Monthly Archives: February 2017
“FEC’s Direction in Doubt After Ravel’s Departure”
Bloomberg BNA:
“I admit when I came here [to the FEC], I was naive,” Ravel said in the phone interview Feb. 21.
In her first year at the FEC, Ravel said, she “crossed party lines” and voted with the three… Continue reading
Controversial AZ Measure May Make It Harder to Circulate Ballot Initiatives
Laurie Roberts AZ Republic column.
“NC governor and AG seek to end US Supreme Court review of voter ID case”
The News and Observer:
Thomas Farr, a Raleigh attorney who has represented the lawmakers for several years in the elections law case, sent a letter to William McKinney, Cooper’s general counsel, arguing that neither the governor nor Stein have the… Continue reading
“FEC member: I have the right to demand Trump prove voter fraud claims”
CNN:
A member of the Federal Election Commission was defiant Tuesday after a nonprofit group said her request that President Donald Trump provide proof of voter fraud merited an investigation into whether her comments were inappropriate.
Ellen Weintraub’s remarks were… Continue reading
Suit to Force Wake County NC to Clean Its Voter Rolls Under the NVRA Survives Motion to Dismiss
Court order:
Considering VIP-NC’s allegation that the number of registered voters in Wake County has exceeded, and continues to exceed, the number of eligible voters, which allegation is in turn supported by reliable data and WBOE’s failure to use available… Continue reading
Statement from FEC Commissioner Weintraub on Call for Investigation into Trump Voter Fraud Comments
New statement:
Statement of Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub Regarding Request for Investigation1 Filed With FEC Inspector General
As a Commissioner on the Federal Election Commission, I am acutely aware that our democracy rests on the faith of the American people… Continue reading
NC Republican Legislative Leaders Argue NC Gov. Cooper Cannot Fire Outside Counsel in #SCOTUS Voting Case
WRAL:
It’s unclear what the practical effect of this step will be. Ordinarily, a plaintiff withdrawing from a lawsuit would leave the lower court ruling in place. However, in North Carolina, General Assembly leaders have the ability to defend lawsuits… Continue reading
“Fighting voter ID laws in the courts isn’t enough. We need boots on the ground”
Important Molly McGrath LA Times oped:
States that have implemented voter ID laws have shown little to no interest in helping their citizens comply. And the advocacy organizations that oppose these laws have few resources for direct voter assistance. Instead,… Continue reading
“Party by Association: Charting a New Path to Responsive Party Government”
Tabatha Abu El-Haj has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
Hardly a day goes by without a headline decrying the hyperpolarization and dysfunction of Congress. While the 2016 election has heightened these concerns, the fact is that… Continue reading
“Yale Names Heather Gerken as First Woman Law Dean”
The NLJ:
Yale Law School has named its first female dean.
University officials announced Tuesday that Yale Law professor Heather Gerken, 48, will assume the deanship on July 1, replacing outgoing dean Robert Post. Gerken will be the first woman… Continue reading
Breaking: NC Gov, AG Take Steps to Withdraw from #SCOTUS Voting Case–But Case Not (Yet) Over
Last week I explained the following:
North Carolina has filed its reply brief in the North Carolina voting case, and the Supreme Court is set to review it at its March 3 conference. (If the Court does grant review, it… Continue reading
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear True the Vote Case Seeking to Sue Lois Lerner, Former IRS Official
AP:
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a nonprofit group that wanted to sue individual IRS officials for targeting tea party groups that applied for tax-exempt status.
“President Trump, with RNC Help, Raised More Small Donor Money than President Obama; As Much As Clinton and Sanders Combined”
New from CFI:
Small donors: After including the money from joint fundraisers, $238.6 million of Trump’s campaign funds came from donors who gave a total of $200 or less. This was 69 percent of the campaign’s individual contributions and 58… Continue reading