Category Archives: campaign finance

“FEC Draft Would End Socialists’ Waiver of Disclosure”

January 7, 2017, 10:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission would end the Socialist Workers Party’s nearly 40-year-old exemption from campaign finance disclosure laws under a proposed ruling set to be considered by the FEC commissioners Jan. 12. A draft advisory opinion (AO… Continue reading

“The Coming Speech Wars Online”

January 6, 2017, 8:28 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Paul Jossey in the National Review: The Internet is an incredible human achievement. It has done more to ensure freedom and human rights than any government agency ever could. But such freedom is insecure when would-be censors exist either inside… Continue reading

“New pro-Trump political group readies for launch”

January 6, 2017, 8:15 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Politico: But day-to-day operational control of the group, which will be organized as a 501(c)4 nonprofit, is expected to lie with Parscale, who was given authority to take charge by Jared Kushner, Trump’s influential son-in-law. Inside Trump’s orbit, there has… Continue reading

“Drain the Swamp: Conflicts of Interest, Lobbying, and Corruption Solutions to Restore Trust in Government that Works for Americans”

January 5, 2017, 8:55 ambribery, campaign finance, chicanery, conflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Release: Today, the Center for American Progress released a new report to address the threats to representative self-government inherent in special interest lobbying, revolving door politics, corruption of public service, and lax ethics and contracting oversight, as well as the… Continue reading

“Congressman spent campaign funds for rabbit air travel”

January 5, 2017, 7:48 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Not the Onion: Rep. Duncan Hunter used campaign funds to pay for $600 of airline fees to fly a pet rabbit, one of the more colorful expenses to surface in an ongoing review of his practices.

Draft 2 of CA Political Reform Act Revisions Here

January 4, 2017, 5:20 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Next stage of neat project to make the PRA actually readable and understandable for non-lawyers.

Floyd Abrams, Who Argued Citizens United, Writes Letter for Gov. Cuomo Defending New NY Disclosure Requirements

January 4, 2017, 8:14 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Floyd has consistently been an opponent of campaign finance limits, but he has been more open to arguing for the constitutionality of campaign disclosure laws. (In the letter below, he is representing the views of a client, but my sense… Continue reading

“Seattle voters will soon get $100 in ‘democracy vouchers’ to donate to candidates”

December 31, 2016, 9:36 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Looking forward to watching this unfold in the new year. I’ve supported public financing through campaign finance vouchers since the 1990s.

FEC, on 6-0 Vote, Rejects Complaint Clinton Campaign Joint Fundraising Operations with 32 State Parties Illegal

December 30, 2016, 6:27 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Yup, the problem is not what’s illegal but what’s legal. It is fine to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars using joint fundraising committees despite a $2,700 individual contribution limit of money going directly to candidate campaigns.

“Offer of access to Trump and family at fundraiser is pulled back, but ties remain”

December 21, 2016, 8:02 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“The Future Of Campaign Finance Reform Is At The State And Local Level”

December 21, 2016, 7:41 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Paul Blumenthal for HuffPo.

“New Study on City Democracy Shows Changing Landscape”

December 20, 2016, 4:12 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: California Common Cause today published its inaugural Municipal Democracy Index. The index is a survey of the governance, election, and campaign finance practices of all 482 cities in California. Author Nicolas Heidorn, Policy and Legislative Counsel for Common Cause,… Continue reading