Here are some items of interest that popped up during the last week when I was not blogging.
Peter Overby had this Christmas morning NPR “Morning Edition” story on campaign finance reform over the last decade.
“The Caucus” blog at NYT offers this reapportionment roundup on the latest census projections, which will affect both representation in Congress and the electoral college map in 2012.
The Congressional Research Service has issued this report on ACORN investigations.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that “Wisconsin Right to Life filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to nullify parts of the Impartial Justice Act signed by Gov. Jim Doyle on Dec. 1, saying it infringes on the anti-abortion group’s right to free speech. The complaint asks that a federal court strike down portions of the law that give Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates who accept public financing additional money to counter independent expenditures.” Relatedly, Brad Smith has written this oped in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. See also this press release about the suit filed by CCP.
BNA reports on two alternative FEC drafts regarding both rejecting broad federal preemption of state anti-robocall laws. More on Wisconsin anti-robocall efforts here.
BNA also reports ($) that “The latest in a series of duelling statements from Republican and Democratic members of the Federal Election Commission concerns requirements to use regulated ‘hard money’ for statements that ‘promote, support, attack, or oppose’ a federal candidate.”
The Campaign Finance Institute has issued a “save the date” for a January 14 event, “Reform in an Age of Networked Campaigns: Fostering Participation through Small Donors and Volunteers.”
The St. Petersburg Times has published an editorial, “Florida rules leave too many voteless.”
The Center for Governmental Studies has issued a new report, “Loopholes, Tricks and End Runs: Evasions of Campaign Finance laws, and a Model Law to Block Them.” (View press release and this AP report.)
Demos has issued this press release on counting prisoners during the census.
Sad news: Michael E. Lavelle Sr., Dean of Chicago election lawyers, has passed away.
Joshua S. Stillman has published a student note in the NYU Law Review, “The Costs of ‘Discernoble and Manageable Standards’ in Vieth and Beyond.”
Roll Call has published this interesting piece on clergy donations to federal campaigns and committees.
And the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has issued this release on absentee voting changes in the state.
Pretty busy for the week before Christmas!