Category Archives: campaign finance

Diverse Group of Politicians Sign on to Brief Urging #SCOTUS to Hear Blagojevich Case

December 29, 2015, 3:22 pmbribery, campaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

This brief brings together, among others, Bob Barr and Bobby Rush. Here is how the brief phrases the question presented: Whether, in a case involving solicitation of campaign contributions, Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255 (1992), modified the holding… Continue reading

“As TV Ad Rates Soar, ‘Super PACs’ Pivot to Core Campaign Work”

December 22, 2015, 2:33 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The shift away from the broadcast television buys that had been the groups’ main role in past presidential campaigns is among the most significant developments in outside political spending since the Supreme Court’s 2010Citizens United decision, which… Continue reading

“SEC can still work on a corporate political disclosure rule”

December 22, 2015, 2:04 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Lisa Gilbert oped.

Politifact Rates as “Mostly False” Ted Cruz Statement about Democrats’ Proposed Constitutional Amendment to “Overturn” Citizens United

December 22, 2015, 11:06 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Here. I actually devote part of a chapter of Plutocrats United to Ted Cruz’s charges.

Federal Court Rejects “Stop Hillary” PAC Challenge to FEC Name Restrictions

December 22, 2015, 10:57 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

You can’t use the name of a candidate in your independent PAC name. This helps prevent confusion of voters giving to PACs. The Stop Hillary PAC and Dan Backer challenged this restriction as a violation of the First Amendment, and… Continue reading

“Scott Walker Corruption Case Threatens to Implicate Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices”

December 22, 2015, 8:17 amcampaign finance, judicial elections, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Pema Levy for Mother Jones: It’s the campaign scandal that just won’t die. For three years, prosecutors in Wisconsin tried to investigate what they believed was illegal campaign coordination between Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and conservative outside groups. The investigation… Continue reading

“New Mexico Struggles With Campaign Finance Enforcement”

December 22, 2015, 8:10 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: Former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran was able to funnel thousands of dollars in campaign donations to her private bank accounts during a gambling binge without any regulatory agency noticing that she was breaking the law. Duran’s… Continue reading

“Hindering the S.E.C. From Shining a Light on Political Spending”

December 22, 2015, 7:54 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Lucian Bebchuk and Robert Jackson write for NYT Dealbook.

“Chair Ann Ravel Explains Why the FEC is Broken”

December 21, 2015, 3:42 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

FEC Commissioner Ann Ravel writes.

“Common Cause: Citizens United Isn’t Blocking Reforms”

December 21, 2015, 12:09 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

TWC News: The good-government group Common Cause vehemently disagreed with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s assertion on Monday in a radio interview that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case made it impossible for major campaign-finance law changes.… Continue reading

“Tea party groups see win in end-of-year omnibus bill”

December 21, 2015, 10:48 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

CPI: Two-and-a-half years after the Internal Revenue Service apologized for using “inappropriate criteria” to scrutinize tea party-aligned nonprofits applying for tax-exempt status, President Barack Obama has signed into law a new measure that makes it easier for nonprofit groups… Continue reading

“White House surrenders on ‘dark money’ regulation”

December 21, 2015, 8:08 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico reports.

Q & A with Anthony Johnstone on Litigating Campaign Finance Cases in Montana

December 21, 2015, 8:03 amcampaign finance, election law bizRick Hasen

Read.

“Sanders’s Campaign Says It’s Outpacing Obama’s Record for Donations”

December 20, 2015, 7:24 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Shortly after the Democratic presidential primary debate on Saturday night, Senator Bernie Sanders’s campaign announced that he had outpaced Barack Obama’s record for the number of contributions in a presidential race, with more than 2.2 million donations. Mr.… Continue reading