Fix the FEC: FEC News Stories

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 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 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?

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.

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).

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.

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.

FEC Slaps PAC with $300,000 Fine

dmerchant — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 18:48:27 -0400

The American Resort Development Association's political committee has agreed to pay a $300,000 fine for violating campaign laws prohibiting corporate contributions and donations from foreign nationals.

Opposing view on campaign finance: Nothing improper was done

dmerchant — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 11:39:14 -0400

In June, word leaked that the Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating eight members of Congress for accepting contributions from the political action committees of financial institutions near votes on a financial regulation bill.

Political Ads Off Limits, Goldman Promises

dmerchant — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 13:31:16 -0400

Facing pressure from critics of Wall Street to limit its role in elections, Goldman Sachs has pledged not to spend any of its vast corporate reserves on political advertising.

The move was an unexpected sign of restraint after a major Supreme Court ruling this year that gave corporations the power to devote unlimited amounts to electing or defeating candidates for federal office.

Get Ready for Political Supergroups

dmerchant — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 13:35:40 -0400

As in super PACs, or political action committees, potentially massive political groups that will raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in support of candidates.

K Street Brought Out Big Guns to Kill DISCLOSE

dmerchant — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:34:06 -0400

The business community has spent mightily trying to defeat the Democratic-backed DISCLOSE Act, which suffered a bruising loss in the Senate earlier this week. Lobbying disclosure reports show that the campaign finance bill set off a flurry of lobbying activity in recent months.

Bill Would Give Shareholders a Vote on Corporate Political Spending

dmerchant — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:41:48 -0400

Corporations would be required to give their shareholders an annual vote on how much money to spend on political activities under a bill approved by the House Financial Services Committee on Thursday.

Missouri Dems to file FEC complaint against Joe the Plumber

dmerchant — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:43:30 -0400

The Missouri Democratic Party is preparing to file a Federal Election Commission complaint against Joe the Plumber for "illegally advertising" on behalf of state Sen. Chuck Purgason (R).

Independent Expenditure Groups Start Lining Up at FEC

dmerchant — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:32:39 -0400

It didn't take long for new independent expenditure organizations to take advantage of recent court rulings to maximize their impact on the 2010 election.

Since Friday, at least three groups filed new documents with the Federal Election Commission stating that they intend to raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations and unions to run ads before the Nov. 2 midterms.

Bill on political ad disclosures falls a little short in Senate

dmerchant — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:45 -0400

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked legislation requiring fuller disclosure of the money behind political advertising, derailing a major White House initiative and virtually ensuring an onslaught of attack ads during this year's midterm election season.

Coal Companies Look To Spend Big To Influence Elections With A 527 Group

dmerchant — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:30:35 -0400

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited spending on elections by unions and companies, coal giants are looking to form a group to pump cash into state races. Among the potential members is Massey Energy, the coal company notorious for the worst mining disaster in recent history when 29 miners were killed in April at its Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.

Obama warns of ‘shadow groups’ and urged passage of DISCLOSE Act

dmerchant — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:28:37 -0400

President Obama urged Republican members of the Senate to cross party lines and vote in favor of H.R. 5175, titled: Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE Act). Obama warned lawmakers that shadow groups are already forming and building war chests of tens of millions of dollars to influence the fall elections.

DISCLOSE Act's fate uncertain

dmerchant — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:11:33 -0400

Despite some last-minute prodding from President Barack Obama on Monday, Senate Democrats still are scrambling to find the remaining few votes needed to overcome a filibuster of a campaign finance bill that appears destined to fail Tuesday.

10 states add campaign-finance laws

dmerchant — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:48:17 -0400

Ten states have swiftly passed new laws requiring additional disclosure of political spending, following a Supreme Court ruling that lets corporations and unions pump unlimited amounts of money into certain campaign commercials.