Fix the FEC: FEC News Stories, Complaints, and Decisions

Mixed reaction to new FEC rules on candidates, interest groups working together

dmerchant — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:52:19 -0400

After years of wrangling, the Federal Election Commission has issued new rules aimed at clearing up the question: When is it illegal for an interest group to coordinate with a political candidate?

Campaign Finance Reformers Facing Major Political, Legal Obstacles

dmerchant — Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:51:02 -0400

This has not been a kind year for campaign finance reformers.

Setting aside the now-famous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling from the Supreme Court, which allowed corporations and unions to spend freely on campaign advertisements, there has been a flurry of challenges to other campaign finance laws in the courts.

Recent FEC Rulings Alter Political Landscape

dmerchant — Wed, 1 Sep 2010 11:05:44 -0400

Recent moves by the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) more than two full months away from the highly anticipated Congressional midterms could significantly impact the political landscape this year, and reshape cycles for years to come.

FEC Takes No Further Action Against Duncan Hunter and Issues Statement of Reasons

dmerchant — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:57:19 -0400

FEC Finds No Reason to Believe Hoosiers Supporting Buyer For Congress Violated the Act

dmerchant — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:59:28 -0400

FEC Finally Agrees On What's OK Under Court Ruling

dmerchant — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:54:05 -0400

With less than two and a half months until Election Day, the Federal Election Commission rewrote the regulatory language on how outside groups can spend money on election advertisements, voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote activity.

Citizens United aftershocks

dmerchant — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:53:21 -0400

What are the consequences of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision allowing corporations "unlimited spending in pursuit of political ends"? The world of campaign finance is new, confusing -- and very alarming.

All Checks, No Balances: Campaign Finance Sells Out

dmerchant — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:26:22 -0400

Thanks to the Supreme Court, corporations are free to spend whatever they want on elections. They just don't want to be seen doing it.

Political groups set up for ad blitz

dmerchant — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:23:50 -0400

More than a dozen political groups have organized in recent weeks to spend large amounts of money on attack ads against House and Senate candidates as special interests on the left and right play a larger role in midterm races.

FEC Issues Statement of Reasons to Freedom's Watch, Inc.

dmerchant — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:48:02 -0400

FEC finds major errors in Bartlett's campaign account

dmerchant — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:36:56 -0400

An audit by the Federal Election Commission has uncovered significant errors in Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's campaign account, the agency disclosed Wednesday.

A final audit of the Bartlett for Congress Committee for 2007 and 2008 found that it failed to report dozens of expenses and significantly under-reported the amounts he raised and spent during that period, which covered his '08 re-election run.

Congress Fails to Address Corporate Political Spending before August Recess

dmerchant — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:24:22 -0400

Recent congressional actions highlight concerns over corporate involvement in elections. Before the August recess, Congress made several attempts to regulate corporate electoral involvement, including the Senate’s failed attempt to pass the DISCLOSE Act and the House Financial Services Committee’s approval of the Shareholder Protection Act. Though some lawmakers worked around the clock, Congress ultimately failed to follow through on reform before the recess.

Is the FEC Out in Front of the Courts in Campaign Finance Deregulation?

dmerchant — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:09:35 -0400

Political groups like Club for Growth and Commonsense Ten have won advisory opinions from the FEC allowing them to set up independent expenditure groups that will be allowed to receive unlimited donations from corporations — but was the FEC even authorized to let them do so?

FEC Finds No Reason to Believe Carly Fiorina Violated the Act

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:53:39 -0400

FEC Dismisses Complaint Against the Committee to Elect Matt Miller

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:01:24 -0400

FEC Takes No Further Action Against MN-06 Congressional Victory Committee and Christopher Ward

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:55:28 -0400

FEC Dismisses Complaint Against Manfred Schreyer and Jane E. Schreyer

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:04:36 -0400

FEC Accepts Conciliation Agreement from National Right to Life Political Action Committee and Carol Tobias

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:58:02 -0400

FEC Issues Statement of Reasons to SEIU, SEIU Committee on Political Education, and Anna Burger

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:06:56 -0400

FEC Accepts Conciliation Agreement from Michael Sohn

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:52:02 -0400

FEC Dismisses Complaint Against Billy Long for Congress and Ron Neville

dmerchant — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:59:43 -0400

Group sues Federal Election Commission, saying its slow response limits appeals

dmerchant — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:02:16 -0400

A prominent Washington advocacy group filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Federal Election Commission, arguing that the panel routinely makes it impossible to appeal its decisions.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington identifies at least nine cases over the past two years in which the FEC dismissed complaints but did not provide enough information about the decision to allow a legal challenge.

New ‘Independent Expenditure Committees’ Disclose Little to FEC

dmerchant — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:37:14 -0400

In a detailed piece for BNA Money & Politics Report, Kenneth Doyle details new developments following the Federal Election Commission’s ruling in July that two political organizations could collect unlimited contributions while registering as a political action committee (PAC).

Political ads, brought to you by Goldman Sachs?

dmerchant — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:00:00 -0400

More than seven months after it was handed down, the Supreme Court's ruling that rolled back limits on corporate participation in elections remains mired in controversy.

CREW FILES SUIT AGAINST THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

dmerchant — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:31:06 -0400

Today Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan filed suit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, CREW v. Fed. Election Comm’n (D.D.C.). The suit seeks to end the FEC’s practice of summarily dismissing complaints without explanation, leaving complainants insufficient information to sue the agency for failing to enforce campaign finance laws.

Firms think twice about political ads

dmerchant — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:42:56 -0400

As the Minnesota primary for governor draws to a close Tuesday, the controversy over corporate-backed political ads for Republican candidate Tom Emmer is far from over.

It's All About The Money: Bennet-Romanoff Race Waged Over Corporate Cash

dmerchant — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:44:08 -0400

Voter concern over corporate influence on elections and lawmaking is the most potent force in the closely-watched Democratic Senate primary campaign that ends Tuesday in Colorado.

FEC Dismisses Complaint Against Coakley for Senate

dmerchant — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:46:01 -0400

FEC Dismisses Complaint Against the Committee to Elect Joyce Segers to Congress

dmerchant — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:47:29 -0400

Ex-lobbyist Paul Magliocchetti charged with campaign-finance fraud

dmerchant — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 18:49:37 -0400

Paul J. Magliocchetti was one of the most powerful and influential lobbyists in Washington not too long ago, known for steering campaign contributions to favored lawmakers while securing millions of dollars in projects for his clients.