Category Archives: campaign finance

“Meet the true source of those viral Donald Trump TV ads”

January 31, 2017, 7:21 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

CPI: Stop Hillary PAC’s pro-Trump ad is a prime example of how political ads aren’t always what they seem. What some lay viewers may interpret as a straightforward call to arms from Trump himself is really a fundraising effort for… Continue reading

Philanthropy Roundtable Amicus Brief in 9th Circuit in Koch Brothers Disclosure Case

January 30, 2017, 7:20 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Release: The Philanthropy Roundtable filed a friend-of-the-court brief Friday in the case Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold a federal district court’s earlier ruling that the California attorney… Continue reading

Steve Klein Defends South Dakota Reversing Voters on Ethics Measure

January 26, 2017, 1:22 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Here. If in fact the measure is unconstitutional (I haven’t looked yet and have no opinion on that), the appropriate thing to do is to challenge it in court. Not to have those who are completely self-interested decide reverse a… Continue reading

“Big Money’s Other Casualty: Fair Courts”

January 25, 2017, 8:28 amcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Dorothy Samuels and Alicia Bannon for TAP.

“Gov. Cuomo turns to Floyd Abrams for First Amendment Help”

January 24, 2017, 12:56 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ron Collins blogs at Concurring Opinions: Yes, it’s true: Floyd Abrams, the nation’s preeminent First Amendment lawyer and author of the forthcoming The Soul of the First Amendment is defending two government officials against a claim of a First… Continue reading

“South Dakota GOP Rushes To Repeal Ethics Reforms Passed By Voters”

January 23, 2017, 8:14 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

HuffPo: Republican lawmakers in South Dakota are ready to declare a legislative emergency so that they quickly and completely wipe out an ethics and campaign finance reform law adopted by popular vote in November. The measure, known as IM-22,… Continue reading

“FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump”

January 19, 2017, 7:21 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

McClatchy: Investigators are examining how money may have moved from the Kremlin to covertly help Trump win, the two sources said. One of the allegations involves whether a system for routinely paying thousands of Russian-American pensioners may have been used… Continue reading

Trump: Super PACs Need to be “Straightened Out”

January 18, 2017, 9:30 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Maggie Haberman for the NYT: President-elect Donald J. Trump, in a free-flowing speech Wednesday night at a dinner honoring his running mate, Mike Pence, jabbed at his new Republican allies and his critics alike, questioned the ethics of “… Continue reading

“Trump inauguration’s ‘Cabinet dinner’ offers access for cash; Donors who give $100,000 and $250,000 can dine with potential agency heads”

January 18, 2017, 7:48 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Politico reports.

“Ten Investment Firms Settle SEC Pay-to-Play Charges”

January 18, 2017, 7:41 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WSJ reports.

“The New Free Speech Anxieties”

January 18, 2017, 7:39 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Provocative Bauer: The Independence Institute case, a challenge to the regulation of issues speech, has attracted a sizeable roster of amici in support of Supreme Court review. So far the line-up is largely conservative and libertarian, and yet, notably,… Continue reading

“Corporations Open the Cash Spigot for Trump’s Inauguration”

January 17, 2017, 7:43 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: When Donald J. Trump strides onto the inaugural ballroom floor this week amid the sprawling celebration of his swearing-in, he will have corporate America and many of its titans to thank for the rapturous greeting. Chevron, the oil giant,… Continue reading

“Republican group makes record $5 million bet on Virginia governor’s race”

January 15, 2017, 8:27 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: The Republican Governors Association just wrote a $5 million check — the largest single political donation in Virginia’s history — with the goal of putting a Republican in the governor’s mansion. The whopping contribution suggests Republicans like their odds… Continue reading

“FEC Deadlocks on Case of 501(c)(4) Group Touting Rubio”

January 13, 2017, 6:40 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: A nonprofit organization that sponsored more than $1 million worth of television ads highlighting Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in early presidential primary states won’t be subjected to enforcement action by the Federal Election Commission after the commissioners deadlocked… Continue reading