Category Archives: campaign finance

Judge Gorsuch Misstates Citizens United’s Holding, and Inexplicably Says Congress Has Ample Room to Enact Expenditure Limits

March 21, 2017, 8:37 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

From an exchange with Sen. Leahy at today’s hearing: Judge Gorsuch, questioned on Citizens United, said the following (my transcription): I think there is lots of room for legislation in this area that this court has left. The Court indicated… Continue reading

“Senators must press Gorsuch on campaign finance laws”

March 21, 2017, 7:29 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ann Ravel SacBee oped.

“Beyond Corruption Symposium: New Approaches to Money in Politics”

March 20, 2017, 5:34 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Allie Boldt for Demos: Today the Election Law Journal published Beyond Corruption, a peer-reviewed symposium on money in politics and the Supreme Court. The symposium was guest-edited by Professor David Schultz and contains pieces by several Demos attorneys, including… Continue reading

“Does the First Amendment Protect Trump’s Travel Ban?”

March 20, 2017, 7:43 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: Late Friday afternoon, when few were paying attention, one of the smartest judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals went out of his way to throw Donald Trump a… Continue reading

“Why Gorsuch could lead court in wrong direction”

March 20, 2017, 7:36 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Re-upping my CNN Opinion piece with the Gorsuch hearings beginning: Unfortunately, this approach obscures the fact that keeping the steady course with a conservative replacement for Scalia will be bad enough across a range of topics important to many Americans,… Continue reading

“The important money-in-politics questions to ask Judge Gorsuch”

March 20, 2017, 7:20 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Trevor Potter oped for The Hill.

“The Reclusive Hedge-Fund Tycoon Behind the Trump Presidency”

March 18, 2017, 2:11 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Must-read Jane Mayer on Robert Mercer for The New Yorker: Mercer strongly supported the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Trump’s Attorney General. Many civil-rights groups opposed the nomination, pointing out that Sessions has in the past expressed racist views.… Continue reading

“Law and Opinion in the de Blasio Investigation”

March 17, 2017, 7:35 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Bauer critical of Vance. Dwyer critical of De Blaiso.

“Defining ‘dark money’ and discussing the state of money, politics and ethics in Missouri”

March 16, 2017, 8:22 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

St. Louis Public Radio: Earlier this month, the spotlight was cast on the brand new nonprofit called A New Missouri Inc. Formed by Gov. Eric Greitens’ campaign treasurer, the group’s focus will be to advocate for the governor’s policy agenda.… Continue reading

Former Texas Congressman Steve Stockman with the Exchange of the Day

March 16, 2017, 8:19 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

News from a federal court in Houston: According to the complaint, in 2011 Stockman set up a non-profit called Life Without Limits in Las Vegas. A single contributor donated $350,000 to the charity, which Stockman then allegedly funneled back to… Continue reading

“White House Official May Have Violated Campaign Finance Laws”

March 16, 2017, 8:05 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Mother Jones: top White House national security official may have violated federal law by using campaign funds for personal business, campaign finance experts tell Mother Jones. K.T. McFarland—who currently serves as President Donald Trump’s deputy national security adviser—appears to have… Continue reading

“No Charges, but Harsh Criticism for de Blasio’s Fund-Raising”

March 16, 2017, 2:10 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: The federal inquiry found a pattern in which Mr. de Blasio or his associates solicited contributions from donors seeking favors from the city and then contacted city agencies on their behalf, according to a statement from the United States… Continue reading

“New Report Quantifies Supreme Court’s Impact on 2016 Election Spending”

March 15, 2017, 7:25 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: Today, Demos released a new report entitled Court Cash: 2016 Election Money Resulting Directly from Supreme Court Rulings. The report quantifies for the first time the direct impact of four of the Supreme Court’s most significant money in… Continue reading

“Jon Grant Says He’s Signing Seattle’s Homeless Up for Democracy Vouchers”

March 15, 2017, 7:11 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Seattle Weekly: Could Seattle’s new Democracy Voucher program help homeless people direct city policy? That’s the argument being made by the Jon Grant campaign, which on Tuesday announced it has collected $76,000 worth in vouchers, a total that’s been aided… Continue reading