Home > Blog > Browse Blog
BLOG
Political Committees & 527s
Unity '08 Lives!
Published on March 18, 2010
Category: Contributions & Limits, Independent Speech, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties
We're a bit late in finding some time to comment on Unity08, the non-party political party that scored a surprising victory over the Federal Election Commission in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia earlier this month. It is an important case, because, as the Unity08 organizers had found, under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("McCain-Feingold") it had been made de facto illegal to start a new national political party in the U.S. Unity08 v. FEC
Video of last weeks ACS panel on Citizens United
Published on February 28, 2010
Category: Coordination, Disclosure, Enforcement, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties, Stand By Your Ad
The Center for Competitive Politics covered the panel in two posts last week: "Lawyers offer mixed reviews of post-Citizens United leg. at ACS event" and "ACS panel features strong supporters of free political speech."
ACS panel features strong supporters of free political speech
Published on February 24, 2010 05:03 PM
Category: Coordination, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties
The American Constitution Society, the leading liberal legal organization, hosted a remarkable and informative panel on the impact of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Notably, the panel included four defenders of the Court's majority opinion (in whole or in part) who spoke from a real-word perspective: experience as campaign finance lawyers, FEC staffers and congressional committee aides. The First Amendment Four - Jan Baran of W
Legislative and legal developments post-Citizens United
Published on February 23, 2010 02:59 PM
Category: Disclosure, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Stand By Your Ad
At the federal level, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen have indicated that they plan to release a bill this week to pare back free speech protections granted by Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. CCP's press release on the legislative framework released by Schumer and Van Hollen is here. Several state legislatures are examining bills addressing Citizens United. Some would simply conform state laws and constitutions to reflect the Supreme Court's ruling that they governm
Reaction to the congressional proposals to thwart Citizens United v. FEC
Published on February 11, 2010 04:46 PM
Category: Coordination, Disclosure, Enforcement, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s
Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen announced a legislative framework for post-Citizens United legislation in a press conference call Thursday. The Center for Competitive Politics press release on the development is here: "The First Amendment should not be plowed over because of an inconvenient political storm," said Bradley A. Smith, CCP's chairman and a former FEC chairman. "This is a cynical attempt to brush aside constitutional concerns because of a short-term perception of partisa
SpeechNow.org v. FEC argument update
Published on January 27, 2010 03:32 PM
Category: Contributions & Limits, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s
Lawyers for SpeechNow.org and the Federal Election Commission squared at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday morning, clashing over the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. Lyle Denniston of SCOTUS Blog has a comprehensive analysis: ... the D.C. Circuit Court appeared on Wednesday to be leaning strongly toward giving even more freedom to campaign groups that are set up to operate independently of candidates and parties. From the openin
Public Citizen: FEC regulations infallible
Published on November 4, 2009 06:06 AM
Category: Contributions & Limits, Enforcement, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s
Public Citizen's Craig Holman posted this hyperbolic statement yesterday on Solicitor General Elena Kagan's decision not to appeal en banc the recent decision in EMILY's List v. FEC (the administration still may file cert with the Supreme Court). The case invalidated FEC regulations on independent groups, specifically limits on contributions to fund independent expenditures by groups who also contribute directly to candidates through PACs. As usual, "reformers" response to their clear loss with
Senator Feingold completely loses track of reality
Published on October 26, 2009
Category: Faulty Assumptions, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s
Skeptics of so-called campaign finance "reform" are used to a certain degree of hysteria, hyperbole, hokum, hypocrisy, and half truths coming from the "reform" community. Much of it simply boils down to the "reformers" unrealistic view of money in politics, although lurking under much of what the campaign finance "reform" community wants is a clear desire to silence and limit the free speech of those Americans who do not share their other political priorities and
SpeechNow.org hearing set
Published on October 7, 2009
Category: Contributions & Limits, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit set oral argument for SpeechNow.org's appeal of an earlier prelimary injunction ruling. The Dec. 4 hearing in SpeechNow.org v. FEC will be before a three-judge panel: Circuit Judges Henderson and Griffith and Senior Circuit Judge Williams.
Citizens United – It’s All About the Book Banning
Published on September 10, 2009
Category: Contributions & Limits, Enforcement, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties, Taxpayer Financed Campaigns
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 It may one day be fair to say that the campaign finance "reform" movement was dealt a fatal blow that day in March 2009 when Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart responded to a question from Justice Alito. Alito's question was simple: Could the government ban political books that contained express advocacy if an inco
