Case
Ballot Access News: Libertarian Party Wins Procedural Victory in Campaign Finance Case Involving a Bequest
On March 19, U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Wilkins ruled that the Libertarian Party’s campaign finance case involving a bequest to the party can be certified to the entire panel of U.S. Court of Appeals Judges in the D.C. Circuit. The decision is 28 pages, followed by 20 pages of Findings of Fact.
Independent Groups
Policy Mic: Super PACs Embraced By Democrats, and Democracy is Stronger For It
By Scott EastmanFirst, money does not guarantee electoral success. Second, Super PACs provide political speech that increases information available to voters.
Bloomberg: Tea Party-Backed Super-PAC is Latest Challenge to Rove
By Jonathan D. SalantThe Real Conservatives National Committee has been set up to fund voter-identification efforts and grassroots organizing designed to support candidates favored by the anti-tax Tea Party leaders in party primaries. The efforts will include targeting incumbent Republicans Tea Party activists want to defeat.
Corporate Governance
MSN: Should companies stop campaign contributions?
By Jason NotteAt least one Starbucks (SBUX -0.91%) shareholder seems to think that not making those contributions is a far more powerful statement than just passing out venti servings of funds to any candidate who might be coffee-friendly. According to Reuters, shareholder John Harrington wants to prohibit the company not only from making political donations, but from forming a political action committee to throw its weight around Washington, D.C.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
Bloomberg: RNC Suffers Super-PAC Envy
By Julie BykowiczThat bit of envy is tucked away on page 64 of the RNC’s 97-page “autopsy” of how to right itself after failing to win the White House and a Senate majority last fall. An introduction to the campaign finance section of the RNC report says that fundraising restrictions have put state and national political parties “well on their way to the intensive care unit.”
Washington Post: Have political parties lost their purpose?
By Karen TumultyIn the wake of two presidential defeats, the Republican National Committee on Monday unveiled its Growth and Opportunity Project, an effort to give the party engine a top-to-bottom tuneup.
Huffington Post: RNC Growth And Opportunity Project Report Advises Super PACs
By Paul BlumenthalThe litany of suggestions are notable in this very public report because election law forbids the GOP from certain crucial types of private coordination with these groups. By publicly airing its recommendations, the RNC can legally pass on suggestions to groups from Karl Rove’s Crossroads to the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity and even the insurgent Club for Growth — suggestions that include spending and tactical advice that would otherwise be against the law if shared privately.
State and Local
Connecticut –– CT Post: The ‘Ernie Newton’ campaign finance ban moves forward
By Ken DixonHARTFORD — Legislation aimed at stopping convicted felons, like Bridgeport’s Ernest E. Newton II, from taking state funding for election campaigns was endorsed Monday by top election officials.
Florida –– WLRN: Campaign Contributions Bill Touches A Nerve That Lawmakers Are Already Addressing
By Rick StoneThurston isn’t alone in his mistrust of these sky-high campaign contribution limits. A bill in the Senate (SB 1382) sponsored by Ethics and Elections Committee chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, would set lower limits on a sliding, office-by-office scale. It would allow statewide candidates, such as governors and Cabinet officers, to accept as much as $5,000. Judges, legislators and local candidates would have to be content with $3,000.
Vermont –– Burlington Free Press: Vermont Senate’s campaign finance bill: many find something to like
By Nancy RemsenThe bill requires disclosure of the names of big contributors to political committees, including independent, expenditure only political committees commonly called Super PACs, who make possible big media buys. One threshold for disclosure is providing 25 percent of all contributions to a political committee.
