tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36167132011-04-21T11:31:07.514-07:00Votelaw -- Law and PoliticsAt the intersection of law and politics: Campaign finance, redistricting, election law and administration, and politicians in legal trouble.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comBlogger4631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-1162870713106741182006-11-06T19:38:00.000-08:002006-11-06T19:38:33.106-08:00Keeping up with the Jonesesjust a small post to keep things alive.Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-1162870543699716262006-11-06T19:35:00.000-08:002006-11-06T19:35:43.716-08:00Considering ...... what has happened to other sites, I have decided to post here every so often.Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003331782003-05-23T10:14:00.000-07:002003-05-23T10:14:21.626-07:00This blog has moved
Please go to my new blog site.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003326812003-05-23T08:44:00.000-07:002003-05-23T08:44:24.776-07:00Maintenance work
There will be little blogging for a day or two while I do some behind the scenes maintenance.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003236302003-05-21T12:44:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:44:43.930-07:00Hawaii criminal complaint in campaign finance case
Honolulu attorney Edward Y.C. Chun has been charged with assising a corporation in reimbursing contributions made by three employees to the campaign of Mayor Jeremy Harris, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003235982003-05-21T12:37:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:37:43.586-07:00Kentucky GOP primary for governor
Cong. Ernie Fletcher won the Republican primary for governor with 57% of the vote. State Rep. Steve Nunn, who tried to have Fletcher removed from the ballot, received 13%. Nunn claimed that Fletcher was disqualified by the removal of his running mate Hunter Bates on the grounds that Bates had not met the 7-year residency requirement. See the story in the Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003235472003-05-21T12:27:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:27:11.276-07:00Louisiana redistricting
The Justice Department has precleared the Louisiana House redistricting plan, according to the Associated Press.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003235372003-05-21T12:25:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:25:07.786-07:00New York City council term limits extension
Here is a more complete story from Newsday on the state appellate decision Monday to allow some city council members to serve 10 years instead of the "two terms" provided in a voter-approved referendum. The City Council had amended the law to allow members forced to serve a two-year term after redistricting to serve that term plus two 4-year terms.Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003234292003-05-21T12:06:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:06:40.383-07:00Canada begins consideration of electoral system reform
Rick Hasen has a post on his Election Law blog about the publication of the discussion paper, "Renewing Democracy:
Debating Electoral Reform in Canada." I thought that I had mentioned that report months ago, but can't find it.
Those interested in true reform of the electoral system would do well to review this report. I'm currently Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003232962003-05-21T11:39:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:31:36.580-07:00More fallout from the Texas redistricting saga
Josh Marshall, whose Talking Points Memo has done a lot on the Texas story, has a column in The Hill today concerning the efforts of Tom DeLay to get federal involvement in the efforts to track down the runaway Democrats.
The Democrats, in the meanwhile, are asking for "who knew what when" in the request from the Texas DPS to the Homeland Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003227732003-05-21T10:04:00.000-07:002003-05-21T10:04:55.890-07:00Colorado congressional district maps
Daniel Smith, of the U of Denver pol sci depaprtment, has clued me into the link to find the 2003 congressional plan passed by the legislature and now under attack. Go here and click on "View Interactive Legislative District Maps" -- yes, that's what it says and the link confused me too.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003227462003-05-21T10:02:00.000-07:002003-05-21T10:02:02.980-07:00Mississippi judicial campaign investigation
The Biloxi Sun Herald reports today that Richard Scruggs paid off an $80,000 campaign loan for Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz. Scruggs has 4 cases pending before the Supreme Court. The paper does not say whether Diaz has recused himself from those cases.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003220442003-05-21T08:02:00.000-07:002003-05-21T08:02:09.616-07:00Colorado redistricting
The Legislature has hired Richard Westfall to represent it in the suit brought by Sen. Mary Ann "Moe" Keller against the new redistricting plan. See the AP story in the Rocky Mountain News. For some reason, Democrats have objected to spending taxpayer money on this suit, according to the Denver Post.
Sen. John Andrews, the sponsor of the redistricting, defends his Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003137872003-05-19T16:37:00.000-07:002003-05-19T16:37:48.573-07:00South Carolina doing a mid-term redistricting
The S.C. House is considering a bill to make minor changes to the court-ordered redistricting plan to reduce the number of split precincts. See the AP story here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003137812003-05-19T16:34:00.000-07:002003-05-19T16:34:33.160-07:00New York City law extending term limits is OK
An appellate court has ruled that the City Council's amendment of the city term limits law is not invalid. The Council passed the law because the term limits law would have unfairly affected the members of the council whose terms are shortened to 2 years because of redistricting. Read the AP report here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003121672003-05-19T10:45:00.000-07:002003-05-19T12:18:40.743-07:00BCRA stay
Thanks to Marty Ledermar Of SCOTUSblog for providing a link to the stay order and partial dissent by the 3-judge court. Two judges granted the stay and Judge Leon dissented in part.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003077922003-05-18T10:07:00.000-07:002003-05-18T10:07:27.190-07:00Contributions by Iraq-rebuilding contractors
Thomas Hargrove of Scripts Howard News Service reports
Construction and engineering firms seeking federal contracts to rebuild war-torn Iraq made millions of dollars in political contributions last year, including extensive use of big-money donations to the major political parties.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003077342003-05-18T09:49:00.000-07:002003-05-18T09:49:54.630-07:00DSCC complains to FEC about Club for Growth ads
The Rapid City Journal reported earlier this week,
Television ads that take Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to task for opposing President Bush's tax-cut package break the new federal campaign-finance laws, Democratic leaders believe.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee filed a formal complaint against ad sponsor Club for Growth with theEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003077122003-05-18T09:42:00.000-07:002003-05-18T09:42:00.303-07:00Mississippi campaign finance/bribery probe
While the Washington Post has an article on this probe, the Clarion-Ledger has more details here, and here. The Biloxi Sun Herald has several articles here, here, here, and here.
The basic allegation seems to be that Paul Minor is underwriting judicial election campaigns in return for rulings. Since this is before a grand jury and almost nobody Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003075762003-05-18T08:53:00.000-07:002003-05-18T08:53:32.573-07:00PR in Scotland
I reported earlier this week that the new coalition government in Scotland agreed to adopt Single Transferable Vote in local councils in Scotland.
The Glasgow Sunday Mail reports that Labour could lose control of 7 local councils because of the new system.
The Glasgow Herald has a column asking whether the proliferation of voting systems in Scotland means its voters are Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003074002003-05-18T07:37:00.000-07:002003-05-18T07:37:13.396-07:00Montana redistricting suit
The Helena (MT) Independent Record has an editorial today commenting on the GOP effort to undo the redistricting plan of the independent commission.
Yesterday, the AP reported on the initial hearing of the suit challenging the GOP's new law. The judge "challenged the assertion that legislators were acting within their constitutional power in changing the criteriaEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003073902003-05-18T07:31:00.000-07:002003-05-18T07:31:49.290-07:00Colorado redistricting
Rep. McInnis and Beauprez claim that they knew nothing in advance about the filing of the redistricting plan (favorable to both) in the Colorado legislature -- despite the involvement of Tom DeLay and Karl Rove. The "Spin Cycled" column in the Denver Post offers this contrary evidence.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003073652003-05-18T07:19:00.000-07:002003-05-18T07:19:59.903-07:00Texas redistricting and the flight of the Killer Ds
How will history view the Killer Ds "hiding out" in Oklahoma for 4 days? The El Paso Times offers this assortment of views.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003058872003-05-17T15:42:00.000-07:002003-05-17T15:42:07.520-07:00Federal probe of Ga. Speaker
Paul McCord reports on Political State Report that there is a federal probe of the Georgia speaker of the house for using campaign funds for personal expenses, including making mortgage payments on his condo.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003055032003-05-17T12:34:00.000-07:002003-05-17T12:34:42.490-07:00Other redistricting stories
Green Party members are challenging the new redistricting plan for the Maine House because it divides the only Green-held district in the state. See the story on News 8 WMTW.
Suffolk County, NY, has adopted a new redistricting plan on a party line vote. Two Ds will be paired in one district. Newsday has stories here, and here.Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003054882003-05-17T12:25:00.000-07:002003-05-17T12:25:48.716-07:00The Killer D's are back in Texas
Here are some stories on the week-long flight of the Killer D's.
Houston Chronicle, "Democrats kept an eye on each other," here
and "Glad to be back home," here
Austin American Statesman -- "Wayward lawmakers back at Capitol, ready to get back to work now that redistricting is dead," here
and "Both parties emerge with greater unity," by Dave Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003026352003-05-16T14:57:00.000-07:002003-05-16T14:57:00.316-07:00More advice sought for defense fund
Another pol in trouble, James W. Treffinger, is seeking to use his leftover campaign funds for the defense of his criminal case. See his request here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003026092003-05-16T14:46:00.000-07:002003-05-16T14:46:45.790-07:00An Analysis of Election Fraud
Demos has published a study of fraud in elections, "Securing the Vote: An Analysis of Election Fraud." It finds that fraud is a small problem in American elections.
Notice of this report came to me in "Democracy Dispatches," a email newsletter Demos sends out periodically. To see the latest issue, click here and to sign up, click here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2003000332003-05-16T06:28:00.000-07:002003-05-16T06:28:04.630-07:00The Texas strays return in triumph or obliquy
The Democrats have returned to the Capitol according to the Austin American-Statesman. The paper also has PDFs of the current and proposed maps.
The Austin Chronicle publishes the statement of the absconding Democrats.
Bob Ray Sanders has a pro-Democratic commentary in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002999622003-05-16T06:11:00.000-07:002003-05-16T06:11:09.516-07:00Colorado redistricting
The Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to hear the suit by Attorney General Ken Salazar against the Secretary of State, according to the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. Salazar has argued that the legislature cannot adopt a new redistricting plan after a state court has done so (following the earlier failure of the legislature to adopt a plan).
The Denver Post Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002966482003-05-15T11:39:00.000-07:002003-05-15T11:39:19.003-07:00Colorado redistricting
The Colorado attorney general has filed a petition in the state supreme court asking it to rule that the redistricting law is illegal, according to a Denver Post columnist and news story. An editorial in the Post comments on the suit. Another story is in the Rocky Mountain News.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002966102003-05-15T11:30:00.000-07:002003-05-15T11:30:11.476-07:00The latest "news" on the Texas strays
Willie Nelson has sent his good wishes, some red bandanas, and whiskey to the Democratic legislators holed up in Armore, OK, according to the AP.
A federal agency that is supposed to track terrorists was asked to trace the private plane of one of the Democrats, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Another story reports that the GOP leadership has stopped Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002965042003-05-15T11:07:00.000-07:002003-05-15T11:07:35.873-07:00Campaign Legal Center comments on Rep. Majette's request for Advsiory Opinion
Rep. Denise Majette has asked for an Advisory Opinion about the creation of a Legal Defense Fund. The Campaign Legal Center has filed a comment pointing out the effect of the BCRA on the proposed fund.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002930592003-05-14T19:21:00.000-07:002003-05-14T19:21:16.490-07:00The Forum
I received the following notice tonight:
The Berkeley Electronic Press, together with editor Nelson W. Polsby of UC Berkeley and managing editor Raymond J. La Raja of University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is pleased to announce a new issue of The Forum, a journal of applied research in contemporary politics.
In the third issue of The Forum, we give an early preview of the 2004 Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002930332003-05-14T19:11:00.000-07:002003-05-14T19:11:37.130-07:00Indiana election cases
Marcia Oddi of the Indiana Law Blog was nice enough to send me a note about two cases from earlier in the year.
First, a decision by the state supreme court imposing a redistricting plan for the Indianapolis City/County Council. The Court reversed the lower court decision because its plan was "uniformly supported by one major political party and uniformly opposed by Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002911122003-05-14T11:38:00.000-07:002003-05-14T11:38:33.456-07:00Texas Redistricting Maps
To view the current plan for Texas congressional districts, go to the Texas Legislative Council site, and click on "View Current Districts."
To view the proposed GOP plan, go to the same site, click on "RedViewer," click on "All Other Redistricting Plans," and choose Plan 1180.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002903222003-05-14T09:15:00.000-07:002003-05-14T09:15:20.683-07:00Colorado redistricting map
The maps and data for the Congressional plan adopted by the Colorado court in early 2002 is here (Colorado official site) or here (NCEC site). When I find a link to the new map, I will post it. In the meanwhile, here is the act.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002902292003-05-14T08:53:00.000-07:002003-05-14T08:53:50.763-07:00Scotland to adopted Proportional Representation for local elections
According to the BBC and the Edinburgh Evening News, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reached an agreement for a coalition government in Scotland. One key point of the agreement is to introduce Single Transferable Vote at local council elections by 2007. See the Lib Dem Manifesto. Labour had opposed STV at the local Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002890112003-05-14T05:11:00.000-07:002003-05-14T05:11:37.323-07:00Suffolk County NY redistricting in court
The Suffolk County legislature failed to reach an agreement on a redistricting plan yesterday. "U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt has scheduled a hearing in a lawsuit filed by Suffolk Hispanic and African-American residents who say the legislature has failed to act in a timely manner to draw new lines. The current boundaries, they say, violate their Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002889772003-05-14T04:59:00.000-07:002003-05-14T04:59:59.346-07:00Today's roundup of stories on the Texas strays
Google News has 543 stories on the absconding Texas legislators. Here are the ones that seem to add some new information:
Tom DeLay wants the feds to arrest the legislators, while the Texas DPS harasses legislators' families-- Houston Chronicle
The Hill
The Republicans are running ads for the arrest of some Democrats, publishing Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002872902003-05-13T17:50:00.000-07:002003-05-13T17:50:46.826-07:00Roundup on other redistricting news
Montana: The Great Falls Tribune reports, as does the Billings Gazette, that the Legislature has adopted an act to force the Secretary of State to reject the redistricting plan adopted by the Districting and Apportionment Commission. Seems that the Dems ended up with a 3-2 majority on the Commission, and the GOP claims that the Commission plan is Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002870182003-05-13T16:34:00.000-07:002003-05-13T16:34:11.710-07:00The latest on the Texas strays
The Dallas Morning News has this light-hearted story about the runaways in their "hideout" in Oklahoma. Fox News reports that one Democrat was arrested near her Austin apartment.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002839122003-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:002003-05-13T07:00:30.543-07:00AG won't defend new Colorado redistricting plan
The Rocky Mountain News reports that the state Attorney General refuses to defend the suit against the new congressional redistricting plan. The Secretary of State is looking for an attorney to defend the plan.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002838792003-05-13T06:56:00.000-07:002003-05-13T06:56:37.200-07:00Latest on Texas redistricting
The Washington Post, The Hill, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Dallas Morning News have stories on the flight of the Democratic House members to stop action on the congressional redistricting bill. The Texas papers report that the Dems are in a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, OK, and the Texas law officers are seeking federal authority to arrest the legislators.Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002837512003-05-13T06:38:00.000-07:002003-05-13T06:38:15.583-07:00Providian National Bank wants to market political party affinity credit cards
Providian National Bank, a large credit card issuer, has requested an advisory opinion from the FEC whether it may enter into agreements with national political parties to use their mailing lists to solicit customers for credit cards branded with the political party name and symbol. If the customer chose a rebate Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002815342003-05-12T18:08:00.000-07:002003-05-12T18:08:00.690-07:00Draft advisory opinion on refunds to contributors
The General Counsel has circulated to the FEC commissioners a draft advsiory opinion to the Virginia Highlands Advancement Fund. The VHAF received a refund from the IRS and wants to know what it may do with the funds. The draft opinion advises that the Fund should make pro rata refunds to its contributors.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002800132003-05-12T12:27:00.000-07:002003-05-12T12:27:32.550-07:00Colorado redistricting plan revised, Dems sue
The Colorado papers have several stories concerning the hasty adoption of a new congressional redistricting plan in Colorado, and the suit by the Democrats to block the new plan. See the stories in the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, the Aurora Sentinel, and AP via the DenverChannel.com.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002799712003-05-12T12:19:00.000-07:002003-05-12T12:19:01.373-07:00More on redistricting in Texas
The Associated Press via the Houston Chronicle reports that John Alford, a Rice University political scientist who has advised Republicans on redistricting, has denounced the proposed redistricting plan as "a pro-Republican partisan gerrymander on top of an already pro-Republican existing plan."
The Austin American-Statesman reports that one Democratic House Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002799252003-05-12T12:07:00.000-07:002003-05-12T12:07:35.240-07:00Texas House Democrats walk out
Charles Kuffner of Political State Report says that 52 House Democrats have taken off for parts unknown to protest the Republican redistricting plan, among other things. The House rules require 100 members (2/3) for a quorum. The 52 absconders make it impossible to obtain a quorum.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002779532003-05-12T06:51:00.000-07:002003-05-12T06:51:19.436-07:00Legal Times wrap up on McConnell v. FEC
Despite the title, "Campaign Finance Ruling Gives No Satisfaction" reports on both the good and the bad points for lots of positions in the case.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002726842003-05-10T15:58:00.000-07:002003-05-10T15:58:30.653-07:00Wisconsin corruption trial
Former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, who faces felony charges of misconduct in public office, has used nearly $100,000 from his campaign fund to pay for his legal defense, federal records show.
...
State law allows politicians to use campaign money for their legal defense against alleged campaign finance or election law violations as long as they get the donors' Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002719402003-05-10T11:03:00.000-07:002003-05-10T11:03:45.890-07:00Colorado GOP plans another Congressional redistricting
Luis at Poltical state Report has a post on the plan to remap the congressional districts in Colorado.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002719302003-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:002003-05-10T10:56:52.856-07:00Katrina Leung
Joshua Micah Marshall's Talking Points has a long post about the failure of the media to mention Katrina Leung's fundraising for Republicans when reporting her indictment for passing secrets to the Chinese. (Thanks to TalkLeft for the link.) TPM has these follow-ups: here, here, here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002718172003-05-10T10:20:00.000-07:002003-05-10T10:20:42.863-07:00IRS publishes Q&A on new Section 527 requirements
The Internal Revenue Service has published a Revenue Ruling in a question and answer format on the new requirements for political organizations. Here is the introduction to the Ruling:
On November 2, 2002, Pub. L. 107-276 was enacted, amending § 527 of the Code. The new law amends the reporting and disclosure requirements for tax-exempt Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002717962003-05-10T10:15:00.000-07:002003-05-10T10:15:45.913-07:00Many parties seek stay on BCRA ruling
After the NRA filed its motion to stay the decision in McConnell v FEC, the court entered an order requiring all motions to be filed by noon on Friday. The order is here. You may see the stay applications at the Campaign Media Center's site.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002717422003-05-10T10:01:00.000-07:002003-05-10T10:01:29.703-07:00Texas Democrats sue over campaign violations, while GOP proposes another shafting
Two Democrats who lost in legislative races are suing Texans for a Republican Majority (founded by Cong. Tom DeLay) for not reporting all the funds it collected and expended on behalf of winning Republican candidates. Under Texas law, losing candidates may sue for twice the amount not reported. See the story in Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002712822003-05-10T07:31:00.000-07:002003-05-10T07:31:49.253-07:00The Drug Czar and Nevada campaign finance disclsoure
The National Law Journal reports,
Federal "drug czar" John P. Walters campaigned against a Nevada ballot proposal to legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana, but he refuses on constitutional grounds to file a campaign spending report.
...
Special Assistant Attorney General Jonathan L. Andrews wrote that it is "extremely likelyEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002604202003-05-08T04:46:00.000-07:002003-05-08T04:46:50.113-07:00Kentucky governor's race
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports today:
Front-runner Ernie Fletcher can remain on the May 20 Republican primary ballot for governor because he had the right to name a new running mate for lieutenant governor, the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday.
Meanwhile, among the Democrats ...
Two Democratic candidates for governor released a flurry of TVEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002584942003-05-07T17:15:00.000-07:002003-05-07T17:15:30.300-07:00McConnell v FEC
As usual, the Campaign Legal Center is doing a great job in gathering and putting on the web all the documents in the McConnell case. In addition to the decision and opinions, the CLC has posted summaries by many of the interested parties, a link to the documents unsealed by the court, and the stay motions filed in the case. To see the jurisdictional statement filed by Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002467752003-05-05T16:15:00.000-07:002003-05-05T16:15:45.233-07:00Jurisdictional Statement Filed by Opponents of Campaign Finance Law
SCOTUSblog reports:
The lead plaintiffs in McConnell v. FEC have already filed a jurisdictional statement in the Supreme Court seeking review of those portions of the three-judge court's opinion that upheld significant provisions of the BCRA, and that concluded that challenges to other provisions were nonjusticiable at Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002467722003-05-05T16:13:00.000-07:002003-05-05T16:13:32.990-07:00Purdue v. Baker
SCOTUSblog reports today:
The Georgia Supreme Court has announced it will be web-casting the oral argument in Purdue v. Baker, the fight over whether the state AG or instead the governor, has control over redistricting litigation now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The argument will be tomorrow at 10am, and the web-cast is supposed to be available at this link. ManyEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002422972003-05-04T21:18:00.000-07:002003-05-04T21:18:32.206-07:00AO request: Home Depot
Home Depot, Inc., has requested an Advsory Opinion. It wishes to give a pin advertising the company's separate segreted fund to the contributions to the fund. Home Depot wants to know if it can give these pins and whether the employees can wear them. (Warning: I have been able to read the request online, but any attempt to print it has frozen my computer.)
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002422852003-05-04T21:14:00.000-07:002003-05-04T21:14:32.503-07:00AO request: Rep. Majette's defense fund
Rep. Denise Majette (D-Ga4) defeated Rep. Cynthia McKinney in the Democratic primary last year. Supporters of McKinney have brought suit against Majette charging violations of the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution because an alleged conspiracy to have Republicans vote in the Democratic primary. Majette has requested an Advisory Opinion that funds Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002422592003-05-04T21:05:00.001-07:002003-05-04T21:05:47.826-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion re payroll deductions for PAC
At the meeting on 8 May, the FEC will consider the draft Advosory Opinion to the Public Services Enterprise Group, Inc.. PSEG wants to transfer all payroll deduction authorization from one separate segregated fund to another. The draft authorizes this if certain conditions are met.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002422582003-05-04T21:05:00.000-07:002003-05-04T21:05:47.780-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion re payroll deductions for PAC
At the meeting on 8 May, the FEC will consider the draft Advosory Opinion to the Public Services Enterprise Group, Inc.. PSEG wants to transfer all payroll deduction authorization from one separate segregated fund to another. The draft authorizes this if certain conditions are met.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002399832003-05-04T06:31:00.000-07:002003-05-04T06:31:55.976-07:00McConnell v FEC fallout
Can parties start raising and spending soft money? That's the question discussed in this article from the New York Times and this one in the Washington Post.
While I have been tied up in depositions (yes, even on Saturday), Rick Hasen, Howard Bashman, and SCOTUSblog have been collecting news stories and making intelligent commentary about the case.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002351872003-05-02T14:51:00.000-07:002003-05-02T14:51:46.293-07:00McConnell v FCC
The Court has issued the McConnell decision. Get it here. The main opinion is 171 pages, and pages 5-15 contain a summary of all the rulings. Each of the judges wrote separately on some issues. The Court also issued a ruling on the sealed material -- it appears that much of the information previously sealed must be refiled as part of the public record.
This is the Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002212212003-04-30T06:26:00.000-07:002003-04-30T06:26:28.056-07:00FEC may investigate head of Common Cause
The Hill carries an article today on a possible investigation by the FEC. Here are excerpts:
Campaign fundraising reports for Chellie Pingree, a former Democratic Senate candidate form Maine who now heads Common Cause, contain numerous infractions that may prompt an audit by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), The Hill has learned.
...
LastEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002212102003-04-30T06:22:00.000-07:002003-04-30T06:22:44.826-07:00The Great Texas Map Theft
Here is The Hill story about the latest allegations in the alleged theft of the GOP's proposed redistricting map in the Texas Capitol building.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002211782003-04-30T06:17:00.000-07:002003-04-30T06:17:00.856-07:00Georgia v. Ashcroft
Here is the story on the argument from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002184872003-04-29T15:24:00.000-07:002003-04-29T15:24:41.716-07:00Georgia v. Ashcroft
Here is the report of the AP on the argument earlier today in the Supreme Court. Georgia appealed a decision holding that its redistricting plans violated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002155102003-04-29T06:25:00.000-07:002003-04-29T06:25:30.036-07:00FEC's ruling on alleged party-controlled groups
The New York Times and Washington Post have articles today about the decision of the FEC to drop complaints against The Leadership Forum and the Democratic State Parties Organization.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002143022003-04-28T22:42:00.000-07:002003-04-28T22:42:39.236-07:00Blogs, Esq.
Robert Ambrogi was kind enough to mention this blog in his article, Blogs, Esq. in Corporate Counsel.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002140312003-04-28T21:23:00.000-07:002003-04-28T21:23:21.136-07:00FEC takes mixed action on complaint charging evaision of BCRA by both parties (2)
Trevor Potter has written to me:
The Campaign Legal Center now has all the public components of the FEC
case released today involving complaints against 'shadow party'
committees up on its website. This includes the General Counsel's Report
and recommendations, and the statements of reasons of the two Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002140262003-04-28T21:19:00.000-07:002003-04-28T21:19:35.640-07:00FEC takes mixed action on complaint charging evaision of BCRA by both parties
The FEC has decided by a 4-1 vote that the Republican National Committee violated the BCRA by giving $1 million to The Leadership Forum, but only admonished them (because the Leadership Forum gave the money back). By a 4-2 vote, the FEC also dismissed a complaint against the Democratic National Committee claiming itEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002105292003-04-28T08:30:00.000-07:002003-04-28T08:30:02.216-07:00Georgia Redistricting
The Fulton Daily Report has this report on tomorrow's argument in Georgia v. US.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002087162003-04-27T22:43:00.000-07:002003-04-27T22:43:18.833-07:00Sen. Lieberman Wants FBI probe of GOP contributions
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), a leading Democratic candidate for president, has asked the Justice Department and FBI to investigate whether an accused spy [Katrina Leung] may have illegally funneled Chinese government money into Republican coffers in the 1990s, according to a letter he sent Friday.
By calling for a campaign finance Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002040182003-04-26T13:11:00.000-07:002003-04-26T13:11:48.413-07:00Federal candidates and state initiative campaigns
Larry Levine wrote me about my prior post about Flake:
Does the Clean Election Fund provide funds for candidates for federal offices or just for state offices? If it is the latter, then the use of federal funds would probably NOT be permitted under BCRA. If it funds both
state and federal races, can federal funds be spent to repeal the Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002029672003-04-26T06:32:00.000-07:002003-04-26T06:32:45.193-07:00Kentucky GOP gubernatorial primary
Kentuckians continue to check the newspaper daily or the radio bulletins hourly to find out who is running for governor in the Republican primary.
The problems all started when Ernie Fletcher chose Hunter Bates as his running mate. Bates had lived out of state for most of the last decade, working in Washington for law firms and Sen. McConnell, while Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002018762003-04-25T18:48:00.000-07:002003-04-25T18:48:37.980-07:00Federal candidates and state initiative campaigns
The request (of Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)) to the FEC for an Advisory Opinion has drawn several comments. Flake set up a group called Stop Taxpayer Money for Politicians Committee which wants to circulate petitions for an initiative to repeal the Clean Elections fund in Arizona. The problem is that Flake is a federal official and he is Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2002017352003-04-25T17:53:00.000-07:002003-04-25T17:53:12.860-07:00Texas Association of Business loses in federal court
The Texas Association of Business had sued a bunch of losing candidates in federal to forestall them from suing the TAB in state court. (I would tell you where I had talked about this before, but Blogger is once again not showing my archives.)
The federal court has now dismissed TAB's complaint and ordered it to pay the attorneys' fees Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001991862003-04-25T09:16:00.000-07:002003-04-25T09:16:18.590-07:00Maryland's ban on "walking around money" is overturned
Here are a few excerpts from the Baltimore Sun article (thanks to Richard Winger for the article):
A Prince George's Circuit Court judge declared unconstitutional yesterday a state law barring the payment of Election Day poll workers, and threw out criminal charges against three workers tied to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s 2002 electionEdwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001988272003-04-25T08:17:00.000-07:002003-04-25T08:17:59.330-07:00FEC adopts Advisory Opinion to Virginia officials and Rep. Cantor
The FEC apparently adopted a modified version of the General Counsel's draft advisory opinion according to the details in this AP story.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001987642003-04-25T08:10:00.000-07:002003-04-25T08:10:49.233-07:00Gingrich non-profits off the hook with IRS
The IRS has renewed the tax-exempt status of two non-profit groups organized by Newt Gingrich. The IRS had said 2 years ago that the groups had engaged in partisan activities and therefore could not be tax exempt. See the story here from the Washington Post.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001946632003-04-24T11:31:00.000-07:002003-04-24T11:42:26.343-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion on Federal Officials and State Campaigns
Just before today's meeting of the FEC, Commissioner David Mason filed a proposed revision of the General Counsel's draft advisory opinion in response to the questions of several Virginia state and local officeholders and Congressman Eric Cantor. They asked how much involvement Cantor could have in state and local campaigns. Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001945592003-04-24T11:16:00.000-07:002003-04-24T11:16:35.483-07:00Pending requests for FEC advisory opinions
The AP had a story yesterday about the requests for advisory opinions by Rory Reid, Eric Cantor, and Jeff Flake. Old news to those who read this blog.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001945152003-04-24T11:10:00.000-07:002003-04-24T11:10:03.033-07:00Follow up on two items
The Washington Post has two short reports about Sen. Kerry using his wife's fortune in his presidential campaign and the possibility of President Bush not being on the ballot in Alabama because of the lateness of the convention.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001944732003-04-24T11:01:00.000-07:002003-04-24T11:01:59.160-07:00Paralegal's donations to Edwards under investigation
Tom Edsall of the Washington Post reports that the Justice Department is investigating the donations made by employees of a Little Rock, Arkansas, law firm. My earlier post on this is here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001944352003-04-24T10:56:00.000-07:002003-04-24T10:56:11.546-07:00Georgia Redistricting sideshow
Rick Hasen agrees with Howard Bashman and me regarding the Georgia Supreme Court case not being moot just because the U.S. Supreme Court has heard the argument.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001926442003-04-24T05:18:00.000-07:002003-04-24T05:18:54.253-07:00Texas Redistricting
The Texas Attorney General has opined that the Legislature may, but is not compelled to, redistrict Congressional districts this year.
Here is an article from the Dallas News on this and the alleged theft of the DeLay map. The article includes a categorical denial by Gerry Hebert that a theft occured.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001905682003-04-23T16:12:00.000-07:002003-04-23T16:12:29.810-07:00Georgia Supreme Court to hear governor v. attorney general appeal
The Georgia Supreme Court will hear the appeal of the Governor over his right to withdraw the state's appeal of the adverse decision in the Voting Rights Act preclearance case. The hearing will be on 6 May, about a week after the argument in the U.S. Supreme Court. Although the Atlanta Journal Constitution suggests that the Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001890652003-04-23T11:22:00.000-07:002003-04-23T11:22:11.550-07:00Will Bush be on the ballot in Alabama?
According to the AP, the Republican Convention is being held so late that the Republicans will miss the Alabama deadline for nominating their presidential candidate.
Thanks to J.J. Gass for noting this story.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001881042003-04-23T08:28:00.000-07:002003-04-23T08:28:41.123-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion on Federal Officials and State Campaigns
Common Cause and Democracy 21 have filed a comment with the FEC endorsing the General Counsel's draft of the advisory opinion.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001880462003-04-23T08:18:00.000-07:002003-04-23T08:18:58.336-07:00Texas GOP accuses Gerry Hebert of stealing their map
The Hill has a story in today's issue about the Texas redistricting map I mentioned here.
The Republicans say that they left the map in a public hearing room and that it was gone a while later. They claim that they have viewed a security "tape of some guys walking down the hallway with what appeared to be [the Republican aide's] stuff.?Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001879352003-04-23T08:06:00.000-07:002003-04-23T08:06:07.746-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion on Federal Officials and State Campaigns
Here is an article in The Hill discussing the forthcoming advisory opinion I have discussed here and here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001853882003-04-22T19:24:00.000-07:002003-04-22T19:24:07.473-07:00FEC requests public comment on enforcement procedures
The FEC is considering a request for public comment on its enforcement procedures and how they might be improved. The draft notice is at http://fecweb1.fec.gov/agenda/mtgdoc03-28.pdf.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001847682003-04-22T16:24:00.000-07:002003-04-22T16:24:26.110-07:00FEC Advisory Opinion on Federal Officials and State Campaigns
At Thursday's meeting of the FEC, the Commissioners will have two versions of the proposed advisory opinion to Cong. Eric Cantor and several Virginia state and local officials. The General Counsel has proposed one version (discussed here), and Commissioner Bradley Smith has proposed another.
While Smith's draft places more Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001793572003-04-21T17:28:00.000-07:002003-04-21T17:28:56.716-07:00Corruption in New Jersey
From today's Morning Edition, "NPR's Nancy Solomon reports that the prosecution of New Jersey politicians is on the rise. Christopher Christie -- the state's new U.S. attorney -- has made stamping out corruption a priority. Within his first year in office, Christie has doubled the number of attorneys working on political corruption." Listen to the story here.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001793352003-04-21T17:23:00.000-07:002003-04-21T17:23:54.173-07:00The Leung case
TalkLeft has an excellent wrap-up of the Leung case, emphasizing the campaign finance aspects of the case. Katrina Leung is the woman recently arrested for passing American secrets to the Chinese government (China, the big one, not Taiwan) while supposedly acting as an informer for the FBI. Her handler/lover has been arrested as well.
Since my first post on this case, I Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3616713.post-2001786862003-04-21T14:55:00.000-07:002003-04-21T14:55:15.123-07:002 FEC Commissioners propose changes in presidential matching fund
FEC Commissioners Scott Thomas and Michael Toner have proposed that Congress change the amount candidates could spend (from $40 million to $75 million), increase the checkoff on the tax return to $5, and allow matching of the first $500 of each contribution (up from $250), according to the Washington Post.
Edwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02223045064609528948noreply@blogger.com