In the News
Washington Times: TROTTER: Obama and campaign finances
By Joe TrotterYet Mr. Obama’s actions make sense. In particular, spending money to advocate one’s political beliefs is not wrong. Court decisions in SpeechNow.org v. FEC and Citizens United have added new voices to the political discussion in our country. Since the November election, citizens’ groups and organizations previously kept out of the political arena have tackled issues ranging from gun control to cabinet nominees. In a time when engaging in public debate is often the key to advancing policy, it would be foolhardy for a key political player like the president to try to prevent his supporters from utilizing these new platforms.
Independent Groups
Washington Free Beacon: Organizing for Aliens
By Andrew EvansSerious questions linger about the Obama campaign organization’s ability to spot and prevent foreign donations to its current iteration, Organizing for Action (OFA).
The Hill: Carney: ‘Absurd’ to imply OFA selling access to Obama
By Justin SinkWhite House press secretary Jay Carney insisted Monday it was “absurd and wrong” to accuse Organizing for Action, the nonprofit group birthed from President Obama’s reelection campaign, of selling access to the president.
Roll Call: Rival Lobby Campaigns Focus on Birth Control Mandate
By Eliza Newlin CarneyA campaign dubbed “Birth Control: We All Benefit” launched by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America includes TV ads in Kentucky that targeted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Disclosure
Reuters: Senator urges FCC to pursue donor disclosure in political ads
By Alina Selyukh(Reuters) – A Senate oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission took an unexpected turn on Tuesday toward a hot political topic that telecommunications regulators rarely address: donor disclosure in political advertising.
Wall Street Journal: Tweets Need to Include Disclosures, FTC Says
By DANNY YADRON And SHIRA OVIDETwitter has found ways to incorporate disclosure requirements into short Twitter ads. In 140-character ads for political candidates or other direct political ads, Twitter designates them with a purple box and when a user hovers his mouse over the box, it shows a disclosure about who paid for the ad.That setup is intended to hew to requirements of the Federal Election Commission.
Lobbying and Ethics
Roll Call: K Street Files: Brown Joins Law Firm
By Kate AckleyThe Boston office of law and lobbying firm Nixon Peabody has nabbed former Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass., as counsel.
State and Local
Florida –– Miami Herald: Senate’s campaign finance compromise creates mega PACs
By MARY ELLEN KLAsTALLAHASSEE — Political slush funds will get a new name and campaign finance limits will rise for statewide candidates under a Senate campaign finance bill that won unanimous approval by a Senate committee on Monday. The proposal by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, is intended as a compromise to a House plan that makes similar changes and is a top priority for House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
Michigan –– Detroit News: House Dems back ethics, campaign finance reform package
By Chad LivengoodLansing — House Democrats are pushing a package of 21 bills aiming to reform ethics and campaign finance rules for elected officials and require more financialdisclosures from corporations that generally support Republicans.
Vermont –– Associated Press: Vt. Senate panel delays vote on campaign finance
By DAVE GRAMMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont Senate committee delayed final action on a bill Tuesday to rewrite Vermont’s campaign finance law after a longtime advocate for tough spending limits called a 250 percent increase in what people could contribute to statewide candidates cause for “outrage.”
