In the News
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Edmund Corsi’s political blog and activism that triggered Ohio election complaint now sits before U.S. Supreme Court
By Mark NaymikAt the end of the month, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to hear Corsi’s case, which ultimately asks this question: When does a political blogger and activist become a political action committee (PAC) subject to Ohio elections laws?The Ohio Elections Commission, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and 10th District Court of Appeals Ohio have already answered. They say Corsi’s actions equal that of any PAC. As such, Corsi’s been told to file the same paperwork as any PAC or face fines and other penalties. The paperwork includes filing a document naming a treasurer for the council.
CNN: Critics: IRS loophole lets tax-exempt groups into politics
Featuring David Keating.
Candidates, Politicians, Campaigns, and Parties
Chicago Tribune: Treasurer of Jesse Jackson Jr.’s campaign committee resigns
By Cynthia DizikesIn a resignation letter received by the FEC Thursday, Pasley wrote that she has no direct contact with the campaign account and no knowledge of the money in the account.“It is impossible for me to prepare any campaign committee report,” Pasley wrote. “I have no contact with any individual who prepared reports in the past, nor do I have a copy of any reports previously prepared. There is no current official in office, nor campaign staff in existence to facilitate the preparation of any campaign report.”
Roll Call: Issa Tops List of 50 Richest Congressmen
By Matt FullerRep. Darrell Issa — long one of the wealthiest lawmakers — is now the richest member of Congress with a reported minimum net worth of more than $355 million.
Lobbying and Ethics
The Hill: Group founded to defend K Street considers dropping ‘lobbyist’ from name
By Megan R. WilsonALL also offers several certificate programs to educate lobbyists on key issues, including campaign finance and political action committees, federal budget and appropriations, online advocacy and legislative drafting, among others.Marlowe says members of the organization argue that the word lobbyist no longer encompasses the work of an industry that is deeply involved in campaigns and public relations.
FEC
CPI: Selections for elections watchdog put on back-burner as Obama, Congress focus on Syria
By Dave LevinthalPresident Barack Obama’s two nominees to the Federal Election Commission must wait a little longer for the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to vote on their nominations.Only Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., appeared at this morning’s scheduled meeting, announcing that the committee had failed to reach a quorum, and therefore, couldn’t conduct a vote.But Schumer, the committee’s chairman, added during brief remarks that a vote on the FEC nominees — Democrat Ann Ravel and Republican Lee Goodman — could come as “early as tomorrow.”
State and Local
New York –– Wall Street Journal: ‘Wild West’ Primary Drama
By Andrew GrossmanLike the 1977 primary, this election is unpredictable and has had wild swings. It has created images likely to last in the public memory, from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn discussing her struggles with bulimia and alcoholism to mobs of media following Gov. Eliot Spitzer in his bid for comptroller to a popular TV commercial featuring the teenage son of front-runner Bill de Blasio, Dante, and his afro.But unlike 1977, this election was the first to take place firmly in the social-media age, at a time when traditional political organizations have less power. Its first phase ends in Tuesday’s party primaries.
Virginia –– Daily Press: Candidate with a conflict
EditorialTen times before this year, a sitting attorney general has run for governor of Virginia. Nine of those 10 resigned the post, including Gov. McDonnell, who said the immense time commitments of a gubernatorial campaign “preclude you from working full-time as attorney general.” Marshall Coleman, the one attorney general who chose to remain in office while running for governor, came to the same conclusion; he chose to cut his salary in half during the campaign because he was only able to devote that much of his time to his duties as attorney general.Mr. Cuccinelli has correctly pointed out that Virginia is the only state in which attorneys general have traditionally stepped down while running for governor. But the fact remains that it has been standard practice in Virginia for more than a half-century, and there is sound logic behind that practice.
West Virginia –– AP: State says Mingo County PAC didn’t violate law
Cornelius said that he was disappointed that there was no recourse under state law concerning the PAC’s actions.“The good news is that the folks at the Federal Election Commission haven’t looked at it this yet, and have a little better idea of what happens when people at a state PAC spend unreported funds on a federal election,” Cornelius told the newspaper.
