Category Archives: campaign finance

“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

“Justices Urged to Nix Donor Disclosure Law”

January 6, 2020, 2:11 pmcampaign finance, election law and constitutional law, tax law and election lawJustin Levitt

Bloomberg: An unusually large number of amicus briefs filed by friends of a charity tied to the Koch brothers have flooded the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to nix a California law requiring charities to disclose their largest… Continue reading

“Under siege, McSally pleads for outside help on the airwaves”

January 6, 2020, 2:10 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

I missed this a few days ago. The money quote: McSally suggested last month that outside groups should pitch in to help. “We need close air support to show up. There’s outside groups. We can’t talk to them. We can’t… Continue reading

Campaign finance compliance hits the WWE with steel-chair-like force

January 6, 2020, 2:03 pmcampaign finance, campaignsJustin Levitt

Former WWE star Rhino was a 2016 candidate for Congress … and seems to think that the rigors of campaign finance compliance may have impacted his last run in the WWE.

“Sponsor says Alaska elections initiative has enough signatures to be placed on ballot”

January 4, 2020, 9:41 amalternative voting systems, campaign finance, direct democracy, election administration, UncategorizedJustin Levitt

Alaska Public Media reports on the progress of a proposition calling for a top-four primary, ranked-choice voting, changes to appointments to local election boards, and campaign finance reform, among others.

“Florida legislators’ PACs amass hundreds of millions of dollars”

January 3, 2020, 4:39 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingJustin Levitt

I missed this last week: Direct donations to campaigns for the Florida Legislature are limited to $1,000. . . . [But t]he amount of money a company or individual can donate to a legislator’s PAC is limitless. . .… Continue reading

“SEC Proposed Proxy Rules Changes—A Risk to Companies, Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability”

January 3, 2020, 4:37 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Bruce Freed, Dan Carroll, and Karl Sandstrom, at the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, connect proposed SEC rule changes, raising ownership thresholds and limiting repeat attempts for shareholder proxy fights, to the battle over disclosure of corporate… Continue reading

The partisan campaign finance horse race

January 3, 2020, 4:35 pmcampaign finance, campaignsJustin Levitt

The WaPo summarizes the reported candidate and party committee hauls for 2019 ($463 million for Trump and the RNC, for example). It seems fair to compare RNC solo fundraising to DNC solo fundraising, and Trump’s re-elect to Obama’s 2012 re-elect. … Continue reading

“Chief Justice Roberts warns we’re taking “democracy for granted.” His rulings haven’t helped.”

January 3, 2020, 4:34 pmcampaign finance, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Ian Millhiser critiques what he sees as a disconnect between the Chief’s year-end report on the judiciary and our democracy, and the Chief’s actions on the judiciary and our democracy.