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Faulty Assumptions
Contribution Limits Shortcomings
Published on February 19, 2008
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions
In 2000 California voters passed Proposition 34 which set contribution limits for candidates running for state office. Not surprisingly, with limits placed on contributions to candidates, citizens and advocacy groups quickly turned to other avenues through which to support preferred candidates. A report by the state's "Fair Political Practices Commission" issued last week reveals that independent groups have spent $88 million on efforts to reach California's
“Outsiders?” Why not just call them gaijin?
Published on February 4, 2008
Category: Faulty Assumptions
The Politico ran an alternately informing, insightful, and irritating article in today's edition. The very first word is "Outsiders" - in reference to groups spending money in states to try to influence voters as they select Republican and Democratic nominees for president. Proponents of strict campaign finance laws like to use terms like "Outsiders" as a pejorative term for citizens who exercise their constitutionally protected right to speak about candidates, campaigns, gov
If Jack Davis were Canadian...
Published on January 14, 2008
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions
Writing about Davis v. FEC over at Concurring Opinions, Frank Pasquale offers an interesting comparison between the ability to regulate political speech in the United States and in Canada.The important, but unspoken, conclusion that can be drawn from the post is that opinions overruling "egalitarian" campaign finance models are NOT the result of a "misreading" of the First Amendment. As such, supporters of the Millionaire's Amendment will have a difficult road to tread.
Another stab at restricting political speech in Vermont
Published on January 8, 2008
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions
Just 18 months removed from the Randall v. Sorrell decision overturning Vermont's contribution limits and less than 6 months from failing to override a gubernatorial veto of a similar bill, the Vermont legislature appears intent on trying yet again to pass a campaign finance bill that imposes severe contribution limits.Click the headline for more.
The cost of regulated speech
Published on January 3, 2008
Category: Faulty Assumptions, Political Committees & 527s
In an opinion piece this morning, the LA Times takes on a recent NY Times editorial that demands a crackdown on independent political speech under the guise of "fair elections."In his piece, the LA Times Michael McGough notes "a 'fair' election in this context means ones in which voters are shielded from the propaganda of special interest groups (but not, presumably, from the recommendations of the New York Times editorial board). I have previously described this as the "
Remember: Issue ads represent free speech
Published on January 2, 2008
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions, Political Committees & 527s
On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, the Des Moines Register ran an editorial that begins:"Amid the deluge of political messages raining down on Iowans in recent weeks have been some that look to be sponsored by the candidates but are, in fact, paid for by independent organizations. To hear the critics, this insidious outside force that has penetrated Iowa's borders should be throttled by the federal election police.Here's another way to look at this: These outside groups are exercising th
A broken record keeps on playing
Published on November 27, 2007 08:00 PM
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions, Press
Democracy 21 highlights on their website a Bloomberg News article that regurgitates the dubious arguments of those who advocate ever tightening campaign finance and speech regulations. The article begins by comparing the amount of money that the U.S. spends per capita on elections with other industrialized nations and laments the thought that the 2008 election cycle could top $5 billion. "It isn't clear that we have any comparative advantage from all this freedom to spend money,"
Lawmakers contemplate 'millionaire's amendment' for presidential campaigns
Published on November 2, 2007
Category: Contributions & Limits, Faulty Assumptions
The Hill reported this morning that some legislators are considering adding a "millionaire's amendment" for presidential campaigns.The Campaign Legal Center suggests that if the version of the "millionaire's amendment" used in congressional campaigns was adopted for presidential campaigns, then contribution levels could increase from $2,300 to $13,800.Of course this begs the question, repeatedly asked by CCP: How are increased contribution limits squared with the idea that la
Vitter's Cat (not his alleged Cathouse)
Published on November 1, 2007 12:15 AM
Category: Disclosure, Enforcement, Faulty Assumptions
According to the quandary known as Schroedinger's Cat, the cat is neither alive nor dead until it is observed, and when observed is thought to be half-alive and half-dead simultaneously.In a recent enforcement action we can observe the FEC in quandaries of its own: confusion over the importance of "observer effect" and over the dividing line between public polling and political advertising. Call the quandary "Vitter's Cat." Click on the headline to understand why t
The variable definition of "special interest"
Published on October 30, 2007 02:00 PM
Category: Faulty Assumptions
Michael Dobbs, the Washington Post "Fact Checker", recently received significant flak from readers in response to his blog post asking whether John Edwards and Barack Obama are guilty of hypocrisy in their fundraising practices.Readers disliked being lumped in with other "special interests" and took exception to the "practice of 'guilt by association.'" Click the headline for more.
