Political law links, Thursday, June 21, 2012

NONPROFITS AND COMPLIANCE.  Roll Call.  “Nonprofit groups that spend big money on campaign-style ads will face growing pressure to comply with tax and campaign finance laws in the wake of a federal court ruling last month, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said in a speech at the National Press Club today.”

FEC AGENDA.  The agenda for today’s Federal Election Commission meeting is online here.

ONLINE OPPO.  E.politics has a look at online opposition research tools and techniques.

CHIRPIFY.  Story here.  “This election season is getting a little tweeter for the presidential candidates.”

CAMPAIGN COH.  The Hill.  “The Obama campaign spent more money than it raised in May, but is sitting on $110 million in cash, according to a Federal Election Commission filing on Wednesday.”

DONORS AND 12.  Politico.  “Mitt Romney surged past President Barack Obama in May fundraising on the shoulders of big donors — an advantage the Republican nominee seems likely to sustain through November.”

WEEKEND PLANS.  The Post.  “Fresh off the best fundraising stretch of his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney plans to spend this weekend strategizing and fraternizing with his biggest bundlers at a posh resort in Park City, Utah.”

ROMNEY FUNDRAISING OBSERVATIONS.  The Times.  “Mr. Romney, who survived a prolonged and cash-draining Republican primary process, has accomplished what many once thought impossible: he is keeping pace with President Obama’s vaunted fund-raising operation, which demolished records four years ago.”

TOURING CAMPAIGN FINANCE.  Jessica Levinson writes in Politico here.  “A quick tour through the campaign-finance law landscape demonstrates there is much to be concerned about — unless you’re a wealthy donor or well-funded corporation.”

OGE AND STOCK ACT.  Guidance is here.

TWITTER BEEF.  Perhaps not as newsworthy as a Twitter beef between Chris Brown and Pink or Rihanna and Ciara, but campaign finance lawyers can take to Twitter for lively exchanges, too.  After the White House announced its response to the petition on FEC nominees, former FEC Chair and Wiley Rein partner Michael Toner opined:

Marc Elias of Perkins Coie retored:

https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/215264997763334145

The response?

The full conversations can be followed on their Twitter pages.

MCCASKILL SUPER PAC.  Story here.  “Richard Martin, a lobbyist based in Kansas City who ran McCaskill’s successful 2006 campaign, confirmed Wednesday that he’d created a new fundraising committee called ‘Heart of America.'”

PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING PROPOSAL.  Story here.  “The new legislation would increase the public matching money for primary elections from one-to-one to four-to-one for donors who give no more than $200. This would make a $200 contribution by an individual worth $1,000 to the candidate. The $800 in additional money would come from the presidential campaign-fund checkoff on individual tax returns.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Good morning, here are Wednesday’s political law links (6/20/12)

(C)(4)’S AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY.   Venable’s Political Law Briefing discusses this hot topic here (via Craig Ready).

IRS PROBES? Roll Call.  “As evidence mounts that the IRS is more closely scrutinizing politically active nonprofit groups, Republicans on Capitol Hill have lashed out with assaults on the tax agency and fresh demands for an explanation.”

SEC UPDATE.  Lobby Comply Blog has an important update regarding the SEC’s pay to play rules here: “The Securities and Exchange Commission has extended the date advisers and third-party solicitors must comply with new pay-to-play rules until April 2013.”

EYE ON DISCLOSURE.  Story here.  “The Supreme Court is expected Thursday to decide on a Montana case that could undercut or reaffirm the court’s controversial 2010 campaign finance decision — and don’t think Senate Democrats aren’t paying attention.”

DONOR DEMANDS.  The Times.  “In a letter to Mr. Rove and Steven Law, the president of Crossroads, Mr. Bauer urges them to immediately disclose their donors.”  More here:  “The FEC has 120 days to act on the complaint, after which Bauer could sue in federal court — generating another headline little more than two weeks before the election. A court ruling would be unlikely before 2013.”

SUPER PAC GEARING.  Story here.  “The Super PAC backing Mitt Romney said it would launch a $7.6 million television ad sweep across nine states, Reuters reports.”

ABRAMOFF DOMAIN NEWS.  Story here.  “Jack Abramoff is continuing his quest to get control of the website bearing his name, calling in a third party to try and force House Democrats to give it back.”

LOBBY/RNC MOVES.  Story here.  “Top lobby shop Ogilvy Government Relations is losing three veteran Republican lobbyists, including CEO Drew Maloney.”

TWEET DONATIONS.  Politico.  “Political donations by text message? So last week.”

MT RADAR:  A SCOTUS MULLIGAN?  Time.  “The Affordable Care Act isn’t the only consequential law whose fate the U.S. Supreme Court holds in its hands.”

ETHICS REFORM IN UT?  Story here.  “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Cooke said Tuesday that Utah needs to raise the bar when it comes to its ethics standards, calling for tougher lobbyist rules, campaign contribution limits and laws governing the conduct of public officials.”

CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES DOMINATE.  Story here.  “The Republican candidates for Utah attorney general spent nearly an hour in a debate Tuesday trading the same barbs that have marked their campaigns in recent days.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Here are today’s political law links (Tues., June 19, 2012)

CALLING ALL BAUCUS ALUMS.  Roll Call.  “The six-term Senator’s network of aides-turned-lobbyists isn’t limited to tax issues. Baucus is taking a leading role in the handful of matters that have potential to move this year, such as a bill to normalize trade relations with Russia and an extension of highway and transit spending. His committee also has jurisdiction over major aspects of the health care overhaul.”

FRANKING NEWS.  Roll Call.  “The franking system is designed to provide lawmakers with a taxpayer-funded way in which to communicate with their constituents about their activities in Congress. Although campaigning is specifically prohibited, lawmakers often walk up to the line of impropriety with the wording of their mailings.”

SUPER PACS AND LBJ (LEBRON JAMES).  Story here. “Workers’ Voice, the super-PAC of the AFL-CIO, is spending about $100,000 on the ad blitz against Ohio state Treasurer Josh Mandel (R).”

LOBBYING ON ATM DISCLOSURE.  Story here.  “The banking industry is lobbying aggressively against a regulation that requires ATM operators to post placards that list the fees for using the machines.”

WH FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES.  Story here.  “Financial disclosure forms for White House officials have begun rolling in via email after the White House announced Friday that the annual reports would be made available to anyone who requests them and fills out an online form.”

SUPER PAC FR.  WSJ via Politico.  “Two of Mitt Romney’s potential running mates are slated to appear at a fundraiser for the super PAC that supports him this week, according to people familiar with the event.”

SUPER PAC HITS.  The Post.  “After barely paying attention to politics most his life, [Leo] Linbeck [III] is a major force behind this year’s most outside-the-box super PAC, the Campaign for Primary Accountability, and funneled at least $1.3 million of his money into the endeavor. ”

HAVE  A GREAT DAY.