Good morning, here are Monday’s political law links (1/14/13)

FUNDRAISING LAG. The Times. “President Obama’s inaugural committee is at least $10 million short of its $50 million fund-raising goal, officials have told top donors, with just over a week before Mr. Obama is sworn in for his second term.”

INAUGURAL UPDATE. Politico. “The presidential inaugural committee is revealing the identities of nearly 600 more donors who have pitched in to help fund the inauguration festivities.”

NRA SPOTLIGHT. The Post. “Today it is arguably the most powerful lobbying organization in the nation’s capital and certainly one of the most feared.”

CA: LOBBYIST LAW FOCUS. SacBee. “Despite state laws that require detailed reporting of payments to registered lobbyists and activities such as wining and dining lawmakers, the largest share of what the big labor unions, trade groups, health care and energy companies spend to influence public officials falls into a mysterious category that requires no detailed reporting to authorities.”

MT: CFR PROPOSAL. Story here. “No one showed up to oppose a bill Friday to tighten and make more specific some of Montana’s campaign finance laws after a federal judge struck down some of them as unconstitutionally vague last year.”

UT: DENIAL IN SCHEME. Story here. “Utah Democrats are calling for an independent prosecutor to conduct a probe after allegations against Attorney General John Swallow came to light Friday.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY. Due to some hosting company issues, updates may be sparse this week and visitors to PoliticalActivityLaw.com may experience slow site loading times.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

Good morning, here are Friday’s political law links (1/11/13)

SEC RULE COMMENTS.  Nation.  “Lobbyists, especially those guiding large amounts of undisclosed corporate cash into the election, are not pleased with the SEC proposal. Trade groups that lobby for Walmart, Chevron and major Fortune 100 companies are registering their disapproval on the SEC’s open comment website.”

FEC AND REFORM.  US News.

OBAMA LEGACY.  Politico.  “The organization formerly known as the Obama for America will host supporters and former campaign volunteers at a Washington confab over inauguration weekend where top officials are expected to decide on the future of the organization.”

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THAT DEBT?  Yesterday’s email from Jim Messina (I voluntarily sign-up for emails from a huge number of groups across the spectrum) landed in my inbox with a long disclaimer:  “The first $2,500 from a contributor to Obama Victory Fund 2012 will be allocated to Obama for America, designated for general election debt retirement. The next $30,800 from a contributor will be allocated to the Democratic National Committee. Any additional amount(s) from a contributor will be divided equally among the Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Virginia State Democratic Party Committees, up to $10,000 per committee and subject to the biennial aggregate limits. A contributor may designate a contribution for a particular participant. This allocation formula may change if following it would result in an excessive contribution or if Obama for America receives sufficient funds to pay its outstanding debts. Contributions will be used in connection with a Federal election, may be spent on any activities of the participants as each committee determines in its sole discretion, and will not be earmarked for any particular candidate.”  “General election debt retirement”? Last month one keen campaign finance law expert noted the debt with a tweet.

CFR CHANCES.  HuffPo.  “Aside from a possible vote for disclosure legislation in the Senate, Congress is unlikely to take up any reforms to the nation’s overheating campaign finance system in the next two years.”

GA:  UPDATE.  Story here.  “State House Speaker David Ralston says more people should be required to register as Statehouse lobbyists and disclose their spending.”

MS:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW ON TRIAL.  Story here.  “A non-jury trial is set to begin June 3 to consider Mississippi’s campaign finance laws.”

NY:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE PUSH.  WSJ.  “Gov. Andrew Cuomo is making a priority of campaign finance reform just as he and much of Albany have bulked up with campaign fundraisers that have brought in millions of dollars in donations.”

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Good morning, here are today’s political law links (1/10/13)

GC’S COULD BE DEALING WITH NEW RULES. Corporate Counsel. “The SEC has been under growing public pressure to consider a disclosure rule after the U.S. Supreme Court unleashed unlimited independent spending in its Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision in 2010.” Comments received by the SEC in response to the petition for rulemaking are online here.

MORGAN AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. Story here. “The White House defended Morgan’s First Amendment right to free speech regarding the Second Amendment right to bear arms.”

SUPER PAC DONOR ALLEGATIONS. The Post. “One million dollars is a big political contribution. It’s even bigger for a first-time political donor who lives in a $50,000 house.”

BREAUX, LOTT, AND CLIFF. NRO. “More generally, however, Carney’s (terrific) article is a reminder that when we hear CEOs calling on the country to make sacrifices, join together and all the ‘bipartisan’ rest of it, we also need to ask ourselves what little (or not so little) agreements they have made on the side.”

AK: ETHICS BILL. Story here. “HB10, sponsored by Rep. Max Gruenberg (D-Alaska), takes on issues raised by former Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration.”

DE: REVOLVING DOOR PROPOSAL. Story here. “The legislation would bar representatives and senators from acting as lobbyists for a period of one year after leaving office. A violation of the proposed law would be a criminal misdemeanor. The prohibition would take effect in 2015 and would not apply to current members of the General Assembly.”

GA: LOBBYIST GIFT LIMITS. Story here. “The Senate Study Committee on Ethics Reform said it would recommend its own house adopt a rule to cap gifts at $100.”

MA: SUIT OVER FINE. Story here. “Attorney General Martha Coakley is suing Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua over a $5,000 fine he has refused to pay for campaign finance violations.”

CANADA: DONATIONS QUESTIONED. Story here. “The province’s chief electoral officer has appointed a retired judge and two investigators to look into allegations of an improper $430,000 donation to Premier Alison Redford’s party from Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.