[EL] more news 3/7/12

Thu Mar 8 07:33:06 PST 2012

The way I would describe it is that the Rep  commissioners wanted to do 
their duty -- repeal regulations that are now invalid  under CU.  The Democrat 
commissioners wanted to adopt new regulations to  impose new disclosure 
requirements that Congress has not adopted but that they  think CU's analysis 
would support.  Whatever one thinks about the authority  of the FEC to play 
the role of Congress here, the FEC has a legal duty, in my  view, to repeal 
invalid regulations.  That is what they are finally  starting to do.  

In any event, I just don't think that repealing invalid regulations can be  
fairly described as an effort to "loosen campaign finance regs  further."  
Jim Bopp

In a message dated 3/8/2012 10:21:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:

Am I mistaken in thinking  that the FEC has been deadlocked for some time 
in considering how to implement  changes in their rules to take Citizens 
United into account, and that the  Republican commissioners, and the lawyers who 
testified yesterday, urged the  FEC to implement the rules in as 
deregulatory way as possible given  CU?
Just curious,
Rick

On 3/8/2012 6:45 AM, _JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com)  wrote:  
This is a very curious headline by Rick:

_Corporations, Unions Want FEC to LOOSEN Campaign  Finance Regs. Further_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31180)  

    There are FEC regulations that are based  exclusively on 441b that CU 
struck down with respect to expenditures in  connection with  a federal 
election.  Since FEC regulations must  have statutory authority, then any 
regulations whose sole statutory  authority is 441b is invalid and should be 
repealed.  How is this  "loosing campaign finance regs further?"  These 
regulations are already  invalid because of CU. Jim Bopp

In a message dated 3/7/2012 6:03:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu)  writes:

_Voter ID is Coming to Pennsylvania_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31195)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 2:27  pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31195)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

State senate just passed the bill. Details to come. 
UPDATE: Details _here_ 
(http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2012/03/senate-passes-voter-id-bill.html)  and _here_ 
(http://www.postcrescent.com/usatoday/article/38742027?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s) . 

 (http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=h
ttp://electionlawblog.org/?p=31195&title=Voter%20ID%20is%20Coming%20to%20Pennsylvania&description=) 

Posted  in _election administration_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18) , 
_fraudulent fraud squad_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=8) , _The Voting 
Wars_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60) , _voter id_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9)  | Comments Off 

_“Black lawmakers’ effort to expand early voting is  rejected in Senate”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31192)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 1:08  pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31192)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

The Miami Herald _reports_ 
(http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/03/black-lawmakers-effort-to-expand-early-voting-is-rejected-in-senate.htm
l) . 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31192&title=“Black%20lawmakers’
%20effort%20to%20expand%20early%20voting%20is%20rejected%20in%20Senate”&description=) 

Posted  in _election administration_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18) , 
_The Voting Wars_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60)  | Comments Off 

_DOJ Making Section 5 Objections in Two Texas  Counties_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31190)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 1:07  pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31190)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

Texas Redistricting _has the details_ 
(http://txredistricting.org/post/18839744901/doj-objects-to-galveston-county-redistricting) . 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31190&title=DOJ%20Making%20Section%205%20Objections%20in%20Two%20Texas%20Counties
&description=) 

Posted  in _redistricting_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6) , _Voting 
Rights Act_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15)  | Comments Off 

_Paging Dan Lowenstein_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31186)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 12:50  pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31186)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

_Lawmaker Accused of Bribing Opponent to Step  Aside_ 
(http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/07/lawmaker_accused_of_bribing_opponent_to_step_aside.h
tml) . 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31186&title=Paging%20Dan%20Lowenstein&description=) 

Posted  in _bribery_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=54) , _campaigns_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59) , _chicanery_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12)  | Comments Off 

_“Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to  appeal judge’s ruling to 
stop state’s voter ID law”_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31183)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 12:41  pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31183)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

AP _reports_ 
(http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120307/APC010401/120307112/Wisconsin-Attorney-General-J-B-Van-Hollen-appeal-voter-ID-ruling-judge?od
yssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE) . 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31183&title=“
Wisconsin%20Attorney%20General%20J.B.%20Van%20Hollen%20to%20appeal%20judge’s%20ruling%20to%20stop%20state’s%20voter%20ID%20law”&description=) 

Posted  in _Uncategorized_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1)  | Comments 
Off 

_Corporations, Unions Want FEC to LOOSEN Campaign  Finance Regs. Further_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31180)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 11:37  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31180)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

_Politico Influence_ 
(http://www.politico.com/politicoinfluence/0312/politicoinfluence213.html) : 
ACTIVISTS URGE FEC ACTION ON CITIZENS UNITED:  Conservative and labor 
groups alike urged the FEC to  act swiftly to roll back rules that limit 
political spending, our own  Robin Bravender is reporting live from the FEC’s  
chambers. The FEC conducted a public hearing Thursday on its plans to  officially 
eliminate the rules that were made obsolete by the Supreme  Court’s 
Citizens United decision, although it  has already announced it wouldn’t enforce 
them. 
Conservative attorney Jim Bopp blasted the panel for  taking so long to 
overhaul its rules after the high court threw out  restrictions on corporate 
and labor unions’ spending on political ads.  And he urged the panel to think 
big as it attempts to eliminate its old  rules. In the wake of Citizens 
United, “now, the presumption is  freedom,” he said. “That is, corporations and 
labor unions can do  anything they want in terms of influencing a federal 
election, unless it  is subject to a specific statutory provision.” Labor 
attorney  Laurence Gold, representing the  AFL-CIO, cautioned the panel against 
writing new rules  to restrict unions’ get-out-the-vote activity beyond what
’s required by  campaign finance law. “We believe your final rules ought 
not to be  imposing restrictions that aren’t there,” Gold said.
UPDATE: A fuller Politico report is _here_ 
(http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73742.html) . 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31180&title=Corporations,%20Unions%20Want%20FEC%20to%20LOOSEN%20Campaign%20Financ
e%20Regs.%20Further&description=) 

Posted  in _campaign finance_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10)  | 
Comments Off 

_“Can Caucuses Be Defended?”_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31178)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 11:35  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31178)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

Scott LeMieux _weighs in_ 
(http://prospect.org/article/can-caucuses-be-defended)  on the _Hasen_ 
(http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/02/congress_should_kill_the_republican_and_democratic_state_cau
cuses_and_mandate_primaries_instead_.html) /_Bernstein_ 
(http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/101404/bernstein-caucuses-primaries)  debate. 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31178&title=“Can%20Caucuses%20Be%20Defended?”&description=) 

Posted  in _political parties_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=25) , 
_primaries_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=32)  | Comments Off 

_“Congratulations Government Employees, You Might  Soon Be Able To Run For 
Office”_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31175)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 10:47  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31175)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

_It’s about time_ 
(http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/hatch_act_modernization.php)  to modernize the Hatch Act in  this way. 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31175&title=“Congratulations%20Government%20Employees,%20You%20Might%20Soon%
20Be%20Able%20To%20Run%20For%20Office”&description=) 

Posted  in _Uncategorized_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1)  | Comments 
Off 

_“Wisconsin judge who blocked photo ID law for April  3 vote signed 
petition to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31172)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 10:06  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31172)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

AP _reports_ 
(http://www.htrnews.com/article/20120307/MAN0101/303080036/Update-Judge-who-blocked-photo-ID-law-vote-signed-Walker-recall-petition?odyssey
=nav|head) . I find the judge’s signing of the  recall petition troubling, 
even if it is not grounds for recusal in this  case. The judge certainly has 
a right to vote, but this kind of public  political activity can undermine 
confidence in the judiciary’s  impartiality. 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31172&title=“
Wisconsin%20judge%20who%20blocked%20photo%20ID%20law%20for%20April%203%20vote%20signed%20petition%20to%20recall%20Wisconsin%20Gov.%20Scott%20Wal
ker”&description=) 

Posted  in _judicial elections_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=19) , 
_recall elections_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11)  | Comments Off 

_“Trutanich paid for YouTube views of D.A. campaign  videos”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31169)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 9:34  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31169)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

_LA Times: _ 
(http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-new-trutanich-20120304,0,5353416,full.story) “An unlikely Internet  sensation has struck it big 
on YouTube: Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen  Trutanich. Two polished videos 
promoting his run for district attorney  last month show Trutanich driving the 
gritty streets of Los Angeles  telling war stories from his days as a 
prosecutor: being shot at by a  street gang and sending a killer to death row. 
Within days, the videos  amassed 725,000 views on YouTube, with the most 
popular clip leaping past  any campaign video from GOP presidential candidates 
Mitt Romney, Newt  Gingrich or Rick Santorum. A Trutanich news release 
trumpeted the videos’  popularity as showcasing ‘broad support behind Trutanich’s 
candidacy from  a vast online and grass-roots audience.’ But the campaign 
statement left  out a key detail: It paid for many of those YouTube views. 
After The Times  questioned the video’s view count, Trutanich’s campaign 
acknowledged that  it had hired an online marketing firm to drum up views by 
aggressively  advertising the videos across the Internet. The Los Angeles firm 
said it  was paid to generate 150,000 to 250,000 views but that a huge online  
audience then followed naturally.” 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31169&title=“
Trutanich%20paid%20for%20YouTube%20views%20of%20D.A.%20campaign%20videos”&description=) 

Posted  in _chicanery_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12) , _social media 
and social protests_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=58)  | Comments Off 

_“Court’s Map Could Push New York Legislature to  Act”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31166)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 9:25  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31166)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

_Roll Call:_ 
(http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_105/Court_Map_Could_Push_New_York_Legislature_to_Act-212921-1.html) “A federal judge  unexpectedly 
tightened the redistricting vice on the deadlocked New York  state Legislature 
this week, pushing the body to come up with a compromise  or cede the redraw 
to an apolitical observer. The release of a court-drawn  draft map by U.S. 
Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann late Monday surprised the  Albany political 
establishment — she wasn’t expected to release a map  until next week — and 
added immense pressure to the Democratic-held  Assembly and Republican-held 
state Senate to draw new Congressional  lines.” 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31166&title=“Court’s%20Map%20Could%20Push%20New%20York%20Legislature%20to%20Act”
&description=) 

Posted  in _redistricting_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6)  | Comments 
Off 

_Voters Appeal Decision Rejecting Challenge to  Senator Lugar’s Indiana 
Residency_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31162)  
Posted  on _March 7, 2012 8:23  am_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31162)  
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  

See _here_ (http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/lugar-press.pdf) 
. 

(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31162&title=Voters%20Appeal%20Decision%20Rejecting%20Challenge%20to%20Senator%20L
ugar’s%20Indiana%20Residency&description=) 

Posted  in _campaigns_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59) , _residency_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=38)  | Comments Off 
-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of  Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason  Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 -  office
949.824.0495 - fax
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu) 
_http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html_ 
(http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html) 
_http://electionlawblog.org_ (http://electionlawblog.org/) 

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-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law  and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite  1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 -  fax
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu) 
_http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html_ 
(http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html) 
_http://electionlawblog.org_ (http://electionlawblog.org/) 

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