NATIONAL, POLITICAL and LEGAL
CCP
The 4 Myths of Super PACs
By Sarah LeeThe third installment of the Institute for Human Studies Learn Liberty video series featuring CCP founder and former FEC chairman Bradley Smith has been released, with this video focused on busting some of the more egregious and prevalent myths about super PACs.
Brad Smith on ProPublica Panel Discussing Money in Politics
By Sarah LeeBrad Smith took part in a panel hosted by ProPublica last night in NYC on money in politics and what effect this has on democratic elections. You can watch the taped panel below or by clicking the UStream link.
Independent groups
Wall Street Journal: Court Rejects ‘Citizens United’ Arguments in Texas Bingo Case
By Joe PalazzoloA federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Texas charities can’t use proceeds from bingo on certain types of political advocacy, rejecting a challenge that pivoted on the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
National Journal: Democrats Learn to Love the Super PAC
By Josh KraushaarAt the beginning of the election cycle, Democrats publicly agonized that outside campaign spending, liberalized by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, would create a brave new world where stealthy Republican outside groups would overwhelm underfunded Democratic candidates, giving the GOP an unfair advantage in the race for the White House and control of Congress.
Business Insider: A Foreign Corporation May Have Made An Illegal $1 Million Contribution To The Pro-Romney Super PAC
By Walter HickeyThe OdysseyRe corporation — an insurance company in Connecticut — made a $1 million contribution to the Mitt Romney-affiliated Restore Our Future Super PAC.
Mother Jones: Would an Obama Win Hurt Campaign Finance Reform?
By Gavin AronsenPresident Barack Obama has always had a love-hate relationship with campaign finance reform. In 2008, he backtracked on a pledge to join John McCain in accepting public financing, remarking that “we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system.” He then went on to raise a record $745 million. When the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling came down in early 2010, Obama slammed it a week later in his State of the Union address, predicting that it would “open the floodgates for special interests.”
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Associated Press: Federal appeals court reinstates Montana campaign contribution limits as election looms
HELENA, Mont. — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Montana’s campaign donation limits, telling the federal judge who struck down the limits that the panel needs to see his full reasoning so it can review the case.
Associated Press: JUDGE UPHOLDS CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULING
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The judge who struck down Montana’s campaign contribution limits has upheld his own decision after state attorneys asked him to reconsider.
Disclosure
Associated Press: Subsidized NJ firms may be forced to disclose political donations
By Angela Delli SantiTRENTON, N.J. — Companies receiving business grants, tax credits or other subsidies from New Jersey government would be required to disclose all political donations of more than $10,000 under newly introduced legislation.
Candidates and parties
Wall Street Journal: Big Bird Wants Out of Campaign Ad
By Peter NicholasBig Bird, it seems, isn’t thrilled about his cameo in the presidential race.
Lobbying and ethics
The Hill: House, Senate campaigns welcome lobbyists shunned by Team Obama
By Alexander BoltonDemocratic lobbyists shunned by President Obama’s campaign are turning their attention to Senate and House races in a bid for relevance as the fall’s action shifts to battleground states.
