Category Archives: campaign finance

“San Jose ethics commission drops charges against 20 candidates”

January 13, 2016, 8:35 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

San Jose Mercury News: A packed room erupted in applause late Wednesday after the Ethics Commission voted 3-2 to drop charges against 20 City Council members and candidates who inadvertently violated a local election law, ending a long and… Continue reading

“Obama’s unfulfilled reform agenda”

January 13, 2016, 8:04 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ruth Marcus WaPo column: “We have to change the system to reflect our better selves,” he said, citing nonpartisan redistricting, voting rights and campaign finance reform. Specifically, “I believe we’ve got to reduce the influence of money in our… Continue reading

“Ted Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign”

January 13, 2016, 4:02 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: A spokeswoman for Mr. Cruz’s presidential campaign, Catherine Frazier, acknowledged that the loan from Goldman Sachs, drawn against the value of the Cruzes’ brokerage account, was a source of money for the Senate race. Ms. Frazier added that… Continue reading

“Bush-aligned lawyer: Donald Trump’s camp is breaking federal election law”

January 13, 2016, 2:48 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten reports for USA Today.

“How Does Corporate Political Activity Allowed by Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Affect Shareholder Wealth?”

January 13, 2016, 2:00 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Tom Stratmann and J.W. Verret have written this article for the Journal of Law and Economics. Here is the abstract: The US Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commissionsignificantly altered the regulatory landscape for corporate political activity by… Continue reading

ACS Book Talk on Plutocrats United

January 13, 2016, 10:35 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this for the ACS Book Talk. It begins: As I was working on my new book, Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections, a UC Irvine colleague asked me a… Continue reading

“Upset Republican donors: Have we wasted our money?”

January 13, 2016, 10:08 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Hill reports. I’ll have more to say about this very soon.

“Five to Four”

January 13, 2016, 9:21 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

New Brennan Center report: Five to Four Lawrence Norden, Brent Ferguson, Douglas Keith January 11, 2016 Six closely divided decisions by the Roberts Supreme Court have transformed the landscape of campaign finance in America, largely for the worse,… Continue reading

“The U.S. Supreme Court Can Still Take Big Money Out of Politics”

January 13, 2016, 8:06 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Read Larry Norden in The Atlantic. I’m so glad to see he’s taking the same position I take in Plutocrats United: to fix money in politics, start by changing the Supreme Court.

David Nasaw Reviews Jane Mayer Koch Bros. Book for NYT

January 13, 2016, 7:35 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Here.

Koch Brothers Respond to Allegations in Jane Mayer Book Involving Nazi Refineries

January 13, 2016, 7:29 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Via Power Line.

“State high court opens door for appeal for John Doe prosecutors”

January 13, 2016, 7:24 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and two other prosecutors are now free to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review decisions last year that ended an investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign. The state Supreme Court… Continue reading

“Nearly 70% Of Ad Dollars in 2016 Race Come From Outside Groups”

January 12, 2016, 11:04 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NBC News reports.

“How to end American plutocracy: Risk of corruption cannot be the only legal rationale for limiting expenditures”

January 12, 2016, 8:10 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

I have written this oped for the NY Daily News (tied to today’s release of my book). It begins: Forty years ago this month, the Supreme Court decided Buckley vs. Valeo, a case that has distorted our thinking and talking… Continue reading