July 27, 2012 •
Supreme Court Justice Scalia Defends Citizens United
Interview to be broadcast on C-Span this Sunday
Here is a video clip of C-Span’s Brian Lamb interviewing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who discussed the Citizens United decision.
For the full story , be sure to read “Scalia Defends ‘Citizens United,’ Arizona Immigration Decision” by Tony Mauro in The Blog of LegalTimes.
You’ll find more of the coverage in the press here:
“Scalia: ‘We get clobbered by the press’” by Dylan Byers in Politico.
“Scalia Unconcerned About Money in Politics; People Aren’t ‘Sheep’” by Ariane de Vogue on ABC News.
“Scalia Defends Decision in Citizens United” on Capitol Correspondent.
“Justice Scalia downplays reports of discord on court” by Mark Sherman in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
July 16, 2012 •
Campaign Finance in the News
Citizens United, the DISCLOSE Act, super PACs, fines, and returned contributions in today’s news
“Senate heads for vote on disclosure of hidden donors” by Tom Curry in NBC Politics.
“Democratic super PACs reel in $25 million” by Dave Levinthal and Kenneth P. Vogel in Politico.
“Citizens United didn’t just open money floodgates for corporations” by Anjeanette Damon in the Las Vegas Sun.
Connecticut: “Donovan campaign returns $27,660 in contributions” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) in the Boston Globe.
Minnesota: “Minnesota Republican Party fined; accused of illegal contributions, circumventing laws” by Bill Salisbury in the Pioneer Press.
Rhode Island: “R.I. Rep. Langevin near paying off $127,000 campaign-finance fine” by Philip Marcelo.
Tennessee: “PACs flood Tennessee General Assembly campaigns with cash” by Andy Sher in the Times Free Press.
June 25, 2012 •
Monday Campaign Finance News
Start your week of right with these campaign finance news stories:
“State limits on corporation campaign contributions rejected by Supreme Court” by The Associated Press in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
“Powerful congressman accused of campaign finance violations” by Scott Bronstein and Drew Griffin (CNN) in KTVQ.com.
Connecticut: “Malloy, legislature make last stab at campaign reform” by Mark Pazniokas in the CT Mirror.
Maryland: “Bartlett fined $5,000 by FEC for inaccurate campaign finance report filing” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Massachusetts: “Massachusetts legislators calling for Constitutional Amendment to reverse Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision” by Michael Norton and Matt Murphy in MassLive.com.
New York: “With Cuomo, a New Group Will Push for Publicly Financed Elections” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
June 19, 2012 •
Constitutional Amendment Introduced to Reverse Citizens United
House Joint Resolution 111
U.S. Representative Adam B. Schiff has introduced a constitutional amendment to reverse the resulting outcomes of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens United and Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC V. Bennett, an Arizona public financing law struck down by the Court.
The amendment, proposed in House Joint Resolution 111, reads as follows: “Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the states from imposing content-neutral limitations on private campaign contributions or independent political campaign expenditures. Nor shall this Constitution prevent Congress or the states from enacting systems of public campaign financing, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting campaign spending or independent expenditures with increased public funding.”
In his press release, Congressman Schiff said: “I have always been loath to amend the constitution, but this tragic line of reasoning by the Supreme Court has so threatened the health of our democracy that I am moved to introduce today’s amendment.”
June 11, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with the latest government relations news:
“Text Messages as Campaign Finance Reform?” by Quentin Fottrell in the Wall Street Journal.
“The Politics of Social Networking” by Damon Eris on the Independent Voter Network.
“At Meeting of Left’s Online Activists, Weighing Impact of Attack Ads” by Sarah Wheaton in The New York Times.
Alaska: “Will Citizens United result in Big Oil deciding who wins Alaska elections?” in the Alaska Dispatch.
District of Columbia: “Ex-D.C. Council Chairman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud” by Tom Schoenberg in Bloomberg.
Georgia: “Taking the Pledge – Most see need for lobbyist gift cap” in the Marietta Daily Journal.
Kansas: “Voters will see big changes from new redistricting plan” by Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal World.
New York: “Analysis: $2M gambling bet puts focus on lobbyist” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.
May 29, 2012 •
Tuesday News Roundup
Campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics
Campaign Finance
“Texas leads country in Super PAC giving — by a wide margin” by Emily Wilkins in the Houston Chronicle.
“17 funniest super PAC names” by Politico staff.
Louisiana: “Campaign donations for Gov. Jindal, others under scrutiny” by The Associated Press in the Daily Comet.
“Can State Laws Cohabit With Citizens United?” by Lincoln Caplan in the New York Times.
Lobbying
“K Street not thrilled with Tampa” by Anna Palmer in Politico.
Ethics
“Top N.H. pol quits; lied about work” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico.
May 22, 2012 •
Campaign Finance and Lobbying News Report
Keep up with the latest articles about lobbying and campaign finance:
Campaign Finance
“How Citizens United Is Affecting Campaigns” by Stuart Rothenberg in Roll Call.
Massachusetts: “Mass. towns push against Citizens United” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.
Nevada: “Assembly GOP leader calls for campaign transparency” by Ed Vogel in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Nevada: “Attempt to amend campaign finance not a new concept, but will it work this time?” by David McGrath Schwartz in the Las Vegas Sun.
Lobbying
“White House visitor logs provide window into lobbying industry” by T.W. Farnam in The Washington Post.
“To get a voice in Tallahassee, local governments spend millions on lobbyists” by Tia Mitchell in The Miami Herald.
May 18, 2012 •
Top Campaign Finance Stories
Here are the latest campaign finance news articles to wrap up the week:
“RI Sen. Whitehouse, McCain ask U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Montana campaign finance restrictions” by John E. Mulligan in the Providence Journal.
“Can Montana brief end Citizens United?” by Adam Skaggs in Politico.
“Even Before ‘Citizens United,’ Big Donors Dominated” by Peter Overby on NPR.
“Closing arguments in John Edwards trial” by David Zucchino in the Los Angeles Times.
Illinois: “Illinois might nix money caps if super PACs enter fray” by The Associated Press in the News Gazette.
Virginia: “Campaign finance law before appeals court in Richmond” by Larry O’Dell in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
May 15, 2012 •
Citizens United Making the News
From the U.S. Congress to a town in Massachusetts, reaction to the Supreme Court’s campaign finance ruling is in the news today.
Sen. Baucus’ constitutional amendment to dismantle the Citizens United ruling: “Baucus’ campaign finance amendment gets hearing” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.
“Money Unlimited” by Jeffrey Toobin in the The New Yorker.
“Citizens United: The Untold Story” by Joe Palazzolo in the Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog.
“How a Kennedy Concurrence Turned into a Majority Opinion in Citizens United” by Debra Cassens Weiss in the American Bar Association Journal.
Needham, Massachusetts: “Needham Town Meeting calls for constitutional amendment on campaign spending” by Evan Allen in the Boston Globe.
May 8, 2012 •
Mass. OCPF Director Reappointed
For new six-year term
Michael Sullivan, the Director of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, has been reappointed for another six-year term to the agency.
According to the Boston Herald, the decision was unanimous to reappoint Sullivan, who has been the director for almost 18 years.
For full news coverage, read:
“Michael Sullivan reappointed as OCPF chief” by Gintautas Dumcius in the Boston Herald.
A thank you goes to Jim Sedor, Editor of News You Can Use, for alerting us to this news.
April 23, 2012 •
Campaign Finance in the News
Here is an opinion piece about Citizens United. Blogs as paid political platforms – California’s FPPC may require disclosure of the payments to political blogs. Also, Virginia successfully meets its first electronic filing deadline:
Federal: “How to Beat Citizens United” by E.J. Dionne, Jr. in The Washington Post.
Arkansas: “Arkansas attorney general certifies ballot wording for item on lobbying, campaign finance” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
California: “State political watchdog chair wants bloggers to reveal payments” by Brian Joseph in the Orange County Register.
California: “California ethics czar urges disclosure of payments to Web pundits” by Patrick McGreevey in the Los Angeles Times.
California: “California looks to crack down on political bloggers paid by campaigns” by Jim Sanders in The Sacramento Bee.
Virginia: “New Electronic Campaign Filing Lauded in Virginia” by The Associated Press in Governing.
April 17, 2012 •
Today’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying news:
Campaign Finance
“Rep. Ted Deutch Holds Summit on Overturning Citizens United” via a press release on Rep. Ted Deutsch’s website. The meeting is set for tomorrow.
Alabama: “Campaign finance, PAC-to-PAC transfer law needs teeth, grand jury says” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.
“Fundraising Numbers Tip Scales of Power” by Joshua Miller in Roll Call.
ALEC
“Midwest Democracy | Study accuses ALEC of ‘secretive influence’ in Missouri Capitol” by Jason Hancock in The Kansas City Star.
Government Ethics
“Figure at center of D.C. campaign finance probe resigns from health-care company” by Mike DeBonis in The Washington Post.
“U.S. congressman under fire for campaign expenses turns to high-powered law firm” by Matt Friedman in the Star-Ledger.
March 28, 2012 •
U.S. Sen. John McCain Speaks Out about Campaign Finance
And other campaign finance, super PAC, and lobbying headlines today:
Campaign Finance
“McCain predicts ‘huge’ U.S. campaign finance scandals” by Alina Selyukh (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
“McCain Calls SCOTUS Decision on Campaign Spending ‘Stupid’” by Rebekah Metzler in the Chicago Tribune.
“Beware of the super-PAC: More lawmakers are fearing an ad ambush” by Joe Picard in The Hill.
Montana: “Conservative groups challenging campaign finance law formally seek Supreme Court intervention” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Lobbying
“Lobbyists reaping $220M bonanza” by Rich Karlin in the Albany Times Union.
“Memo details oil, gas industry lobbying expenditures” by The Associated Press in the News Tribune.
“Review of lobbyist spending prompts House ethics meeting” by Jason Clayworth in the Des Moines Register.
March 14, 2012 •
Judge Throws Out Illinois Limits on Contributions to Independent Expenditure Committees
Limits Ran Afoul of Citizens United Decision
U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Aspen has removed limits on political contributions to groups that make independent expenditures on behalf of or against a candidate.
The decision in Personal Pac v. McGuffage specifically overturns the annual limits of $10,000 per individual, $20,000 per corporation or union, and $50,000 from a political action committee to an independent expenditure committee.
Noting the U.S. Supreme Court struck down such limits in the Citizens United case, Judge Aspen concluded that preventing actual and apparent corruption cannot justify restrictions on independent expenditures.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.