Category Archives: legislation and legislatures

“Romney Would Limit Lobbyist Roles”

November 1, 2012, 8:43 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

WSJ: “Advisers to Mitt Romney would limit the role of lobbyists in transition teams and the White House if the Republican presidential candidate wins next week’s election. The Romney camp is considering a one-year ban to prevent registered lobbyists… Continue reading

“An Electoral Tie Could Bind the Senate”

October 29, 2012, 8:19 amlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Roll Call ponders a filibuster of a vote on vice president.

“A status quo election? A counterpoint”

October 26, 2012, 10:35 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

The Fix: “Richard L. Hasen over at the Election Law Blog offers a worthwhile counterpoint to our argument in Morning Fix that the government may stay largely as-is after the 2012 election….We generally agree with Hasen’s point that… Continue reading

A “Status Quo Election?” Not Really: The Loss of Senate Moderates

October 26, 2012, 8:23 amlegislation and legislatures, political polarizationRick Hasen

Aaron Blake explores the (I believe strong) possibility that we’ll continue to have President Obama, a Democratic Senate, and a Republican House after election day. He calls that a “status quo election.” I don’t think that’s right. The Senate is… Continue reading

“A Congress Too Polarized to Protect Itself”

October 25, 2012, 4:13 pmlegislation and legislatures, political polarization, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bloomberg View offers this editorial, which discusses, among other things, my forthcoming law review article, End the Dialogue? Political Polarization, the Supreme Court and Congress.

“Former IRS Official Accuses ALEC of Lying About Assets”

October 25, 2012, 2:13 pmlegislation and legislatures, lobbying, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Roll Call: “The former head of the IRS’ Exempt Organizations division accused the conservative nonprofit American Legislative Exchange Council of lying about its assets in its federal tax filings in a letter sent to the agency Wednesday.”

“K Street flags shortcomings of lobbying law”

October 24, 2012, 8:42 amlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Politico: Five years after Congress enacted a sweeping federal lobbying law, K Street is fed up with it. Most lobbyists believe the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act makes it harder for them to interact with staffers on Capitol Hill… Continue reading

“Study: 2012 House Campaign Spending Trends”

October 22, 2012, 11:15 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Brennan Center: “A new report released today by the Brennan Center for Justice analyzes the spending patterns emerging in the 25 most hotly contested House races, which will likely determine which party will control the House.”

“Scott Brown touts Senate vote analysis to bolster bipartisan credentials”

October 15, 2012, 9:15 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Boston Globe: “Senator Scott Brown has a new piece of evidence to bolster his argument that he is more than willing to cross party lines in the Senate. Brown, a Republican who is locked in a tough reelection battle… Continue reading

“Law firms’ revolving door turns faster as election draws near”

October 15, 2012, 11:02 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Pro-environment group gave grant to conservative nonprofit”

October 11, 2012, 8:16 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

A tangled web.

“House, Senate Campaigns Welcome Lobbyists Shunned by Team Obama”

October 10, 2012, 5:32 amcampaign finance, campaigns, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

The Hill reports.

“Weighing the Effects of an Exit of Centrists”

October 8, 2012, 6:54 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

NYT: “A potent combination of Congressional redistricting, retirements of fed-up lawmakers and campaign spending by special interests is pushing out moderate members of both parties, leaving a shrinking corps of consensus builders.” I discussed how political polarization in Congress… Continue reading