Monthly Archives: November 2015

“How ‘Blue Zone’ GOP Could Veto a Conservative Nominee”

November 4, 2015, 12:43 pmpolitical parties, primariesRick Hasen

Dave Wasserman: In a few months, after Iowa and New Hampshire begin to winnow the field, the GOP nomination race could boil down to an epic final between a candidate with a more pragmatic image, such as Marco Rubio,… Continue reading

“Super PACs, Outside Groups Dominate GOP ’16 Ad Spending”

November 4, 2015, 12:37 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NBC News: A whopping 95 percent of the TV ad spending in the Republican presidential race has come from outside groups and Super PACs, while just 5 percent comes from the actual campaigns, according to an NBC News analysis… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Justices Fear Loss of Control Over Redistricting Cases”

November 4, 2015, 12:36 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak in the NYT on Shapiro v. McManus: At a Supreme Court argument on Wednesday about procedures in redistricting cases, the justices appeared to be trying to reconcile two conflicting impulses. They did not want to close the door… Continue reading

Chief Justice Roberts, and Justices Breyer and Alito on Key Role of 3 Judge Courts in Political Cases

November 4, 2015, 11:33 amcampaign finance, redistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

From today’s transcript in Shapiro v. McManus: CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS: I mean, the other alternative is it’s a three-judge district court, and then we have to take it on the merits. I mean, that’s a serious problem because there … Continue reading

What to Say If You Raise an Argument for First Time at #SCOTUS Oral Argument

November 4, 2015, 11:24 amSupreme CourtRick Hasen

From today’s transcript in Shapiro v. McManus: MR. SULLIVAN: I think the important thing is the amendments that we pointed out in our brief are – were significant changes in — in the structure and meaning of the … Continue reading

Oral Argument Transcript in #SCOTUS Shapiro v. McManus Case

November 4, 2015, 10:50 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can read it here. I previewed this case (and two others the Court is hearing this term) in Supreme Court Heads Back into the Political Thicket, Orange County Lawyer, Sept. 2015.

Reform Groups Urge Members of Congress to Reject Damaging Campaign Finance Riders”

November 4, 2015, 9:54 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: In a letter sent today, reform groups strongly urged senators and representatives to reject damaging campaign finance riders that have been attached to pending House and Senate Appropriations Committee bills and to oppose any new campaign finance riders… Continue reading

“Some Supreme Doubts on Super-PACs”

November 4, 2015, 7:05 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Frank Wilkinson for Bloomberg View: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy having second thoughts about the campaign finance system he helped to create? The author of Citizens United v. FEC defended his handiwork before an audience of Harvard Law School students… Continue reading

“Checks and Balance: Let the Sun Shine, Conservatives!”

November 4, 2015, 7:04 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Eliza Newlin Carney behind the CQ paywall (but soon to be free! yay!): In theory, a recent report that finds American companies are taking steps to shed more light on their political spending should score a conservative home run.… Continue reading

“Attorney: Arizona voting maps don’t hurt GOP”

November 4, 2015, 6:50 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Arizona Daily Star: A Republican claim of bias in the legislative redistricting process does not stand up under scrutiny, according to an attorney for the Independent Redistricting Commission. In legal briefs filed at the U.S. Supreme Court, Mary O’Grady… Continue reading

“Maine, Seattle Voters Pass Money-In-Politics Reforms to Empower Everyday People”

November 3, 2015, 9:29 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Adam Smith writes for Every Voice.

“Seattle liking ‘democracy vouchers’; An initiative to make Seattle the first place in the country to try taxpayer-funded ‘democracy vouchers’ is leading.”

November 3, 2015, 8:45 pmcampaign finance, Plutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

Winning by 20 points. Wow. I’ve been advocating campaign finance vouchers for 20 years. It will be exciting to watch this in practice.

“Voters approve issue to reform Ohio’s redistricting process”

November 3, 2015, 8:03 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Columbus Dispatch: Voters overwhelmingly backed a plan to reform Ohio’s hyper-partisan process for drawing legislative districts, and supporters are already looking ahead to passing the same reforms for congressional districts next year. …The current five-member redistricting panel, which includes… Continue reading

“Dems win all 3 open seats on Pennsylvania Supreme Court, lock in majority for a decade”

November 3, 2015, 7:59 pmcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

AP: “Democrats have won all three open seats on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The victory secures them a majority on the high court for at least a decade, after a campaign that drew a record $11.5 million in contributions.”