Today’s political law links

YESTERDAY’S SENATE HEARING ON DISCLOSE.  Senate Rules.

SENATE HEARING REPORT.  KALW.  “A bill that would require transparency by nonprofit groups related to federal elections met with united opposition from Republicans Wednesday, at the first Senate hearing on what its supporters call the Disclose Act.”

SUPER PAC LIGHT.  Jackson Free Press.  “Federal law requires that money spent on such election communications is an independent expenditure that must be filed with the Federal Election Commission within 24 hours when disseminated 20 days before an election and amounting to more than $1,000.”

NEW STATE EFFORT.  Politico.  “Compared to groups like the RSLC, the new super PAC will have almost no overhead costs – which is part of the group’s pitch to donors…”

TRIBE SUPPORTS.  ADN.  “The San Pablo Lytton Casino near Oakland, owned by the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians, gave $25,000 to the pro-Begich Put Alaska First PAC in April, according to federal filings published last week.”

AZ:  HUSK AND THE BAR.  AZcentral.com.  “The State Bar of Arizona has dismissed an investigation into attorney Gary Husk’s role in the Fiesta Bowl scandal, but a separate inquiry remains open regarding his misdemeanor criminal conviction.”

IL:  PRO-RAHM PAC RAISES.  Sun Times.  “With $8.3 million and counting in his main political fund and no high-profile opponent yet in the race, the last thing Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs is more money.”

NJ:  PARTY SETTTLES.  Philly.com.  “The Burlington County Democratic Committee has paid nearly $3,000 to settle a campaign-finance reporting complaint that alleged a variety of violations in 2009, when its former leaders were linked to a North Jersey official targeted in a corruption sting.”

NY:  CUOMO AND ETHICS.  NYT.  “While the governor now maintains he had every right to monitor and direct the work of a commission he had created, many commissioners and investigators saw the demands as politically motivated interference that hamstrung an undertaking that the governor had publicly vowed would be independent.”

TX:  FINE FOR NOT REGISTERING.  Houston Chronicle.  “The Texas Ethics Commission on Monday leveled a $10,000 fine against Empower Texans President Michael Quinn Sullivan for failing to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011, ending a two-year probe into one of the state’s most influential conservative activists.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Wed. political law links

TODAY AT THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.  The agenda for today’s meeting is online here.

AZ:  POLITICAL COMMITTEE RULES AT ISSUE.  AZcentral.com.  “A Scottsdale resident has lodged a complaint alleging that a non-profit corporation, Scottsdale Strong, violated Arizona campaign-finance laws in mailers it sent out supporting economic development and downtown Scottsdale’s restaurant and bar industry.”

DE:  NEW LAWS.  Newsworks.org.  “Under House Bill 301, an individual who makes a political contribution from a joint bank account will have to attribute the name of the donor. Similarly, Senate Bill 186 requires LLCs and corporations that donate more than $100 to disclose the name and address of one ‘responsible party’ who exercises control over the entity.”

PA: STING INVESTIGATION.  Philly.com.  “The state Ethics Commission has launched a formal investigation into allegations that four Philadelphia legislators were captured on tape accepting money during an undercover sting investigation.”

RI:  FUNG QUESTIONS BLOCK FUNDS.  Golocalprov.  “Republican gubernatorial candidate Allan Fung and his campaign manager are once again demanding answers from Ken Block about how his campaign for governor is being financed.”

WI:  USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS.  WKOW.  “A campaign finance report shows republican lawmaker Bill Kramer used donor funds to pay an attorney $10,000 to defend him against felony, sex assault accusations.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY. 

Tues. political law links

SUPER PAC EMBRACE.  Seattle Times.  “President Obama’s Tuesday fundraising swing through the Seattle area will include a high-priced dinner event benefiting a Democratic super PAC.”

$468, 22 MONTHS, AND THE FEC.  In the Know (D. Mason).  “Connie Mack lost his U.S. Senate race in Florida in 2012, but the FEC wasn’t finished until about a month ago.”

CA:  PUBLIC FINANCING CONSIDERED.  Dailycal.org.  “Berkeley is considering allowing local politicians to use public funds to finance their campaigns, by way of a measure that aims to give small, individual contributions to candidates more weight.”

IN:  WHEN THE FBI COMES KNOCKING.  NWTimes.com.  “FBI agents appeared at the Porter County Administration Building on Monday seeking copies of campaign records for Portage Mayor James Snyder.”

KY:  FAKE CANDIDATE.  WDRB.  “The group – which says it’s non-partisan – is running a phony candidate to draw attention to the money being raised and spent in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race.”

NH:  WILL RULES STICK?  NHPR.org.  “A bill awaiting Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature requires 501(c)4s and other politically active nonprofits to register with the Secretary of State’s office and report its receipts and expenditures.”

NY:  PUBLIC FUNDING, STRINGS ATTACHED.  NYDN.  “The Campaign Finance Board wants its money back — the public’s money, that is — from a Bronx councilman who’s trying to use it to win a state Senate seat.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.