Independent groups
Associated Press: Family Research Council Shooting Suspect Charged
WASHINGTON—A man who volunteered at a gay-community center had a backpack full of Chick-fil-A sandwiches and a box of ammunition when he said “I don’t like your politics” and shot a security guard at the headquarters of a conservative lobbying group, authorities said Thursday.
Roll Call: Report: Gift Taxes Apply to Some Super PAC-Linked Groups
By Amanda BeckerThe IRS had, for a brief period last year, begun enforcing an oft-ignored tax on contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations, creating potentially large gift tax liabilities for donors who wrote big checks to nonprofit advocacy groups during the past and current election cycles.
Politico: Pro-gay rights super PAC backs 3 GOPers
By Maggie HabermanAmerican Unity PAC, launched by Elliott Associates hedge fund executive Paul Singer earlier this summer with a $1 million donation, is poised to advertise in the races being fought by Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Judy Biggert (R-Ill.). While none of the three candidates has stated a clear position on gay marriage — only one GOP House member supports it — the group hopes to move the people it backs toward support of it.
Disclosure
The Hill: Congress should follow Delaware’s lead on disclosure
By Jonathan BackerToday, Governor Jack Markell signed the Delaware Elections Disclosure Act, a law which corrects a longstanding loophole—one all too common in state disclosure schemes—that allows third party groups to evade disclosure requirements merely by avoiding use of so-called “magic words” such as “vote for” or “vote against” in their ads. Now any group that mentions a candidate’s name in an ad right before an election must disclose the names of its contributors who donate $100 or more.
Candidates and parties
USA Today: Obama, Romney should disavow super PAC ads
EditorialPolitical ads often stretch facts to the breaking point, but the people who create them usually feel constrained to back up their claims by citing sources — at least enough to keep neutral fact-checkers from exposing their work as fiction.
Lobbying and ethics
NY Times: A Freebie Too Far
EditorialSenator Avella, whose Queens district is near the tennis facility, did the right thing. He took one look at the offer and figured that it exceeded the state’s gift ban. State rules limit gifts to something of “nominal value” — a coffee mug or maybe a plastic Frisbee emblazoned with a donor’s logo. Comparable tickets could run $1,000 apiece.
Politico: Rep. Dennis Cardoza was negotiating new job for weeks
By Anna Palmer“As required by the House ethics rules, Congressman Cardoza properly filed notice that he was entering negotiations with Manatt and has kept the Committee informed since doing so,” a Manatt spokeswoman said via email. “He followed both the letter and spirit of the rules.”
FEC
Reuters: Regulators clear hurdle for political text message donations
By Alina SelyukhThe FEC ruled that wireless carriers would have no responsibility for possible fraudulent campaign donations and could refuse text-donation services to campaigns if they are not deemed commercially viable.
