In the News
Bloomberg: Senate Scrutiny of Nonprofits Spurring Disclosure: Taxes
By Jonathan D. SalantAnother former FEC chairman, Bradley Smith, founder of the Center for Competitive Politics, takes the counter view. He said the undisclosed money accounted for just 4 percent of the estimated $7 billion spent on the 2012 elections.“This is blown vastly out of proportion,” said Smith, whose Alexandria, Virginia-based group opposes limits on campaign spending.
CCP
Campaign Finance Reformers: What’s Your Goal?
By Sarah LeeSilver is correct about one thing: money in politics is important. It is the fuel to the engine and it is an absolutely ludicrous assertion that you can remove money from politics and that the vehicle for elections in this country will still run. Because rest assured, elections will still happen, and there will still be money in politics making it happen should Silver and the reformers succeed in “removing” the money. It will just be far less dispersed, far less disclosed (ironically), and far less accountable. One need look no further than New York for proof of that, highly regulated in terms of campaign finance rules, and one of the most corrupt systems in the country.
Independent Groups
Washington Free Beacon: Questions of Coordination
Washington Free Beacon: Questions of Coordination
By Lachlan MarkayHowever, representatives from Mother Jones, CREW, and groups with ties to Progress Kentucky all attended a December meeting of the Democracy Initiative, a coalition of left-wing groups that discussed efforts to unseat McConnell.
Washington Post: Curtis Morrison starts legal defense fund
By Rachel Weiner“My name is Curtis Morrison,” he writes in a post on GoFundMe.com, a crowd fundraising platform. “I have been cooperating with the ongoing FBI investigation into how the recording was made. While my lawyer is charging a reasonable rate, I could use some help, and would be grateful for whatever you can pitch in.”
Corporate Governance
Huffington Post: SEC Petition For Corporate Political Spending Rule Reaches Half-Million Comments
By Paul Blumenthal“Some companies will conclude that the need to protect their brands against relentless, albeit unjustified, attacks necessitates a reduction in or elimination of political activities, even if that could lead to government policy actions harmful to shareholder value,” the letter states.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
AP: McConnell fundraising nears $13M for re-election
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s latest financial report to the Federal Election Commission shows he now has raised nearly $13 million for his re-election campaign, including more than $1.8 million since January.
Lobbying and Ethics
Washington Free Beacon: Lobbying for Action
By Alana GoodmanBy Alana Goodman“We anticipate Organizing for Action will exceed the $5,000 threshold for lobbying,” OFA Chief of Staff Grant Campbell wrote in a letter to the state’s ethics commission on March 27.
State and Local
New Jersey –– Politicker NJ: ELEC outlines list of campaign finance priorities
By Darryl R. IsherwoodThe list of eight “priority recommendations” includes a combination of new rules, expansion of existing rules and the closure of loopholes in existing state campaign finance law. The list was included as part of the agency’s annual report.Among the recommendations from ELEC is a policy that would specifically require a candidate to itemize information about dinners and other events including an attendance list and an explanation of why the event is considered “ordinary and customary” and should be paid for by the campaign.
