In the News
Syracuse Post-Standard: Manlius town board repeals contested political lawn sign rules
By Elizabeth DoranThe vote to repeal is in response to a federal lawsuit filed by Manlius resident David Rubin over the rules. Rubin, former dean of Syracuse University’s communications school, sued the town in August saying the law is unconstitutional and a violation of First Amendment free speech rights.Board members said they want some time to write a new law that would protect freedom of speech, but still preserve the town’s aesthetics. Officials want to avoid instances where signs are erected and stay up for weeks after the election is over.“We would like to reword the law, but none of us want a law on the books that may be deemed unconstitutional,” said Town Councilor Nichoas Marzola. “That was never our intent.”
Independent Groups
Wall Street Journal: Lois Lerner’s Own Words
EditorialThe emails also put the targeting in the context of the media and Congressional drumbeat over the impact of conservative campaign spending on the 2012 elections. On July 10, 2012 then Lerner-adviser Sharon Light emailed Ms. Lerner a National Public Radio story on how outside money was making it hard for Democrats to hold their Senate majority.The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had complained to the Federal Election Commission that conservative groups like Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity should be treated as political committees, rather than 501(c)(4)s, which are tax-exempt social welfare groups that do not have to disclose their donors.“Perhaps the FEC will save the day,” Ms. Lerner wrote back later that morning.
The Hill: Trumka reelected AFL-CIO president
By Kevin BorgadusLOS ANGELES — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Tuesday was reelected to a second term as head of the labor federation.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
More Soft Money Hard Law: Breaking Bad in Albuquerque? Or: the Question of Corporate Contributions After Citizens United
By Bob BauerReading Beaumont today, one is struck by a jurisprudence that measures up poorly to the tone and substance of Citizens United. Yes, Beaumont is a case about contributions, rather than expenditures, but in an opinion in Citizens that ranged over different rationales, Justice Souter for the majority upheld a contributions ban with emphasis on the “special characteristics of the corporate structure.” Id. at 153, quoting National Right to Work Committee v. Federal Election Commission, 457 U.S. 197 at 209 (1982). Ten times, Souter cited Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 494 U.S. 652 (1990), overruled by Citizens United, and in upholding legislative authority to impose a complete contributions ban, he specifically cites the anti-distortion rationale of Austin that the Citizens United majority has rejected. Beaumont at 158 (the corporations enjoying the “special benefits conferred by the corporate structure… present the potential for distorting the political process.”) Souter also relied heavily on National Right to Work Committee, which rested largely on a view of the particular dangers posed by corporations of any and all sizes to the political process. Beaumont at 156 (“National Right to Work all but decided the issue” before the Court).
Disclosure
Politico: Exclusive: The Koch brothers’ secret bank
By MIKE ALLEN and JIM VANDEHEIShort, a soft-spoken but ferociously conservative 43-year-old operative, provided us a draft of a forthcoming IRS filing that will soon be available to the public. Short, like most in the Koch empire, feels wealthy conservative activists such as Charles and David Koch get a bum rap from the media. So, Short wants to ease his groups and their cause out of the shadows.“There’s a mystery around us that makes an interesting story,” Short said in an interview in his conference room. “There’s also a vilification that happens that gets exaggerated when your opposition thinks you’re secretive. Our members are proud to be part of [the organization].”
Lobbying and Ethics
Roll Call: Bachmann Ethics Review Continues, Panel Closes Tierney Case
By Emma DumainThe House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday it would continue to review possible ethics violations by Reps. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., Peter Roskam, R-Ill., and Timothy H. Bishop, D-N.Y., but will not launch full-scale investigations.It opted to close a case involving Rep. John F. Tierney, D-Mass. He had been accused of improperly reporting income from his wife’s mother and brother. The Tierneys treated the money as a gift and therefore did not report the payment to the IRS, nor note it on the lawmaker’s financial disclosure statement.
State and Local
Alaska –– AP: Ex-Alaska legislator violated ethics rules
By Becky BohrerJUNEAU, ALASKA — Former state Rep. Alan Dick has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 related to violations of state ethics rules, including living in his office.A legislative ethics committee announced Wednesday that it had found Dick in violation of five allegations, including using state resources for his personal benefit by living in his Fairbanks legislative office with his wife and sometimes his son, off and on in August 2012 and for about a month between mid-October and mid-November of 2012. The panel found that Dick performed campaign activities out of his legislative office in the lead-up to last fall’s general election and required a legislative staffer on government time to prepare materials for a chamber debate. It also found what it called numerous violations related to Dick’s 2012 legislative travel, saying that he “routinely” combined legislative travel with campaign activities, which is prohibited.
Ohio –– Columbus Dispatch: Questions raised on campaign contributions to Kasich, FitzGerald
By Joe VardonOn Monday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald hinted strongly that dollar figures would soon be released showing that Kasich had received sizable contributions from appointees.FitzGerald made the statement in response to questions about a complaint the Ohio Republican Party has filed with the Ohio Elections Commission accusing FitzGerald of failing to quickly return what it said was an illegal contribution from someone he appointed to a county economic-development board.
