[Political Activity Law]

ELECTION LAW NEWS YOU CAN USE. Wiley Rein (PDF). This month’s newsletter has important articles addressing political robocalls, the Honest Ads Act, and the launch of an interesting new app related to gift rules.

LOBBYIST GIVING. CNBC. “This plan represents the latest phase of an apparent shift from Warren, who accepted at least $95,000 from federally registered lobbyists during her campaigns for the U.S. Senate, according to records reviewed by CNBC.”

SUPER PAC LAUNCH. WMUR. “As prospective U.S. Senate candidate Corey Lewandowski testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, a super PAC aimed at convincing him to run for the New Hampshire seat was formally organized and filed with the Federal Election Commission.”

FUNDS ALLEGATIONS. WXU. “The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) wants to know why an audit of U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot’s campaign finance reports indicate that $123,000 has gone missing. Chabot, through a campaign lawyer, says he doesn’t know and is very upset over the matter.”

FL: FUNDRAISING UPDATE. OS. “Proud of his nonstop approach to leading Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis also hasn’t taken much of a break from fundraising — quietly salting away almost $2.6 million in contributions since being sworn into office in January.”

MO: LAWSUIT ON GROUPS. KC. “A liberal watchdog organization filed a lawsuit Monday asking a court to force the Federal Elections Commission to take action on a complaint against four groups that funneled $6 million of anonymous campaign money into Eric Greitens’ 2016 campaign for governor.”

NJ: MAILER ATTENTION. INJ. “The Republicans demanded Democrat incumbents Bob Andrzejczak, Bruce Land, Matt Milam, and Cape May County Democrat Chairman Brendan Sciarra to immediately disavow the mailing, and call on the Norcross-linked General Majority PAC to cease and desist from spending in support of their candidacies.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

YANG CONTEST. POL. “Andrew Yang’s surprising debate gambit — giving away $120,000 to 10 families over a year to highlight his universal basic income proposal — helped the outsider candidate raise $1 million in the 72 hours since the debate and collect more than 450,000 email addresses from people who entered the online raffle, the presidential campaign told POLITICO.”

SUPER PAC BACK. VF. “‘The John Bolton PAC and John Bolton Super PAC seek a strong, clear, and dependable U.S. national security policy, resting on constancy and resolve,’ Bolton said in a press release issued Friday.”

LOBBYING BANS. PEW. “The anti-lobbying bill would have had a withering impact on the hundreds of outside lobbyists that represent cities, counties, special districts and other local government entities in Austin. It also would have prohibited the payment of dues by cities and counties to lobbying organizations such as the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties.”

CA: LIMITS RAISED. RP. “In next year’s city-wide elections voters will be able to donate up to $500, a $100 increase from the previous limit passed in 2010. The limit will increase by $25 every two years starting in 2022.”

CA: REMOTE PARTICIPATION. TH. “The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will test a new feature at Thursday’s commission meeting by allowing the public to make comments or ask questions remotely from anywhere in the State, without having to attend meetings in person in Sacramento, the agency announced on Monday.”

MD: MODEL CLAIM. MM. “Montgomery County’s public financing law for county elections served its primary purpose the first time around, a new report finds: Reducing the influence of big money on local campaigns.”

OR: CASE CLOSED. OL. “The Oregon State Elections Division, which employs 20 people and maintains a $6.8 million annual budget, doesn’t dig deep.”

VT: TOOTHLESS WITHOUT PURPOSE. VD. “Vermont is one of only three states with an independent ethics agency that has ‘limited or no power’ to investigate state officials or impose sanctions, a new report has found.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

QUESTIONS RAISED. NYP. “Businessman Andrew Yang’s proposal to give 10 families a thousand bucks a month each for a year made a splash Friday — with campaign finance lawyers.”

LAST WEEK AT THE FEC. Weekly Digest.

COSTS IN THE NEWS. AT. “While Vice President Mike Pence’s fundraising visit to Aspen has come and gone, a lingering question has been whether the anonymous donations made to cover expenses absorbed by supporting local law enforcement agencies were political contributions.”

KY: GUILTY VERDICT. WDRB. “A federal jury in Frankfort, Kentucky, has convicted Jerry Lundergan, the father of Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, of funneling more than more than $206,670 of illegal corporate contributions to his daughter’s failed 2014 challenge of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.”

NJ: GROUP DISCLOSES. INQ. “A political nonprofit group founded by campaign advisers to Gov. Phil Murphy has disclosed its donors after resisting pressure to do so for months.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.