Monthly Archives: May 2017
“Supreme Court Affirms Ban on ‘Soft Money’ in Campaigns”
Kate Ackley for Roll Call:
Sarbanes and outside advocates of new restrictions on political money said they were dismayed that Gorsuch, along with conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, went out of his way to say he wanted the court to hear… Continue reading
“FEC member urges escalated Trump-Russia inquiry”
Ken Vogel for Politico:
Weintraub’s interest was piqued by an article published last week by TIME magazine that revealed intelligence officials had evidence that Russian agents bought Facebook ads to disseminate election-themed stories. It also indicated that congressional investigators were… Continue reading
Bauer on the Supreme Court’s Summary Affirmance in the McCain-Feingold Soft Money Case
Bob:
The Wild West in campaign finance, with the regulatory process in disarray, has caused all manner of distress among critics of the role of money in politics. But they could be comforted, finding some measure of compensation in a… Continue reading
“The Supreme Court may just have given voting rights activists a powerful new tool”
I have written this oped for the Washington Post. It begins:
Sometimes the most important stuff in Supreme Court opinions is hidden in the footnotes. In Monday’s Supreme Court ruling striking down two North Carolina congressional districts as unconstitutionally influenced… Continue reading
Another Explanation for Justice Thomas’s Joining of Racial Gerrymandering Majority Opinion
I’ve already opined on what might have motivated Justice Thomas (and Justice Kennedy) so side how they did today.
An ELB reader passes along these additional thoughts about Justice Thomas and what comes next:
I’ve always been struck by Justice… Continue reading
Interview with Me on The Takeaway About Today’s NC Gerrymandering Decision
“Neil Gorsuch can’t wait to get his hands on America’s campaign finance laws”
Ian Millhiser for Think Progress.
I made a similar point here.
“Two poll workers plead guilty to illegal voting”
Houston Chronicle:
Two people who worked as election clerks during the May 2016 primary runoff have pleaded guilty to unlawfully casting a ballot for another person, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart announced Monday.
Jeanene Johnson, 63, and Latunia Thomas, 46,… Continue reading
“Power struggle intensifies between White House and ethics office”
Matea Gold for WaPo:
But in a May 17 letter, Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, questioned whether the Office of Government Ethics has legal jurisdiction to get information about waivers that have been granted. He… Continue reading
SCOTUSBlog Symposium on NC Racial Gerrymandering Decision
How Appealing Rounds Up Coverage So Far of #SCOTUS Election Law Action Monday
North Carolina racial gerrymandering case
Summary affirmance in soft money case.
The soft money case would have gotten much more attention had it not been crowded out by the important NC case (not to mention all the other news these… Continue reading
American Law Institute Approves Final Part of ALI Project on Election Administration
Kudos to Ned Foley and Steve Huefner!
I’ll have more to say about the project coming up.
“North Carolina Is Once Again Found Guilty of Discriminating Against Black Voters”
Ari Berman writes for The Nation.