It is easy to dismiss as overblown the concern about the outsize role of ultra-rich donors in the American political scene. Exhibit 1: Jeb Bush.Source: Money can’t buy Jeb Bush the White House, but it still skews politicsThen there is this:“People are upset about the Citizens United decision; people are upset about all this money flowing into politics, but at...
Nonprofit groups’ disclosure policies vary. Some campaign finance reform groups list donors online; some disclose donors if asked. Some only disclose gifts from institutions; others list institutions and individuals. Some accept anonymous money; some do not.Source: Groups decrying 'dark money' use shadowy money themselves...
The Federal Election Commission was formed by Congress in 1975 to regulate federal campaign spending limits. As Supreme Court decisions have loosened limits on campaign spending over the past decade, the role of the agency in regulating political speech has become an increasingly contentious issue.Source: Commissioner: FEC power grabs are the real 'dysfunction'...
Top communications aide Jennifer Palmieri tweeted that the campaign would not respond to Trump's comments, but said "everyone who understands the humiliation this degrading language inflicts on all women should.Source: What you missed in politics during your holiday vacation...
Should the United States convene a constitutional convention to clean up the campaign finance mess created by the U.S. Supreme Court? My answer is absolutely not. That's neither a realistic goal nor a wise way to curb the influence of the wealthy over our elections.Source: Do we need a constitutional convention on campaign finance?...
New Hampshire’s primary is just five weeks away, and state election officials are anticipating record turnout. There’s something else on their minds too—this will be the first presidential primary with the state’s new voter ID law in place. Source: N.H.'s Voter ID Law Remains Big Unknown for Presidential Primary Day...
The ongoing assessment of Super PACs covers extensive ground, ranging across a number of concerns.Source: Super PAC: The Law and The Politics...
Months after it became clear that “super PACs” could not, in fact, supplant the core functions of a campaign, several of the unlimited-money groups that are backing presidential candidates are reverting to 2012 form — with a series of blistering attack ads.Source: ‘Super PACs’ Still Have Time to Serve as Candidates’ Attack Dogs...
It is an oppressively humid day in South Florida and Jeb Bush has come home to declare his candidacy for president.Source: One year, two races: Inside the Republican Party’s bizarre, tumultuous 2015...
The California Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for the Legislature to place an advisory measure on the November ballot asking voters their views on campaign spending.Source: 'Citizens United' advisory measure can go on ballot, California high court saysThis statement from CA SOS Alex Padilla seems inappropriate to me. Padilla is the person who counts the votes, not one who...
