DISCLAIMER HEARING. CPI. “While invited, Google, Facebook and Twitter declined to testify at Wednesday’s FEC hearing, although all did submit written comments. (The FEC says it received ‘165,800 public comments and signatories to others’ comments’ overall.)”
HEARING DAY ][. The hearing will continue this morning and may be watched with a link available here.
KEY OPINIONS. AJN. “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010): Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, which stated the prohibition of all independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions violated the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. It addressed a federal law that prohibited ‘electioneering communication,’ defined as a broadcast ad reaching over 50,000 people in the electorate, within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of an election.”
CA: MARIHOOCHIE MONEY. BN. “Taking a campaign contribution from a pot shop and covering it up: That’s what Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard is accused of doing.”
CO: LOST AUTHORITY. TG. “When it comes to politicos, since 2002 ordinary citizens could wear the badge, and not just on Election Day. Or at least they did until June 12, when U.S. District Judge Raymond Moore ruled that the state’s procedure for finding, reporting and prosecuting campaign finance violations is unconstitutional. Now the Secretary of State’s Office will enforce the law.”
MO: DISCLOSURE URGED. KC. “As Missouri moves forward from a difficult chapter in its political history, one of the lessons former Gov. Eric Greitens’ administration shows us is the influence wielded by dark money.”
ND: ACCUSATIONS. BT. “David C. Thompson, a Grand Forks Democrat running for state attorney general, has again taken aim at Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., accusing him of ‘corruption,’ specifically improper reimbursements to himself with his Senate campaign funds.”
MONGOLIA: CAMPAIGN FINANCE SPOTLIGHT. WP. “‘Mongolians have realized that the source of corruption is campaign finance,’ said a leading independent economist, Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa, who runs the influential Jargal Defacto website. ‘Those who give money through these political parties control all of Mongolia, control all the government.'”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.