Fri. political law links, 1-24-14

REIMBURSEMENT ALLEGED.  NBC.  “Conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza was indicted in federal court on Thursday on allegations he made illegal contributions to a U.S. Senate campaign in New York in 2012.”

SCHUMER ON IRS.  Roll Call.  “Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday that Democrats, the administration and the IRS must immediately ‘redouble’ efforts to close loopholes created by a recent Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates for money into politics.”

SUPER PAC MOVE.  NYT.  “The Obama political operation that once buried Hillary Rodham Clinton’s White House ambitions is now rapidly converging around her possible 2016 presidential bid, conferring on Mrs. Clinton enormous early advantages in money, expertise and voter targeting techniques.”

LOBBYIST SPENDING DOWN.  IBT.  “Lobbyists are spending less these days, at least if trends from 2013 continue.”

PAC HOUSEKEEPING.  Lexology.  “With the New Year knocking at the door and the 2014 election season just around the corner, it is time for those of us who manage a federal Political Action Committee (‘PAC’) to take the housekeeping steps necessary to remain compliant with federal campaign finance laws.”

CA:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE BIZARRE.  Voice of San Diego.  “And just like that, San Diego is in the midst of yet another political scandal. It’s shaping up to be a weird one.”

DC:  GRAY REPORT.  City Paper.  “Orange’s resolution echoes a Monday Washington Post editorial, which called for the release of the report that was finished in May 2012.”

VA:  DOJ DEALS.  WP.  “The failed behind-the-scenes plea discussions underscore the governor’s strong assertion that prosecutors have stretched the law to ensnare a high-level official through the actions of his wife.”

WA:  BETTER ACCESS TO LOBBYING REPORTS.  Post Intelligencer.  “A group of lawmakers led by Republican Sen. Joe Fain proposed a bill Thursday that would require lobbyists to pay a $200 annual fee to fund the development of electronic reporting system.”

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Time for some political law links, 1-23-14

WHY INVESTIGATE RADEL?  Roll Call.  “In short, House rules require an Ethics investigation after a member is convicted and sentenced for a felony but leave it to the committee’s discretion as to whether to investigate members’ other involvement with the criminal justice system. Here, the Ethics Committee decided Radel’s circumstances warranted probing.”

REID PROBE URGED.  Fox.  “D.C.-based Cause of Action argue in a letter to ethics committee chairwoman Sen. Barbara Boxer and ranking Republican Sen. Jonny Isakson that by urging expedited approval of a specific set of visa applications, Mr. Reid may have run afoul of the Senate’s Code of Official Conduct.”

COMPLAINT FILED.  Politico.  “An anti-Hillary Clinton group has filed a Federal Election Commission complaint against the former secretary of state and an independent group promoting her potential 2016 presidential bid.”

AD WARS 14.  Story here.  “The Republican Party of Florida has demanded a local television affiliate cease airing a spot from a GOP super PAC, according to a letter obtained by CQ Roll Call.”

AZ:  HORNE SEEKS SETTLEMENT.  Fox.  “Lawyers for Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne are asking an administrative law judge hearing his campaign finance violation case to hold a settlement conference before the case is heard next month.”

CA:  TWO CHARGED.  NBC.   “The U.S. Attorney’s office has released information that a tech CEO and a former San Diego police detective are accused of illegally funneling more than $500,000 to San Diego political campaigns in hopes of influencing elections, including the 2013 special mayoral election.”

NM:  LAW LIMITED.  Story here.  “Because the session of the Legislature that began Tuesday is a short one (30 days) and largely limited to budget issues, Wirth needs the approval of Gov. Susana Martinez for his legislation to be considered.”

VA:  ASHBY ON US V. MCDONNELL.  Here.  “Bob McDonnell faces a long, costly, draining fight versus a merciless adversary.”

VA:  OVERREACH ALLEGED.  Politico.  “Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Tuesday evening vehemently defended himself against accusations that he accepted illegal gifts from businessman Jonnie Williams, calling prosecutorial action against him “overreach” by the federal government and vowing to fight the charges.”

VA:  WORKING ON ETHICS.  NBC29.  “The timing of the McDonnell corruption case isn’t lost on Virginia lawmakers.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Wed. political law links, 1-22-14

LESSIG WALKS.  Harvard Crimson.  “Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, along with dozens of activists, will continue a 185-mile, two-week march across New Hampshire this week to protest the corrupting influence of money in politics and publicize the need for campaign finance reform as the important 2016 New Hampshire presidential primary approaches.”

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE BIZ.  WSJ.  “Political intelligence, the business of gathering information about Congress and government and selling it to investors looking for an edge, has been a burgeoning business. It also has been controversial, raising questions among some regulators.”

Q4 CUTS.  Roll Call.  “Some organizations spending on lobbying the federal government during the fourth quarter showed large reductions in spending from the third quarter, according to early filings.”

CA:  NO PAYMENT.  LA Times.  “State authorities have yet to receive $15 million in penalties they imposed on campaign groups after a headline-making investigation into secret political donations.”

RI:  SUPER PAC AGREEMENT?  Providence Journal.  “With the scion of a storied Rhode Island political family poised to shake up the governor’s race, state General Treasurer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Raimondo says she’s open to signing a pledge to limit campaign donations from large political advocacy groups.”

VA:  MCDONNELLS CHARGED.  WP.  “Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were charged Tuesday with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who sought special treatment from state government.”

VA: MORE ON INDICTMENT. Politico. “The legal team for former Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.) wasted no time in filing legal motions Tuesday challenging the legitimacy of the criminal indictment handed up against him in federal court in Richmond, charging him with wire fraud, bank fraud, extortion and conspiracy.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.