Category Archives: campaign finance

“A Little-Noticed Supreme Court Ruling Could Help Build A Dam Against Foreign Money In American Elections”

October 20, 2021, 7:04 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for TPM: Meanwhile, a little noticed case that came out during the height of the pandemic could have a big impact on whether and how foreign corporations play in American elections. The Supreme Court in United States Agency … Continue reading

“Pro-Trump PAC fined over foreign money offer”

October 13, 2021, 6:53 amcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Lachlan Markay for Axios: A pro-Trump political group has agreed to pay $25,000 to settle allegations it illegally solicited $2 million from reporters posing as intermediaries for a Chinese national.Why it matters: A key player in the scheme, a veteran… Continue reading

“Corporate political spending scrutinized amid state controversies”

September 23, 2021, 2:04 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

CQ News reports.

Republican FEC Commissioners: Twitter Entitled to Press Exemption for Excluding NY Post Content on Hunter Biden

September 15, 2021, 11:37 amcampaign finance, cheap speech, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Dickerson/Trainor statement: Moreover, the decision as to precisely which news to distribute is, in many ways, the sine qua non of “the business of producing…news stories, commentary,and/or editorials.”27 The New York Times famously emblazons its masthead with the… Continue reading

First Circuit Panel Unanimously Rejects Challenge to Rhode Island Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws

September 15, 2021, 7:45 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Opinion by Judge Selya. I liked this bit: “That ends this aspect of the matter. Equating the production order invalidated in NAACP with the disclosure requirements of the Act is like equating aardvarks with alligators.Consequently, we reject the appellants’… Continue reading

“Revised Democratic voting bill drops controversial provisions, tweaks others as pressure for action mounts”

September 14, 2021, 7:50 amcampaign finance, election subversion risk, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WaPo: A group of Democratic senators — including key centrist Joe Manchin III of West Virginia — introduced a pared-down voting rights, campaign finance and government ethics bill Tuesday in hopes of building momentum for its passage through a closely… Continue reading

“Trump Insiders Are Quietly Paying Teen Memers For Posts”

September 9, 2021, 8:06 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

HuffPost: In the fever swamps of Instagram, a network of right-wing meme accounts run by teenage boys and young men has erupted into an advertising powerhouse reaching millions. These memers — who regularly post far-right conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine propaganda and… Continue reading

“First Effects of the AFPF Donor Disclosure Decision and Additional Analysis”

September 8, 2021, 7:49 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Lloyd Mayer update.

ELB Book Corner: Primo and Milyo (Post 4 of 4): The Road Ahead for Campaign Finance Reform

September 2, 2021, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome to ELB Book Corner David Primo and Jeff Milyo, writing about their new book, Campaign Finance and American Democracy: What The Public Really Thinks and Why It Matters (U Chicago Press 2020). Here is… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Primo and Milyo (Post 3 of 4): Campaign Finance Laws Won’t “Fix” American Democracy

September 1, 2021, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

“Trump’s political operation paid more than $4.3 million to Jan. 6 organizers but questions remain about the full extent of its involvement”

September 1, 2021, 6:55 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Anna Massoglia for OpenSecrets: Former President Donald Trump’s political operation reported paying more than $4.3 million to people and firms that organized the Jan. 6 rally since the start of the 2020 election. However, questions remain about the full… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Primo and Milyo (Post 2 of 4): The Cynical Public

August 31, 2021, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

ELB Book Corner: Primo and Milyo (Post 1 of 4): Ignorance About Campaign Finance Reform Is Not Bliss

August 30, 2021, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book CornerRick Hasen

“No-party candidate in Miami election fraud case takes plea deal, apologizes to voters”

August 24, 2021, 8:00 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Miami Herald: An auto parts salesman and acquaintance of a former Miami lawmaker accused of running a vote-siphoning scheme in a 2020 Florida Senate race pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges that he accepted illegal donations and lied on sworn… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law