Monthly Archives: January 2014

“Watchdogs to Sue FEC for Dismissal of Crossroads GPS Complaint”

January 16, 2014, 8:58 pmcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Press release: The Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen today announced plans to file suit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for its dismissal of a complaint against Crossroads GPS. The complaint stemmed from the group’s failure to register… Continue reading

“Outside Influence”

January 16, 2014, 8:44 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Anthony Johnstone has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Election Law Journal). Here is the abstract: By what rights do outsiders influence state or local politics? “Outsiders” include an array of persons other than the citizens of the community, including… Continue reading

“Congress, FEC meet about security breakdowns”

January 16, 2014, 8:39 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

CPI reports.

“Two groups that used secret political donations haven’t paid penalties”

January 16, 2014, 8:32 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

LA Times: “State authorities have yet to receive $15 million in penalties they imposed on campaign groups after a headline-making investigation into secret political donations.”

Additional Coverage and Reactions to Voting Rights Act Amendment (VRAA) Bill

January 16, 2014, 7:50 pmVoting Rights Act, VRAARick Hasen

McClatchy NAACP (with a lukewarm response) Roll Call MSNBC Gannett NPR National Journal TPM LA Times The Guardian AP Sen. Leahy press release Washington Times Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel TIME Think Progress Roger Clegg CBS NBC Brennan Center CLC AFJ

Overton HuffPo on Voting Rights Act bill

January 16, 2014, 2:41 pmVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

I expand on my thoughts from earlier today in my new piece on the front page of the Huffington Post, “A Bipartisan Voting Rights Act is Possible.” Some excerpts . . . Conventional wisdom among some liberals, conservatives,… Continue reading

Initial Thoughts on the Proposed Amendments to the Voting Rights Act

January 16, 2014, 1:32 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have now had a chance to review the text the Voting Rights Amendments Act of 2014 introduced today by Representatives Sensenbrenner and Conyers (with parallel legislation being introduced by Senator Leahy in the Senate). I believe parts of the… Continue reading

Read the Text of the Proposed VRA Amendments

January 16, 2014, 12:03 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Here.

What the New Voting Rights Act Bill Means

January 16, 2014, 10:47 amVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

The proposed legislation (Berman summary here, bill text here) is just a first draft, but it shows that a bipartisan Voting Rights Act is possible. In a nutshell, here’s what it means . . . . Recent Discrimination: … Continue reading

New Proposed VRA Would Subject to Preclearance GA, LA, MS [corrected], and TX with More Possibly to Come, and Make Bail In Much Easier

January 16, 2014, 9:53 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Ari Berman reports: The Sensenbrenner-Conyers-Leahy bill strengthens the VRA in five distinct ways: 1: The legislation draws a new coverage formula for Section 4, thereby resurrecting Section 5. States with five violations of federal law to their voting changes… Continue reading

Bipartisan Voting Rights Act is Possible

January 16, 2014, 9:38 amVoting Rights ActSpencer Overton

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to Rick’s blog, but I disagree with his skepticism about the Voting Rights Act update. My take is that Republicans and Democrats can come together to update the Voting Rights Act. Rick and… Continue reading

Voting Rights Act Bill from Reps. Conyers and Sensenbrenner Apparently Getting Filed Today

January 16, 2014, 8:43 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Developing… UPDATE: Here’s a Roll Call report, which says parallel legislation is also coming to the Senate, but no details on what is in the bill. I don’t expect whatever comes out to make it through the Republican House.