Independent groups
Reuters: IRS steps up scrutiny of tax-exempt political groups
By Patrick Temple-West and Alina SelyukhThe IRS has been corresponding with such groups and is preparing questions to ask them as part of effort to determine whether their fundraising or advertising work runs afoul of tax law. IRS spokesman Terry Lemons said on Thursday the scrutiny will affect a range of tax-exempt groups.
Wall Street Journal: IRS Probes Nonprofit Political Groups
By BRODY MULLINS And JACOB GERSHMANThe Internal Revenue Service is taking initial steps to examine whether Crossroads GPS, a pro-Republican group affiliated with Karl Rove, and similar political entities are violating their tax-exempt status by spending too much on partisan activities.
Wall Street Journal (Blog): Third-Party Attack Ads Are More Effective
By Christopher SheaNegative ads sponsored by third parties are more effective than identical ads sponsored directly by a candidate, a new study finds. That’s significant, because the number of such ads has soared in recent years, following congressional and judicial tinkering with campaign ground rules, notably in the Citizens United decision.
Politico: Sheldon Adelson pledges $10M to Koch effort
By Kenneth VogelCasino mogul Sheldon Adelson this week pledged $10 million to the Koch brothers’ 2012 efforts, cementing a potent alliance of two of the biggest spending forces in conservative politics.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
TPM: Supreme Court Muffles Both Sides’ Claims Of ‘Judicial Activism’
By Benjy SarlinFor years, Republicans carried the flag in the war against activist judges, a war that peaked during President Bush’s second term, with savage battles over federal court appointments and the late Terri Schiavo. Under President Obama, Democrats picked up their banner, blaming Bush’s appointees for gutting the campaign finance system in favor of the ultra-wealthy. Now nobody knows what to think.
Washington Post: Appeals court rejects ruling allowing corporate campaign funding
By TW FarnamThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond reversed a Virginia district court decision in the criminal case U.S. v. Danielczyk, which concerned contributions to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Bloomberg: Corporations: Hands-Off Candidates
By MARK SILVAU.S. District Judge James Cacheris had thrown out a charge that the two illegally funneled corporate money to the campaign, ruling that the high court’s 2010 Citizens United decision meant companies can make campaign donations directly to candidates as long as they comply with general legal limits. The appeals court judges disagreed.
Reuters: Court upholds ban on corporate political contributions
By Andrew LongstrethA federal appeals court has ruled that two Hillary Clinton supporters cannot use a controversial U.S. Supreme Court campaign-finance decision to battle accusations they illegally funneled donations to Clinton’s campaign coffers.
CBS News: Va. appeals court affirms campaign finance law
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a judge was wrong when he declared a century-old ban on corporate campaign contributions in federal elections unconstitutional.
Candidates and parties
National Journal, Influence Alley: How Much Congressional Candidates Raised in 2012 Cycle
By Elahe IzadiMoney, money, money: campaign fundraising continues to swell on the Hill, as congressional candidates raised $27.1 million more during the 2012 election than in 2010. This, despite fewer candidates running for office, according to Federal Election Commission figures released this week.
