Thurs. political law links, 6-12

CHALLENGE IN ALASKA. NYT.  “Dan Sullivan, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate in Alaska, says he will disavow all support from outside special interests if his opponent, Senator Mark Begich, a Democrat, agrees to do the same.”

OCE AND STOCKMAN.  Daily Beast.  “A report released by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) Wednesday states that Stockman may have violated federal law by receiving illegal campaign contributions from congressional employees and then that ‘there is substantial reason to believe that Representative Stockman made false statements and endeavored to impede the OCE inquiry.'”

REQUEST DENIED.  The Hill.  “The merchandise website CafePress is denying a request from pro-Hillary Clinton super-PAC Ready for Hillary to stop selling shirts, mugs and bumper stickers mocking the group.”

CROWDSOURCING LOBBYING.  Care2.com.  “Launching this week is Amplifyd, a crowdsourced social activism platform that makes it possible for people to support causes in their community (and the nonprofits fighting for those causes) by sponsoring someone to call and lobby their elected officials on their behalf.”

TODAY AT THE FEC.  The meeting agenda is online here.

CA:  POSSIBLE FINE FOR MAILERS.  Desert Sun.  “The state’s campaign ethics watchdog is looking to fine former Indian Wells council candidate Haddon Libby $3,500 for not properly disclosing he sent negative campaign mailers about his 2012 political opponents.”

CO:  COMPLAINTS FILED.  Denver Business Journal.  “Coloradans for Responsible Reform, the business-backed group that’s opposing nearly a dozen ballot initiatives that take aim at Colorado’s oil and gas industry, has filed a complaint against two organizations supported by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis with the Secretary of State’s office.”

RI:  VOTE DELAYED.  NBC10.  “Amid dissension, the Rhode Island Senate delayed consideration Wednesday of legislation designed to restore Ethics Commission jurisdiction over state lawmakers.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.  

6-11-14 political law links

MCALLISTER UNLEASHED.  Maddow.  “According to McAllister, an unidentified colleague said he could expect to parlay a vote on a bill related to the Bureau of Land Management into campaign donations.”

THE POINT OF HEARINGS.  Roll Call.  “As Senate Democrats gear up for their third in a series of public hearings on the state of campaign finance, Capitol Hill can expect another made-for-TV performance that’s long on political theatrics and short on policy.”

WIRETAPPING IN INVESTIGATION.  NBC.  “A Mexican millionaire accused of making illegal contributions to local political campaigns is upset about the slow progress of the federal case against him, and according to his attorney, ‘just wants to get his life back.'”

TOP TIER DONOR.  Roll Call.  “An individual donor to Super PACs has given $585,000 in April and May, moving his family into the top ten Super PAC donors this election cycle.”

A BEN THING.  Canton Rep.  “A former SCI employee provided a few rare moments of levity this morning in the federal trial of Stark County businessman Benjamin D. Suarez on allegations of breaking campaign finance law and obstructing justice.”

CT: JUDGE RULES. Courant. “Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall denied the group’s request for a preliminary injunction. The injunction would have barred the State Elections Enforcement Commission from enforcing two campaign laws – one limiting coordination between candidates and fundraisers and a second that distinguishes between ads for a candidate and ads in support of issues.”

LA:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE LANDSCAPE.  NOLA.com.  “The rise of super PACS has created competition for the parties, which must adhere to giving limits.”

NJ:  PAY TO PLAY LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONAL?  Politickernj.com.  “The answer to that question may be clearer after September 30, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will hear arguments in a case challenging federal pay-to-play law.”

PA: RGA DONATION IN THE NEWS. Philly.com. “The Republican Governors Association transferred nearly $1 million to its Pennsylvania political action committee from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a blunder that appears to breach the state’s gaming act, records show.”

TX:  ALLEGED USE OF COUNTY PROPERTY.  The Gazette.  “County Assessor Mark Lowderman has been accused of using county resources to advance his political campaign for county treasurer after his office spent nearly $7,300 on mailers sent to senior property owners.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Tues. political law links, 6-10-14

PRIVATE MARKETS AND PUBLIC GOODS.  Brennan Center (Torres-Spellicsy).  “From private parking meters, to private jails, to the entrance fee for the private 9/11 Museum, to the cost of running for public office with private dollars, the private market is swamping public goods.”

ROTUNDA ON SJ RES. 19.  Justia.com.  “In over two centuries, only once have the people used an amendment to override another.”

SUED FOR DISCLOSURE.  Examiner.  “The Center for Competitive Politics on Monday sued the Federal Election Commission, alleging the FEC denied the group’s Freedom of Information Act request for a document that ‘relates to a complaint against Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies that was dismissed last December.'”

KOCH CFR LOBBYING.  Roll Call.  “The company owned by billionaires Charles and David Koch, who contribute millions to political advocacy groups that spend money on political advertising and impacting elections, has now started to lobby on the issue of campaign finance.”

CU UPDATE.  NJ.  “It’s been more than four years since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling reshaped the campaign finance landscape, and yet the Federal Election Commission has failed to issue new regulations to take into account the landmark decision.”

REVOLVING DOOR:  NOT FANS.  Sun Times.  “We can never tighten the rules enough to prevent all unethical or illegal activity, so we have to hope that lawmakers and other public officials have enough integrity to avoid relationships that raise questions about their character and their intentions.”

CA:  MAYOR FINED.  Manteca Bulletin.  “The California Fair Political Practices Commission believes that Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal’s 2010 campaign – for which he was running for reelection to the city council – made glaring errors in reporting campaign contributions and personal loans.”

CA: ASSEMBLYMAN FINED.  Sacramento Bee.  “Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer has agreed to pay California’s political watchdog a $10,000 fine for hiding the source of a $50,000 loan to his 2012 campaign.”

CA:  GROUP FINED.  San Jose Mercury News.  “The Fair Political Practices Commission announced Monday that leaders of the Wisdom Culture and Education Organization, which offers courses in Chinese language and customs, made five illegal donations to ex-Councilman Steve Cho’s unsuccessful 2008 mayoral bid.”

ME:  LEPAGE FINED.  BDN.  “The Maine Ethics Commission has levied fines against Gov. Paul LePage for missing two campaign finance deadlines in the past week.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.