[EL] ELB News and Commentary 10/5/12

Fri Oct 5 12:34:54 PDT 2012

It's also an odd (and otherwise horrific) piece because the James Madison
Center does: (a) exist and (b) has all the usual characteristics of a
public charity relevant for IRS purposes.  I should know.  As a former
associate some years ago under Bopp, I witnessed it operate, offer CLE
opportunities, conferences, and otherwise engage in public interest
advocacy.  And it still moves ahead today with Jim as its primary
contractor.  To that the First Amendment owes much debt.

Whatever the high-minded folks at Slate might think about the ideal number
of employees the Center should have, what the distribution of funds should
look like, how the Center could reduce its carbon footprint, or how Jim
should bill for his services is immaterial.  Fighting for the First
Amendment isn't an act born of felonious intent, even when performed by one
extremely capable attorney at reduced rates for a small non-profit.
 Rather, we should laud efficiency and ability rather than assume a given
charity must function like every other in drone fashion.  The latter
approach would celebrate mediocrity, not excellence, in the pursuit of
defending the First Amendment.

Then again, perhaps that's the purpose of the Slate piece?

Forward,

First Amendment Ben

On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 12:39 PM, Steve Hoersting <hoersting at gmail.com>wrote:

> If I am reading the piece correctly, it seems Madison has done too much
> with too little, whereas CLC... .
>
> I cannot think of a single case that Bopp Law has won that did not apply
> with equal force to left-leaning speakers.
>
> It seems the Progressives have (re)concluded their policies don't fair
> well when the People are permitted to learn of them. *That's* the subtext
> of the *Slate* piece.
>
> Perhaps, one day, *Slate* will have the courage to write more directly.
> After all, John McCain found the courage to say he would rather have a
> corruption-free debate than quote First Amendment rights unquote. David
> Brooks has found the courage to argue America lacks followers, and Steven
> Rattner has had the courage to call for Death Panels.
>
> C'mon *Slate,* you can do better.
>
> Steve Hoersting
>
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 12:19 PM, <JBoppjr at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> **
>> Regarding this hit piece:
>>  *Slate Takes a Close Look at Jim Bopp and the Tax Status of the Madison
>> Center* <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41151>* *
>> *Posted on **October 5, 2012 8:17 am*<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41151>
>> * by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3> *
>>
>> *This piece*<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/10/james_bopp_jr_s_unusual_relationship_with_the_james_madison_center_.single.html>
>> * is much more temperate than then earlier attacks on Jim from Common
>> Cause and others.  It seems to raise some reasonable questions under the
>> tax code, but it is far from my area of expertise so it is really hard for
>> me to know.*
>>
>> It all boils down to this:  I am the only one retained so I am the only
>> one paid.  And it is very little compared to the millions of dollars of pro
>> bono services I provide to the Madison Center for management, public
>> advocacy and litigation services.
>>
>> I would say that this "close look" is with a jaundiced eye.
>>
>> But let no good deed go unpunished. Jim Bopp
>>  In a message dated 10/5/2012 11:58:31 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:
>>
>>
>>
>>  “Obama Sets Monthly Fundraising Record”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41171>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:43 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41171>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> WSJ:<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443768804578036744247901504.html>“he Obama campaign set a new monthly fundraising record for the 2012
>> election cycle, taking in more than $150 million in September as supporters
>> rallied behind the president in the final phase of the election, according
>> to people familiar with the totals.”
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41171&title=â€œObama
>> Sets Monthly Fundraising Recordâ€ &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41171&title=%E2%80%9CObama%20Sets%20Monthly%20Fundraising%20Record%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
>> Off
>>  “Coal Miner’s Donor: A Mitt Romney benefactor and his surprisingly
>> generous employees” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41168>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:31 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41168>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> Alec MacGillis writes<http://www.tnr.com/print/article/politics/108140/coal-miners-donor-mitt-romney-benefactor>for TNR.
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41168&title=â€œCoal
>> Minerâ€™s Donor: A Mitt Romney benefactor and his surprisingly generous
>> employeesâ€ &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41168&title=%E2%80%9CCoal%20Miner%E2%80%99s%20Donor%3A%20A%20Mitt%20Romney%20benefactor%20and%20his%20surprisingly%20generous%20employees%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
>> Off
>>  “FEC Stalls on Rewriting Disclosure Rules Following D.C. Circuit’s Van
>> Hollen Ruling” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41165>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:28 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41165>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> Bloomberg BNA<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=28322355&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0d4x8m9x8&split=0>:
>> “The Federal Election Commission Oct. 4 deadlocked once again on whether to
>> begin writing new disclosure regulations in light of recent court decisions
>> that have raised questions about the adequacy of current rules. The
>> commissioners split 3-3, along party lines, in a vote during an FEC open
>> meeting <http://www.fec.gov/agenda/2012/agenda20121004.shtml> on a
>> motion to initiate a rulemaking. The vote came in response to the latest
>> major court decision in a case spearheaded by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
>> (Van Hollen v. FEC, 9/18/12D.C. Cir., Nos. 12-5117 and 12-5118, 9/18/12; 3351
>> Money & Politics Report, 9/19/12<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/display/link_res.adp?fedfid=28322355&fname=a0d4r6p7g8&vname=mpebulallissues>
>> ).”
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41165&title=â€œFEC
>> Stalls on Rewriting Disclosure Rules Following D.C. Circuitâ€™s Van Hollen
>> Rulingâ€ &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41165&title=%E2%80%9CFEC%20Stalls%20on%20Rewriting%20Disclosure%20Rules%20Following%20D.C.%20Circuit%E2%80%99s%20Van%20Hollen%20Ruling%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
>> Off
>>  “Canadian-owned firm’s mega-donation to super PAC raises ‘legal red
>> flags’” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41162>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:26 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41162>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> The Center for Public Integrity reports.<http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/10/05/11148/canadian-owned-firms-mega-donation-super-pac-raises-legal-red-flags>
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41162&title=â€œCanadian-owned
>> firmâ€™s mega-donation to super PAC raises â€˜legal red flagsâ€™â€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41162&title=%E2%80%9CCanadian-owned%20firm%E2%80%99s%20mega-donation%20to%20super%20PAC%20raises%20%E2%80%98legal%20red%20flags%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
>> Off
>>  “Honey, I Shrunk The Precinct: Louisiana Deals With Voting Machine
>> Shortage as ‘Micro-Precincts’ Proliferate”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41159>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:24 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41159>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> A ChapinBlog<http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/electionacademy/2012/10/honey_i_shrunk_the_precinct_lo.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HHHElections+%28The+Election+Aacdemy%29>
>> .
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41159&title=â€œHoney,
>> I Shrunk The Precinct: Louisiana Deals With Voting Machine Shortage as
>> â€˜Micro-Precinctsâ€™ Proliferateâ€ &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41159&title=%E2%80%9CHoney%2C%20I%20Shrunk%20The%20Precinct%3A%20Louisiana%20Deals%20With%20Voting%20Machine%20Shortage%20as%20%E2%80%98Micro-Precincts%E2%80%99%20Proliferate%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments
>> Off
>>  “TN voter ID laws should be removed, attorney says in emergency appeal”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41156>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:21 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41156>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> See here<http://www.wbir.com/news/article/237259/193/TN-voter-ID-laws-should-be-removed-attorney-says-in-emergency-appeal>
>> .
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41156&title=â€œTN
>> voter ID laws should be removed, attorney says in emergency appealâ€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41156&title=%E2%80%9CTN%20voter%20ID%20laws%20should%20be%20removed%2C%20attorney%20says%20in%20emergency%20appeal%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  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
>>  “Mississippi Voter ID Law Put On Hold For Election Following Federal
>> Review” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41153>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:18 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41153>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> Reuters reports.<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/mississippi-voter-id-law_n_1934121.html>
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41153&title=â€œMississippi
>> Voter ID Law Put On Hold For Election Following Federal Reviewâ€
>> &description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41153&title=%E2%80%9CMississippi%20Voter%20ID%20Law%20Put%20On%20Hold%20For%20Election%20Following%20Federal%20Review%E2%80%9D&description=>
>>  Posted in Department of Justice <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26>, The
>> Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>,
>> Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15> | Comments Off
>>  Slate Takes a Close Look at Jim Bopp and the Tax Status of the Madison
>> Center <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41151>
>> Posted on October 5, 2012 8:17 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41151>
>> by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>>
>> This piece<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/10/james_bopp_jr_s_unusual_relationship_with_the_james_madison_center_.single.html>is much more temperate than then earlier attacks on Jim from Common Cause
>> and others.  It seems to raise some reasonable questions under the tax
>> code, but it is far from my area of expertise so it is really hard for me
>> to know.
>>  [image:
>> http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=41151&title=Slate
>> Takes a Close Look at Jim Bopp and the Tax Status of the Madison
>> Center&description=]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D41151&title=Slate%20Takes%20a%20Close%20Look%20at%20Jim%20Bopp%20and%20the%20Tax%20Status%20of%20the%20Madison%20Center&description=>
>>  Posted in election law biz <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=51>, tax
>> law and election law <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22> | 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 92697-8000949.824.3072 - office949.824.0495 - faxrhasen at law.uci.eduhttp://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.htmlhttp://electionlawblog.org
>> Now available: The Voting Wars: http://amzn.to/y22ZTv
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Stephen M. Hoersting
>
>
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