Political Activity Law/Political Law/Election Law

Category: Executive Branch

  • Wed. political law links

    BUDGET BILL CONTENTS. Opensecrets. “Buried a third of the way through the text (p. 576 of more than 1,500) is language that would prohibit any of the funds approved in the budget from being used to require disclosure by those seeking government contracts, their officers, directors or affiliates, to candidates or committees or for independent expenditures or electioneering communications.”

    REFORMERS MARCH. Eagle Tribune. “Campaign finance reformers, invoking the memory of Doris ‘Granny D’ Haddock, are marching the length of the state before New Hampshire presidential primary contenders set foot on the campaign trail.”

    FEC MEETING. The agenda for tomorrow’s Federal Election Commission meeting is online here.

    AZ: GUILTY PLEA. AZCentral.com. “Gary Husk, a former prominent lobbyist whose clients once included the Fiesta Bowl, pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court Monday to a misdemeanor conspiracy campaign-finance charge.”

    MO: CFR PLAN. News here. “Secretary of State Jason Kander announced an ambitious proposal Tuesday to cap campaign contributions, ban lawmakers from accepting gifts and institute a cooling off period before lawmakers can become lobbyists, the latest in a string of attempts to rein in Missouri’s ethics laws.”

    PA: EMBEZZLEMENT CASE. CBS. “A former campaign aide to Philadelphia city councilman Bobby Henon pleaded guilty today to stealing from the councilman’s campaign funds.”

    UT: $9,999 LIMIT IN BILL. Story here. “The issue of limiting campaign contributions is a contentious one in Utah politics.”

    VA: FUNDRAISING DURING SESSION. WP. “A Virginia state senator has promised to return $1,695 in campaign donations raised with an appeal made in his name during the General Assembly session, when sitting lawmakers are prohibited from raising money.”

    HAVE A GREAT DAY.

  • Wed. political law links

    FREE SPEECH SEEKS SUPREME REVIEW. Casper Star Tribune. “A conservative Wyoming-based group hopes to battle the Federal Election Commission in the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to change federal election laws.”

    BLOOMBERG GIVES. USAT. “Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to spread his wealth on politics, this time to help Democrats retain and expand their Senate ranks.”

    GENACHOWSKI LANDS. CNN. “Julius Genachowski today began work as a managing director at private equity firm The Carlyle Group (CG), eight months after stepping down as chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.”

    DE: MORE DETAILS SOUGHT. DE NPR. “The chairman of Delaware’s Republican party wants the state attorney general to be more transparent about a recent investigation into campaign finance abuse.”

    MN: DATA PROBLEMS. Star Trib. “The Minnesota campaign finance agency disclosed on Tuesday that it had found $26 million worth of data problems in its records late last year.”

    VA: ETHICS DEAL FINE PRINT. RTD. “A proposed cap of $250 per item on gifts to lawmakers from lobbyists and others with business before the state depends on the kind of gift. And while the legislation would ban solicitation of gifts from lobbyists receiving some gifts would still be OK.”

    VT: CONTRIBUTION DEAL. NPR. “Lawmakers have reached a deal that would raise campaign contribution limits to statewide political candidates and allow unlimited contributions from political parties to candidates.”

    INDIA: PARTY FINANCES. NYT. “While Indian law only requires donations above 20,000 rupees to be made public, the Aam Aadmi Party lists the names of those who give as little as 100 rupees. Also, political parties need to submit their accounts only annually to the Election Commission, but the Aam Aadmi Party has already published their reports of donations on its website.”

    HAVE A GREAT DAY.

  • Tues. political law links, 11-19-13

    MICHELLE TO THE MAX.  Roll Call.  “First lady Michelle Obama urged donors in New York on Monday to contribute to Democrats’ efforts to hold the Senate majority in 2014, saying ‘the midterm elections matter’ in helping the president’s agenda move forward.”

    HOUSE EXTENDS AND EXPANDS CAMPAIGN FINANCE FINE PROGRAM. House Floor action on HR 3487 yesterday: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.”

    LOBBYIST GROUP UPDATE.  The Hill.  “It’s official: The American League of Lobbyists is no more.”

    GPS FORM.  Politico.  “Crossroads GPS, the nonprofit affiliate of the super PAC American Crossroads, reported receiving three eight-figure contributions —of $22.5 million, $18 million and, $10 million, during 2012, according to tax documents released Monday.”

    SUPER PAC BUY.  Roll Call.  “After recent polling showed a smaller lead over rivals, a national Democratic Super PAC purchased $195,300 of media time supporting Sen. Kay Hagan in her 2014 re-election campaign.”

    JOHN EDWARDS UPDATE. Politico. “He has been otherwise largely out of the public eye since May 2012, when he was acquitted of misusing campaign donations to hide an affair during the 2008 election. A jury deadlocked on other counts, but the prosecution declined to retry him.”

    LIKES, FOLLOWS, HATCH ACT, AND HEALTHCARE. WFB. “A former chief White House ethics lawyer has filed a Hatch Act complaint against a D.C.-based health care exchange, alleging that its online communications with liberal activist group Organizing for Action (OFA) violated rules against federal political activity.”

    AR:  RETURNING FUNDS. ADG.  “The attorney for former state Sen. Paul Bookout says Bookout is set to return thousands of dollars in campaign contributions while a criminal investigation continues into Bookout’s personal use of campaign cash.”

    CT:  SENTENCING.  CBS.  “A former labor union official was sentenced to three years of probation Monday in a scandal involving nearly $28,000 in illegal contributions to former state House Speaker Christopher Donovan’s failed congressional campaign last year.”

    MN:  ERRORS PROMPT HEARING.  Here.  “The Minnesota Legislature plans to hold a joint hearing to explore the inconsistencies the Star Tribune found in the state’s electronic campaign finance data.”

    NY:  SUPER PAC POWER.  Crain’s.  “A top state GOP operative has set up a new super PAC as Republicans and Democrats gear up for what will be a bruising statewide election in 2014.”

    NY:  PARTY LOBBYING ISSUE.  NYDN.  “In a complaint filed Monday with the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, NYPIRG officials asked the watchdog agency to look into the lobbying activities of political parties and require that they formally register with the state as lobbyists.”

    HAVE A GREAT DAY.