Monthly Archives: October 2015

“FEC’s Goodman Pushes to Ease Party Rules”

October 24, 2015, 10:55 amcampaign finance, campaigns, federal election commission, political partiesRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: A Republican-backed initiative to ease regulations on political parties is set to be discussed at the Federal Election Commission’s Oct. 29 meeting and will test whether FEC commissioners, sharply divided over a range of issues, will rally… Continue reading

“Scott Walker signs bill limiting Doe probes as records released”

October 23, 2015, 3:59 pmcampaign finance, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Patrick Marley: Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation Friday curtailing the ability of district attorneys to use the John Doe law to launch investigations like the probes they have conducted of his campaign and his aides and associates. The GOP… Continue reading

“Philadelphia Residents Could Win $10,000 for Voting”

October 23, 2015, 3:18 pmvote buying, votingRick Hasen

TIME reports.

Quote of the Day

October 23, 2015, 2:50 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

“We’re going to have to do something that’s pretty hard. Pretty, pretty, pretty hard, to quote Larry David.” —Bernie Sanders

The Latest FL Redistricting Machinations

October 23, 2015, 1:30 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Senate redistricting map gets 4-3 approval but its fate remains murky Dan Webster increases heat to keep his seat, files to intervene in court case

Federal Judge in NC Will Let Voter ID Claim Go to Trial in January

October 23, 2015, 1:19 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Motion to dismiss denied.

“Justice Department: No criminal charges in IRS probe”

October 23, 2015, 12:28 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

USA Today: Justice Department officials announced Friday that they would not seek criminal charges in a long-running inquiry into whether the IRS and former official Lois Lerner targeted conservative groups, including the Tea Party, for increased scrutiny in applications… Continue reading

“Dems push SEC to issue political spending rule”

October 23, 2015, 11:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Hill reports.

“Donald Trump tells super PACs supporting his candidacy to return all money to donors”

October 23, 2015, 11:10 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: Donald Trump has asked the nine super PACs that appear to support his presidential campaign to stop raising money using his name, likeness and slogans and to return any donations they have already received. Trump then challenged his… Continue reading

Regrets in Caperton

October 23, 2015, 11:06 amcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Billy Corriher on Twitter: West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin at @UVALaw symposium: “I was tone deaf in not recusing myself in Caperton.”

“New Mexico secretary of state pleads guilty to embezzlement”

October 23, 2015, 11:05 amchicanery, election administration, election law bizRick Hasen

AP: New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran pleaded guilty to embezzlement and other charges Friday after abruptly resigning amid a fraud investigation that alleges she siphoned off thousands of dollars from her election account and withdrew the money… Continue reading

“Let’s move beyond winner-take-all elections”

October 23, 2015, 7:37 amalternative voting systems, redistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Rob Richie’s contribution to WaPo Evenwel symposium.

“Conservative PACs Attack Republicans, and It Pays”

October 23, 2015, 7:34 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: “This is clearly an organized effort and an attempt by these groups to raise money for themselves,” said Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, who added that she was the target of a similar attack during the 2013… Continue reading