CCP
Dickerson Testifies Before Maryland Legislature
By Sarah Lee“The definition of ‘political committee,’ though improved, is still vague and overbroad. In addition, the regulation of independent expenditures is inconsistent with federal case law, specifically the SpeechNow case. Finally, the electioneering communications disclosure provisions reach impermissibly far into an organization’s donor base, posing a potential threat to donors who support unpopular causes,” Dickerson writes.
Independent Groups
The Hill: Attack ads do not promote social welfare
By Melanie SloanContrary to Mr. Wang’s assertion, CREW and Dr. Gill are not arguing political activity has no social value. Public participation in the political process unquestionably is a central principle of democracy. But allowing wealthy individuals and corporations to cloak their political activities behind bogus social welfare organizations — with no accountability and in violation of federal law — does not promote democracy.
NY Times: Club for Growth Leads Conservative Charge, Sometimes at Republicans
By Richard W. StevensonAs the Republican Party and the conservative movement continue to debate the lessons of 2012 — a discussion that will get further attention this week at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington — the Club for Growth is playing the role of principle-driven counterweight to Karl Rove, whose political operation has been leading the charge favoring of a more pragmatic view of how Republicans can best regain power.
USA Today: OFA not a partisan organization
By Jon CarsonNot long after the polls close and the confetti falls, special interest groups begin to mobilize. Gun industry lobbyists are flooding Capitol Hill. A shell organization with undisclosed funders is flooding the airwaves against comprehensive immigration reform. Yet until now, there has been no organization to represent the majority of Americans who voted for the president’s agenda.Special interests have long played an outsized role influencing the policymaking process, so Organizing for Action (OFA) was established to change the balance of power. We are an organization of grassroots volunteers organizing their communities to support immigration reform, gun safety measures, curbs on climate change, and policies that strengthen the economy and the middle class.
USA Today: Pro-Obama group follows GOP’s sleazy path
EditorialThat makes the whole enterprise less smelly, though still suspect. Messina’s promises are no substitute for, and fall short of, the legal requirement that political committees disclose the name, address and employment of each donor. The extra data help identify what special interests might be at play. Nor does it change the fact that OFA is following the sleazy path charted by Republican political strategist Karl Rove, architect of George W. Bush’s presidential campaigns and the brains behind using the tax code to twist political groups into something else.
Disclosure
The Hill: Sen. Nelson urges FCC to unmask political ad donors
By Brendan SassoNelson noted that FCC regulations currently require TV broadcasters and cable providers to “fully and fairly disclose the true identity” of sponsors of ads.He argued that the rule means that groups must state more than just a vague name, like the “Committee for God, Mother and Country” on their ads—they must identify their major donors.
State and Local
Alaska –– AP: Campaign finance resolution finds support
JUNEAU, ALASKA — Two members of the Republican-led House majority say they’re inclined to support a resolution calling for changes to campaign finance laws. HJR8, by Democratic Rep. Les Gara, urges Congress to propose amending the U.S. Constitution to prohibit corporations and unions from spending unlimited amounts of money on campaigns.
Hawaii –– AP: State lawmakers debate campaign finance reforms
By Anita HofschneiderThe House judiciary committee planned to meet today to discuss reforming campaign finance reporting requirements. Members will also consider amending the Big Island’s pilot project for publicly funded campaigns to help increase its appeal.
West Virginia –– State Journal: Campaign finance bill sent to House finance
By Andrea LannomOn to the House Finance Committee next, the bill would eliminate the matching funds provision that was in the original pilot program. This provision was declared unconstitutional by West Virginia Supreme Court justices in a September 2012 ruling. In that decision, justices said the provision placed a “substantial burden on privately financed candidates’ free speech rights.”
