In the News
Bloomberg: Supreme Court to Review Aggregate Campaign Donation Limit
By Jonathan D. Salant & Greg Stohr“The idea that candidates are going to be soliciting for every candidate and their party is ridiculous,” Keating said. “Candidates are looking out for themselves, not for everyone else.”
Washington Post: Supreme Court to consider limits on individual political contributions
By Robert BarnesBut Brad Smith, chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics and an opponent of limits, said the Citizens United ruling may lead to the court’s reexamination of the Buckley v. Valeo decision, which justified contribution limits on anticorruption grounds.
Salt Lake Tribune: Panel votes to close disclosure loophole
By Lee DavidsonHowever, Allen Dickerson, with the conservative Washington, D.C.-based Center for Competitive Politics, said his group believes the bill is unconstitutional, and would likely challenge it.
Politico: Supreme Court will hear appeal of campaign donation limits
By Tarini PartiThe Center for Competitive Politics pointed out in a statement that if the court rules in favor of McCutcheon, it would equalize the role of party committees, which saw their power diminish in the 2012 election, with super PACs. Arguing in favor of McCutcheon, the center’s statement said that the “First Amendment requires the government to carefully tailor its regulation of political expression and association. Aggregate limits fail to do so, and are instead premised on an unlawful attempt to equalize political speech.”
CCP
Supreme Court to Decide Aggregate Limits Case
By Sarah LeeBrad Smith, Chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics and a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission said, “the case gives the Court an opportunity to clarify an important legal question: if contribution limits to individual committees and candidates prevent corruption, what additional interest justifies aggregate contributions? Are those limits nothing more than an attempt to prevent the ‘distorting’ effect of money in politics, a governmental interest that ruled for the government was explicitly rejected by Citizens United?”
Independent Groups
Roll Call: Watchdog Group Sues IRS Over Policing Nonprofits
By Eliza Newlin CarneyThe watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington on Tuesday sued the IRS on the grounds that its regulations governing politically active nonprofit groups flout tax laws, as written.
The Hill: Money chase by Obama circle ripe for corruption, say government watchdogs
By Alexander BoltonGovernment watchdog groups once allied with President Obama warn he could become embroiled in a second-term scandal because of ties to a group set up to collect unlimited donations.
Chicago Tribune: Bloomberg’s choice for Congress
EditorialHalvorson says Bloomberg is “trying to buy the election,” accuses Kelly and the group of violating the federal ban on coordination between PACs and candidates, and says voters in the district resent the outside intrusion.
Politico: Gingrich-less, super PAC is back
By Kenneth VogelOnly this time around, Winning Our Future won’t have the key piece of its brand — Gingrich, who isn’t at all involved in the super PAC.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
USA Today: Supreme Court to hear case on campaign donation limits
By Fredreka SchoutenWASHINGTON – In a move that could signal the end of a key restriction on political giving, the Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will consider a case challenging the limit on how much individuals can donate directly to federal candidates and political parties.
Corporate Governance
Harvard Law Blog: Benefits Trust and Walgreens Collaborate on Political Spending Disclosure
By Meredith Miller and Cambria AllenThe UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (Trust) and leading drugstore chain Walgreen Co. (Walgreens) recently announced an agreement to a multi-year collaboration in which the company would develop a best practice policy approach to corporate political spending and lobbying activities. A product of constructive dialogue between the Trust and Walgreens, the agreement highlights the utility of the shareholder engagement process by underscoring that companies and shareholders can work together to their collective long-term interest.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
CNN: Feds lay out funds misuse case against Jesse Jackson Jr.
By Terry FriedenWashington (CNN) — Federal prosecutors Friday filed felony charges against former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., alleging the illegal misuse of about $750,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses and gifts.
Roll Call: House Democrats Cash In With Online Fundraising Program
By Shira ToeplitzIt’s usually easier to bring in big bucks when your party holds the speaker’s gavel. But last cycle, House Democrats crushed their competitors thanks to a dramatic spike in online fundraising.
Lobbying and Ethics
Washington Post: Congressional staffers often travel on tabs of foreign governments
By TW FarnamMore and more foreign governments are sponsoring such excursions for lawmakers and their staffs, though an overhaul of ethics rules adopted by Congress five years ago banned them from going on most other types of free trips. This overseas travel is often arranged by lobbyists for foreign governments, though lobbyists were barred from organizing other types of congressional trips out of concern that the trips could be used to buy favor.
State and Local
California –– LA Times: Donor fined for laundering L.A. campaign contributions
By David Zahniser and Laura J. NelsonA donor to the mayoral campaigns of City Controller Wendy Greuel and council members Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry was fined $170,000 on Thursday by the Los Angeles Ethics Commission for laundering dozens of campaign contributions.
Nebraska –– Lincoln Journal Star: Senators want to stop lobbyist contributions during session
By Kevin O’Hanlon“The essential issue is that this practice creates the public impression that we senators are too cozy with lobbyists,” Avery said.
