Category Archives: campaign finance

Lots of Election Law/Non-Profit Tax Law Issues Raised in Major Jerry Falwell Jr. Expose in Politico

September 9, 2019, 7:37 amcampaign finance, campaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Quite a read. In January, the Wall Street Journal reported that in 2014 and 2015, Michael Cohen hired Gauger’s side business, RedFinch LLC, to rig online polls in Donald Trump’s favor while he considered a run for the presidency. Gauger’s… Continue reading

“Congressional Democrats plan to launch inquiry into Trump’s alleged role in scheme to silence affair accusations”

September 2, 2019, 4:47 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: House Democrats plan to make President Trump’s alleged involvement in a 2016 scheme to silencetwo women who claimed they had affairs with him a major investigative focus this fall, picking up where federal prosecutors left off in a … Continue reading

“Andrew Yang’s speaking fees, including from JPMorgan, raise campaign finance questions: Experts”

August 30, 2019, 8:24 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

ABC News reports.

FEC Commissioner Petersen Intentionally Left Internet Disclosure Regulations Hanging, Knowing He Was Leaving

August 29, 2019, 10:26 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

[Bumped to the top with corrected link] Mother Jones: At the most recent FEC meeting last week, commissioners punted—for the fourth meeting in a row—on the question of how to attach the same kind of disclosures that appear in… Continue reading

“Koch-founded charity asks for Supreme Court help to keep donor list secret”

August 28, 2019, 8:29 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Reuters: The Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a libertarian nonprofit founded by Charles and David Koch, filed a petition this week at the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices to review a 2018 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of… Continue reading

“Could take FEC a while to regain a quorum, but don’t expect a ‘Wild West’”

August 28, 2019, 7:54 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Kate Ackley for Roll Call.

“Facebook sharpens political ad rules ahead of 2020”

August 28, 2019, 7:44 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Axios: As political ad spending for 2020 ramps up, Facebook is tightening its rules to make sure that groups running political or issue ads are legitimate and aren’t gaming the system.Why it matters: With some high-profile examples of such evasion… Continue reading

California Appeals Court Unanimously Holds That New California Law Allowing Public Financing of Campaigns Illegally Conflicts with Earlier Ballot Measure

August 27, 2019, 10:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Opinion here. If this stands, it means it will take another ballot measure to get California on the road to public financing of campaigns.

“Richard Neal Facebook page mixes campaign, congressional business”

August 26, 2019, 8:06 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Roll Call: House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal used his government-funded official Facebook page to air campaign advertisements, Facebook Ad Library shows, potentially running afoul of House Ethics rules that prohibit campaign business on House official resources.In Neal’s… Continue reading

FEC Deadlocks Over Advisory Opinion on Tom Price Attempt to Transfer Congressional Funds to Political 501(c)(4)

August 22, 2019, 1:08 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

FEC: August 22, 2019On August 22, 2019, the Commission considered an advisory opinion request (AOR) from Price for Congress, the principal campaign committee of former Rep. Dr. Thomas Price. The request asked if the committee could contribute funds to… Continue reading

“Political Machine of the 21st Century; The Trump Organization As Platform Capitalism”

August 22, 2019, 8:00 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Jeffrey Broxmeyer for Public Seminar.

Ballot Measure Push Begins to Get Albuquerque, NM to Use Campaign Finance Vouchers

August 22, 2019, 7:44 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Details.

“Canada election: Charities warned against climate change ads”

August 20, 2019, 8:41 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

BBC: Canada’s election watchdog has warned environmentalists that saying climate change is real could break the law.The issue arose because one party running in October’s election denies climate change is a threat.That has led Elections Canada to warn groups that… Continue reading

“WGME, other Sinclair stations, run stories promoting Trump campaign merchandise”

August 19, 2019, 1:41 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Portland Press Herald: Maine television station WGME, Channel 13, has again been swept up in a national media ethics controversy after its corporate parent apparently directed it to publish and publicize a news story on its website that promotes President… Continue reading

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