Political Activity Law/Political Law/Election Law

Day: March 18, 2009

  • “‘Legal’ is Not Sufficient?”

    Mayor Fenty of Washington, DC, recently took some trips abroad, as I’ve previously noted.  This Post editorial has some questions about who paid for the travel and why.

  • “Earmarks Can be Complicated”

    The Times reports on earmark reform.

    Even earmarks for nonprofits can be complicated, as evidenced by the $190,000 secured by Ms. Landrieu for the Lake Area Community Center, a nonprofit group founded by her brother Martin.

    [Sen.] Landrieu, in an interview, said she had been aware of her brother’s support for the center but not that he personally had incorporated the nonprofit group. Still, she said, she would have backed the earmark.

    The project does not seem to violate ethics rules that bar senators from requesting earmarks in which they or an immediate family member has a “pecuniary interest.”

  • PAC Wrap-up

    A note on two PACs I’ve discussed before, Fannie Mae PAC and AIG PAC.

    Fannie Mae PAC

    Fannie Mae PAC filed its termination report in early March, according to this data.  Its last transaction:  donating the PAC’s final $99.59 to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

    American International Group Inc. Employee PAC (AIG PAC)

    The PAC has not terminated, according to this information.  In 2008, the PAC said that its contribution to the general election presidential campaign fund of Joe Biden was refunded and that the PAC’s contribution to the general election presidential campaign fund of Chris Dodd was redesignated to Dodd’s 2010 Senate primary campaign.