October 22, 2014 •
San Diego, California Passes Advertising Rules for Independent Committees
City Council unanimously adopted new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent and primarily formed committees. Ordinance 2015-37 requires earlier disclosure of large contributors and restricts the ability of a committee to reproduce and distribute campaign advertisements used by a candidate. […]
City Council unanimously adopted new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent and primarily formed committees.
Ordinance 2015-37 requires earlier disclosure of large contributors and restricts the ability of a committee to reproduce and distribute campaign advertisements used by a candidate.
The ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2015, and is not applicable to the November 2014 election.
APOC acknowledges Citizens United may nullify Alaska campaign laws
The Alaska Public Offices Commission has issued an opinion allowing a new independent group, Alaska Deserves Better (ADB), to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in this year’s elections. Although the commission’s director said the advisory opinion is specific to ADB and the way it plans to operate, the decision seems to be relevant for other independent committees.
Under current state law, groups such as ADB may receive, each year, contributions of no more than $500 from an individual and $1,000 from a different group. Additionally, groups may not receive contributions from an individual who is not a resident of the state, or from a foreign national.
With the exception of the foreign national restriction, the opinion acknowledges laws prohibiting independent expenditures by corporations and labor unions are likely unconstitutional in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010. As a result, ADB, an independent expenditure group, can obtain contributions in unlimited amounts, with no restriction on the amounts or sources.
The commission acknowledges that without a ruling from a court or a change in legislation, there will not be clarity in the state’s campaign contribution law.
November 1, 2011 •
Riverside County Enacts Mandatory Electronic Filing Ordinance
Candidates, Candidate Controlled Committees, and Independent Committees Affected
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has approved ordinance number 913 which makes electronic campaign finance disclosure mandatory for candidates, candidate controlled committees, and independent committees which receive contributions or make expenditures of $5,000 or more.
Once the electronic reporting threshold has been met, all subsequent reports must be filed electronically.
The ordinance will take effect on November 28, 2011.
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.
