Category Archives: campaign finance

CFI Report on Small Donor Finance in New York State

January 15, 2020, 12:42 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

“Small Donor Public Finance in New York State: Major Innovations – With a Catch,” by Michael Malbin and Brendan Glavin, available here (PDF). From the press release: On January 1, 2020, New York became only the second… Continue reading

Citizens United at 10

January 14, 2020, 1:19 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Hard to believe, but one week from today will mark the 10th birthday of Citizens United. To help us commemorate/mourn the occasion, the Center for Responsive Politics has this report, “More money, less transparency: A decade under Citizens United.”… Continue reading

“Seattle City Council bans ‘foreign-influenced’ companies from most political spending”

January 14, 2020, 3:12 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Seattle Times: The Seattle City Council voted Monday to ban most political spending by “foreign-influenced corporations,” in a move that could hinder attempts by multinational tech titans to influence the city’s elections…. The city’s new ban applies to corporations… Continue reading

“Prepare to Be Shocked! Trump’s One Weird Trick to Avoid a Campaign Investigation”

January 13, 2020, 12:01 pmcampaign financeDan Tokaji

From the Center for Public Integrity. Hint: it involves the FEC.

SCOTUS Denies Cert in SEC Pay-to-Play Case

January 13, 2020, 10:09 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Bloomberg on today’s order in N.Y. Republican State Comm. v. SEC, a First Amendment challenge to SEC Rule 2030, which regulates “placement agents” who solicit government business after making campaign contributions.

Bloomberg Open to Spending $1 Billion to Elect A Democratic President

January 12, 2020, 7:13 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

NYT: “Michael R. Bloomberg on Saturday did not rule out spending a billion dollars of his own money on the 2020 presidential race, even if he does not win the Democratic nomination, and said he would mobilize his… Continue reading

“Voting rights group founded by Stacey Abrams reports raising $14.6M”

January 9, 2020, 7:52 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

AP: ” A big chunk of Fair Fight’s haul came as a single $5 million donation from Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg in December, according to a report filed with the Georgia state ethics commission.”

“Shadow Group Provides Sanders Super PAC Support He Scorns”

January 9, 2020, 3:25 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

AP: Bernie Sanders says he doesn’t want a super PAC. Instead, he has Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization he founded that functions much the same as one….Now, with less than one month to go before the Iowa caucuses,… Continue reading

“California investor charged with obstructing probe of Trump inaugural donation”

January 8, 2020, 4:03 amcampaign financeDan Tokaji

Politico: A prolific California donor who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations now faces a fresh charge for allegedly trying to stymie an investigation into the source of money he donated to the Trump inauguration committee. Prosecutors in the… Continue reading

“Durkan Supports Capping Super PAC Donations and Blocking Amazon from City Elections”

January 7, 2020, 3:01 pmcampaign finance, election law and constitutional lawJustin Levitt

In the wake of substantial spending by Amazon (and others) in 2019 city council elections, Seattle contemplates a Clean Campaigns Act purporting to limit contributions to Super PACs, and to limit spending from corporations with more than 1% ownership from… Continue reading

What to do with campaign funds after retiring or passing away

January 7, 2020, 3:01 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, federal election commissionJustin Levitt

Two stories today about campaign funds active longer than their campaigners. One focuses on FEC requests for explanation from retired officeholders still spending from campaign accounts. The other describes the plans that Rep. Cummings had for his unspent campaign money… Continue reading

“Democratic Candidates Together Doubled Trump’s 2020 Fundraising Numbers”

January 7, 2020, 3:01 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

A HuffPost piece on the other side of the odd horserace money count I mentioned last week: Allies of President Donald Trump gloated last week at the news that his campaign outraised each of the Democratic presidential candidates. But… Continue reading

“The Real Power of Bloomberg’s Money”

January 7, 2020, 3:00 pmcampaign finance, lobbying, political equalityJustin Levitt

A piece in the Atlantic on the governance options available to billionaires: When people think about the political relevance of Michael Bloomberg’s money, they tend to think about how his massive spending helps his campaigns: the record $261 million he… Continue reading

“Election experts urge Trump, congressional leaders to end stalemate at FEC”

January 6, 2020, 2:15 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionJustin Levitt

The Hill: Lobbyists and lawyers who specialize in U.S. elections wrote to President Trump and congressional leaders on Monday, urging the confirmation of another federal election commissioner to end “an untenable situation.”The Federal Election Commission (FEC), the government’s campaign… Continue reading