NATIONAL, POLITICAL and LEGAL
CCP
FEC Approves Donations Via Text
By Sarah LeeIn a unanimous decision yesterday, The Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved a proposal to allow small dollar donations to candidates via text after rejecting a similar proposal two years ago for fear it would not comply with campaign finance laws.
Independent groups
Bloomberg: Six Myths About the Wisconsin Election
By Ramesh PonnuruMoney is what saved Walker from the recall. Walker and his allies outspent his opponents by a large margin — and that’s the whole story of this race, says Glenn Thrush in Politico. Thrush didn’t count union spending in the race, which was considerable. But even if he was right, his logic would be off. Assuming that the side that spent more money won because of it risks reversing cause and effect. If Democrats, particularly the national Democratic Party, had thought they could win the race, they would have spent more money. President Barack Obama and his allies vastly outspent Senator John McCain and the Republicans in 2008, but that’s not why Obama won: He raised a lot more money than McCain because he was more popular, and was considered likely to win.
USA Today: Outside groups spend $2.5 million on Arizona race
By Fredreka SchoutenOutside groups and political parties are outspending the candidates in today’s special election in southern Arizona, where voters are deciding who will replace Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman seriously injured in a 2011 shooting rampage in Tucson.
Disclosure
Politico: List political ads’ sponsors on Web
By NEWTON MINOW and HENRY GELLERThe FCC, by law, has long required broadcasters to maintain at the station public files about all political ads sold — including information about the names of sponsors or names of executives or board of directors of sponsoring entities, the amount paid and the time slot. The FCC, finally recognizing the 21st century, ordered in late April that major TV stations in large markets had to make this information available on the Internet — so the public has ready access.
Candidates and parties
NY Times, The Caucus: Axelrod Floats Amendment to Stem Campaign Spending
By SARAH WHEATONOn David Axelrod’s New York City itinerary for Monday: to meet privately with potential donors to a “super PAC” supporting President Obama’s re-election, then publicly declare that if that re-election happens, Mr. Obama will stop at almost nothing to undo the ruling that made super PACs possible.
Roll Call: Democrats Gird for Fall Onslaught
By Meredith ShinerIn the super PAC era of campaign politics, even Senate incumbents who appear safe in the summer can be on the ropes by the fall — and Democrats looking to protect their majority are already trying to ensure that none of their incumbents this cycle gets taken by an October surprise.
Talking Points Memo: Special Election To Replace Giffords Lives Up To Its Name
By Eric KleefeldArizona voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a special election unlike any other — a rare instance in which the politician being replaced, former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, is respected and beloved.
The Hill: Take Romney seriously
By Karen FinneyIn an election year, it’s better to have a bad week in June than in October. So the silver lining for Democrats is that there’s still plenty of time to heed a few lessons from last week.
FEC
Reuters: Regulators approve political donations via text message
By Alina SelyukhCampaigns and political groups can now receive donations through text messaging, thanks to a new ruling by federal election regulators that creates a new cash-gathering tool in this election year’s race to raise unprecedented amounts.
