PACs illegal cash”
CPI:
The Federal Election Commission has fined Boston-based Suffolk Construction Co., a federal government contractor, for making illegal contributions to a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, according to a letter from the agency.
The $34,000 settlement between the FEC and Suffolk… Continue reading
Review of Plutocrats United in APSA’s Perspectives on Politics
This review of Plutocrats United by Travis Ridout came out last December, but I did not see it until now.
“Twitter, With Accounts Linked to Russia, to Face Congress Over Role in Election”
NYT:
For three weeks, a harsh spotlight has been trained on Facebook over its disclosure that Russians used fake pages and ads, designed to look like the work of American activists, to spread inflammatory messages during and since the… Continue reading
Campaign Legal Center Hosting Event on Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections on Oct. 12
Details and RSVP.
“Campaign watchdogs cite ‘significant concerns’ if Texas lawyer Trey Trainor gets FEC post”
Dallas News:
Campaign watchdog groups blasted Austin lawyer Trey Trainor on Wednesday, warning senators that his ties to the White House and views on campaign finance should raise “significant concerns” should he win a spot on the Federal Election… Continue reading
“Facebook Campaign Spending Draws FEC Complaints from Common Cause”
Release:
Today Common Cause filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that Michael Waddell, the host of the hunting show “Bone Collector”, and a Wisconsin businessman made illegal undisclosed independent expenditures in connection with the 2016 and 2020… Continue reading
“Some Conservatives See PAC’s Tax Reform Ads As Potential Warning Shot”
HuffPost:
As House Republicans get ready to release the details of their tax reform proposal on Wednesday, rank-and-file GOP members spent Tuesday morning learning what consequences might befall them if they don’t get onboard.
During a closed-door meeting with House… Continue reading
$250,000 Bought Face Time for Couple with President Trump at NYC Fundraising Dinner
So much for the billionaire who funds his own campaigns.
Some Russian-Paid Facebook Ads May Have Contained Express Advocacy, Making Them Illegal Under Current Law
Politico:
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was the beneficiary of at least one Russian-bought ad on Facebook that federal government officials suspect were intended to influence the 2016 election.
Other advertisements paid for by shadowy Russian buyers criticized Hillary… Continue reading
“Why Banning Russian Facebook Ads Might Be Impossible”
I have written this piece for Politico magazine. It begins:
Lost amid the debate over whether Facebook can be trusted to police itself to stop Russian and other foreign interference in future U.S. elections or whether new legislation is necessary… Continue reading