[EL] Breaking news from Montana/more news

Wed Oct 3 15:12:21 PDT 2012

Thanks for the clarification, Joe.

Sean Parnell

President

Impact Policy Management, LLC

6411 Caleb Court

Alexandria, VA  22315

571-289-1374 (c)

sean at impactpolicymanagement.com

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Joe La Rue
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2012 6:06 PM
To: Rick Hasen
Cc: law-election at UCI.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Breaking news from Montana/more news

Rick wrote, "The judge did note that plaintiffs did not challenge the aggregate limits on political party contributions in 13-27-218 <http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/37/13-37-218.htm>  which remains in effect."

The Plaintiffs in the Montana case challenged the aggregate limit on political party contributions to their candidates. Those limits are enjoined. What Plaintiffs did not challenge (and so, what is not enjoined) is the aggregate limit on political committee (i.e., PAC) contributions to candidates. That was a deliberate choice Plaintiffs made. As Rick noted, this is the first time a court has struck limits on contributions to candidates as being too low since the Court decided Randall v. Sorrell (also brought by Jim Bopp). This is a big win for free speech. NOTE: I assisted Jim Bopp with this case while I was with The Bopp Law Firm. 

Joe
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On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 1:50 PM, Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu> wrote:

Breaking: Federal Court Strikes Down Many Montana Contribution Limits, Says Explanation Coming Later <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41076>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 1:47 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41076>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Wow.  See this 5 page order, <http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/district-court-order.pdf>  striking down Montana Code Annotated 13-37-216 <http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/37/13-37-216.htm>  in its entirety. The judge did note that plaintiffs did not challenge the aggregate limits on political party contributions in 13-27-218 <http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/13/37/13-37-218.htm>  which remains in effect.

It seems quite unusual for a judge to do this right before the election, and to do so without giving any reasoning (just a promise of reasoning to come later).  I expect Montana will go immediately to the Ninth Circuit for emergency relief, and judging from the last time a judge decided an important election question just before the election without giving any reasoning <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=39602> , there could well be an order staying this result, at least for this election.

Below the fold you can read the text of what’s now enjoined.

Continue reading → <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41076#more-41076> 

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Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments Off 

Updated Election Law Teacher Database <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41072>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 12:26 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41072>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

You can find it here. <http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/database.xls>  And it will be available later on the right side of this blog under “Election Law Resources.”

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41072&title=Updated%20Election%20Law%20Teacher%20Database&description=> Share

Posted in pedagogy <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=23>  | Comments Off 

“Obama Victory Fund’s Online Ads Push Campaign Finance Law” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41069>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 12:22 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41069>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Interesting HuffPo report. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/barack-obama-online-advertising_n_1932755.html> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41069&title=%E2%80%9CObama%20Victory%20Fund%E2%80%99s%20Online%20Ads%20Push%20Campaign%20Finance%20Law%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments Off 

You Can Now Listen to My KQED Forum Interview about “The Voting Wars” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41066>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:56 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41066>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Here. <http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201210030900> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41066&title=You%20Can%20Now%20Listen%20to%20My%20KQED%20Forum%20Interview%20about%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Voting%20Wars%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>  | Comments Off 

“Pa. voter ID ruling mirrors trend across U.S.” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41062>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:51 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41062>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

The  <http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pa-voter-id-ruling-mirrors-trend-across-us-655898/> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41062&title=%E2%80%9CPa.%20voter%20ID%20ruling%20mirrors%20trend%20across%20U.S.%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> , Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>  | Comments Off 

“Future of Voter ID in Other States Unclear” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41060>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:50 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41060>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Philly.com reports. <http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/elections/20121003_Future_of_voter_ID_in_other_states_is_unclear.html> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41060&title=%E2%80%9CFuture%20of%20Voter%20ID%20in%20Other%20States%20Unclear%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> , voter id <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>  | Comments Off 

“Pa. court rules voters can cast regular ballots without ID” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41058>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:49 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41058>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

AP reports <http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1510378> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41058&title=%E2%80%9CPa.%20court%20rules%20voters%20can%20cast%20regular%20ballots%20without%20ID%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> , voter id <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>  | Comments Off 

“New York’s Proposed Council Map Is Called Unfair to Minority Groups” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41055>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:28 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41055>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

NYT reports. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/nyregion/new-york-city-redistricting-map-is-called-unfair.html?_r=0> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41055&title=%E2%80%9CNew%20York%E2%80%99s%20Proposed%20Council%20Map%20Is%20Called%20Unfair%20to%20Minority%20Groups%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6> , Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>  | Comments Off 

“Electoral College 101’” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41053>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:27 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41053>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

The latest NYT op-doc <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/opinion/electoral-college-101.html>  from Mo Rocca.

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41053&title=%E2%80%9CElectoral%20College%20101%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in electoral college <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=44>  | Comments Off 

One of 12 Reasons to Pay Attention to the Supreme Court This Year: The Voting Rights Act Could Be Declared Unconstitutional <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41051>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:26 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41051>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

See Reason 10. <http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/12-reasons-to-pay-attention-to-the-supreme-court-t> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41051&title=One%20of%2012%20Reasons%20to%20Pay%20Attention%20to%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20This%20Year%3A%20The%20Voting%20Rights%20Act%20Could%20Be%20Declared%20Unconstitutional&description=> Share

Posted in Supreme Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29> , Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>  | Comments Off 

“EXCLUSIVE: How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Senate Seat? Less Than You Think” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41049>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:24 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41049>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Think Progress <http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/10/03/886121/senate-seat-90-million/> : “Could David Koch buy a United States senator for less than 0.3 percent of his personal fortune <http://www.forbes.com/profile/david-koch/> ?”

I would answer this question “no.”

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41049&title=%E2%80%9CEXCLUSIVE%3A%20How%20Much%20Does%20It%20Cost%20To%20Buy%20A%20Senate%20Seat%3F%20Less%20Than%20You%20Think%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments Off 

“Federal Judge in Wyoming Upholds FEC Disclosure Rules” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41046>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:21 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41046>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Bloomberg BNA breaking news report: “A federal judge in Wyoming rejected a bid for an injunction Oct. 3 to block enforcement of Federal Election Commission disclosure rules for groups sponsoring political messages (Free Speech v. FEC, D.Wyo., Civil No. 12-127, 10/3/12).”

See this statement  <http://wyliberty.org/feature/wyliberty-attorneys-continue-fight-for-free-speech/> from the plaintiffs.

UPDATE: Statement from CLC <http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1907:october-3-2012-federal-court-in-wyoming-sides-with-campaign-legal-center-a-democracy-21-rejects-latest-disclosure-challenge&catid=63:legal-center-press-releases&Itemid=61> .

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“Not Dead Yet—Purging Voters from the Rolls in Texas” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41044>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:20 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41044>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

A Pew data dispatch. <http://www.pewstates.org/research/analysis/not-dead-yetpurging-voters-from-the-rolls-in-texas-85899421031> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41044&title=%E2%80%9CNot%20Dead%20Yet%E2%80%94Purging%20Voters%20from%20the%20Rolls%20in%20Texas%E2%80%9D&description=> Share

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> , voter registration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>  | Comments Off 

“Elections and the Courts: A Busy Year” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41042>  

Posted on October 3, 2012 11:19 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41042>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

That’s the lead story in the new issue of NCSL’s “The Canvass.” <http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/the-canvass-october-2012.aspx> 

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Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>  | Comments Off 

-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
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