Disclosure: A Threat to Associational Privacy

January 1, 2018  •  By IFS staff  •    •  

Disclosure, in the campaign finance context, refers to laws and regulations requiring candidates and political groups to report information about their activities to the government, which then makes that information available publicly. The required information varies greatly, depending on the affected organization and the local, state, or federal government mandating the disclosure. Disclosure rules fall into two broad categories: disclosure…

If $1,000 is crumbs, as Nancy Pelosi says, then campaign disclosure laws are out of date 

February 8, 2018   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

“ Crumbs.” That’s how House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described the $1,000 bonuses paid to more than 200,000 AT&T employees as a result of ...

Constitutional and Practical Issues with Washington S.B. 5991

February 6, 2018   •  By Tyler Martinez   •  , , ,

On behalf of the Institute for Free Speech (“the Institute”), I respectfully submit the following comments concerning constitutional and practical issues with portions of ...

Washington State Legislators to Nonprofits: Give Us Your Donor List or Shut Up

January 31, 2018   •  By Alex Baiocco   •  ,

The Washington State Senate recently passed Senate Bill 5991, also known as the “Washington state DISCLOSE Act.” In short, the purpose of the bill ...

Constitutional and Practical Issues with Washington H.B. 2455

January 11, 2018   •  By Tyler Martinez   •  , , ,

On behalf of the Institute for Free Speech (“the Institute”), I respectfully submit the following comments concerning constitutional and practical issues with portions of ...

An Orwellian tale of ‘campaign finance reform’ 

December 26, 2017   •  By Thomas Wheatley   •  ,

There’s a foul stench emanating from Wisconsin. And it reeks of state thuggery. An investigative report by Wisconsin’s attorney general this month revealed violations ...

Staring at the Sun: An Inquiry into Compulsory Campaign Finance Donor Disclosure Laws

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December 14, 2017   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , ,

Abstract: Since the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in  Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, proponents of stricter campaign finance regulation have increasingly prescribed “disclosure” ...

There’s Nothing Sweet About Censorship

November 28, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

For many of us, the closest encounter we have ever had with threatening phone calls and messages or cars tailing you on your way ...

Why Donor Privacy Matters for Free Speech

October 27, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

Since our nation’s founding, the right of every American to freely support the causes they believe in has been paramount. Unfortunately, this right is ...

Lee Goodman Offers Spirited Defense of First Amendment in Campaign Finance Law

October 22, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

How big a problem is “dark money”? What about corporate spending in politics? Why doesn’t the FEC take a stronger stand against political activities ...

Over a Year Later, Coloradans Find out Exactly What was in Legislators’ Disclosure Bill

October 16, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  ,

Last Sunday, candidates who had already begun their campaigns for Colorado’s 2018 state elections received a rude awakening when news broke that the reach ...

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