Category Archives: campaign finance
“Courts Have No Say When FEC Wants To Ignore Alleged Wrongdoing”
Ken Doyle:
A decision by two federal judges is making it impossible to challenge the way the Federal Election Commission enforces campaign laws.When the FEC deadlocks along party lines, that’s now the end of the line — no court… Continue reading
“Very few Americans are satisfied with campaign finance laws, but most don’t know a lot about them”
CNN:
As major presidential hopefuls release their fundraising numbers from the first quarter this week, recent polling finds just 1 in 5 Americans say they are satisfied with the nation’s campaign finance laws.The January Gallup poll found that exactly 20%… Continue reading
“John Kasich forms dark money political group with other prominent never-Trumpers”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
“Black leaders blast Dem war on super PACs”
Politico:
Top black donors and operatives are calling on fellow Democrats to abandon their push against super PACs, arguing that one of Democrats’ most popular 2020 talking points will ultimately cut off much-needed resources for candidates of color.In a letter… Continue reading
“Online Campaign Contributions in US Politics: A Conversation”
SSRC:
In this conversation hosted by the Media & Democracy program, program officer Mike Miller discusses the trajectory of campaign financing in recent elections with Ciara Torres-Spelliscy (Stetson University) and Heath Brown (John Jay College of Criminal Justice). In… Continue reading
“From Rick Santorum to Beto O’Rourke, Federal Regulation Arbitrarily Criminalizes Candidates”
Eric Wang for the Daily Caller.
“Catch and Kill: Can tabloids hide behind the First Amendment?”
Rebecca Beyer for the ABA Journal:
One possible defense to any charge of campaign finance violations in the AMI/McDougal deal would come from the Federal Election Campaign Act’s distinction between campaign expenses and “personal use” expenses. (Edwards went with the… Continue reading
Senator Ted Cruz Suing to Kill Campaign Finance Law Limiting Post-Election Fundraising for Personal Loan Repayments to $250K
Zoe Tillman:
NEW: Sen. Ted Cruz is suing the FEC, challenging a $250K cap on the amount of money a candidate can raise after an election to repay personal funds the candidate loaned to his or her campaign https://t.co/tDfFnuDuUa… Continue reading
“Even Liberal Democrats Can’t Quit Wealthy Donors and Their Big Checks”
Smart Shane Goldmacher and Jontahan Martin in the NYT:
The race for cash in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary is reaching a frenetic peak this weekend with a dozen fund-raisers on both coasts, as presidential hopefuls rush to vacuum up… Continue reading
Ninth Circuit, with 5 Dissents, Declines Rehearing en Banc in Case Where Koch Brothers’ AFP Tried to Block Donor Information from California Regulators (Information NOT Made Public)
Judge Ikuta’s dissent and a response from the panel majority are available at this link.
I have little doubt that AFP will try next at the Supreme Court.
(via Bloomberg USLW).
“Why Focus on Corporate Political Spending?”
Bruce Freed, Dan Carroll, and Karl Sandstorm blog.
The Plight of the FEC
From an Eleanor Eagan Jeff Hauser analysis of independent agencies:
Finally, the plight of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an example of how Trump’s slowdown can exacerbate pre-existing threats to the public good. All of the commissioners are serving … Continue reading
“Senate Democrats push to match House’s ethics and election reforms”
WaPo:
Responding to action in the House, Senate Democrats unveiled their own version of a sweeping election and ethics reform bill Wednesday — one that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed never to bring to a vote.Dubbed, like… Continue reading