Category Archives: campaign finance
Richard Posner: “The Real Corruption Is the Ownership of Congress by the Rich”
Oh my. From Judge Posner’s keynote at a Stigler Center conferece:
On the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, Posner said: “If you become a member of Congress, you’ll get a card from the head for your party that you… Continue reading
“Court Allows Challenge to FEC Rule Shielding Nonprofit Donors”
Bloomberg BNA:
A Federal Election Commission rule on “independent expenditures,” which has allowed millions of dollars’ worth of campaign ads to air without disclosure of the donors funding them, can be challenged in court, a federal judge ruled.
The… Continue reading
Sen. Leahy Asked Judge Gorsuch About Apparent Error in His Testimony on Citizens United
I explained during the hearing about an apparent error in Judge Gorsuch’s testimony on Citizens United.
Senator Leahy has now asked about it, in the written questions to Judge Gorsuch, so we will get a better sense if the… Continue reading
“The Holmes Case: Deceptively Dangerous for Campaign Contribution Limits”
Noah Lindell for the CLC Blog:
On Wednesday, the full panel of judges at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral argument in Holmes v. FEC. This is a seemingly minor case that could have major implications… Continue reading
“Williams-Yulee and the Anomaly of Campaign Finance Law”
Noah Lindell has written this comment for the Yale Law Journal. A taste:
This Comment enters an existing debate over how courts should analyze campaign finance laws and other election regulations. Judges and authors have noted that the Court has… Continue reading
Federal Court Strikes Down Illinois Law Barring Campaign Contributions from Medical Pot Businesses
Release:
The Pillar of Law Institute won summary judgment today in the case Ball v. Madigan, striking down an Illinois state law that prohibits medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries from making campaign contributions. Judge John Z. Lee of the… Continue reading
“Could Gorsuch Undo Campaign Finance Disclosure Rules?”
Bloomberg BNA:
U..S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has observers wondering if he could be a vote to strike down campaign finance disclosure requirements if he winds up with a seat on the high court.
Such rules require candidates and… Continue reading
Plutocrats Divided: “Koch Network Spending Millions to Stop GOP Health Care Bill”
AP:
The conservative Koch network is promising to spend millions of dollars to defeat the health care overhaul backed by President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.
The network’s leading organizations, Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners, announced late Wednesday… Continue reading
Brad Smith and Robbin Stewart on Hasen on Gorsuch on Campaign Finance
Will Gorsuch Break With Scalia, Providing 2d (or 3d) Vote To Allow Flood of Undisclosed Money in Elections?
The Supreme Court has long upheld the constitutionality of requiring disclosure of the money behind elections, lobbying, and many political activities. In the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo case, the Court held that such disclosure, while implicating First Amendment rights, served… Continue reading
“Watch Sen. Whitehouse Grill Gorsuch About Dark Money, Corporate Power, and Citizens United”
Slate with the video.
Judge Gorsuch Misstates Citizens United’s Holding, and Inexplicably Says Congress Has Ample Room to Enact Expenditure Limits
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