[EL] Grassroots Lobbyign Disclosure

JBoppjr at aol.com JBoppjr at aol.com
Mon Aug 26 09:24:59 PDT 2013


Of course, Rick, I remember the quote from CU -- I did not  dispute that. I 
only disputed the Doe v Reed claim, which you now  concede was in error.
 
But the real question is not the existence of the voter information  
interest for political activity but what is the political activity to which it  
attaches. So far the Court has only approved a very narrow set of political  
communications to which the voter info interest attaches -- IEs and ECs.   
Narrow indeed, clearly not issue advocacy as the "reformers" erroneously  
claim.  Jim Bopp
 
 
In a message dated 8/26/2013 12:11:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu)  writes:

You are  right Jim that the Court did not reach the issue in Doe v. Reed (" 
   Respondents assert two interests to justify the burdens of compelled  
disclosure under the PRA on _First  Amendment_ 
(http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct-cgi/get-const?amendmenti)  rights: (1) preserving the integrity of the 
electoral process by  combating fraud, detecting invalid signatures, and 
fostering government  transparency and accountability; and (2) providing 
information to the  electorate about who supports the petition. See, e.g. , Brief 
for  Respondent Reed 39–42, 44–45. Because we determine that the State’s 
interest  in preserving the integrity of the electoral process suffices to 
defeat the  argument that the PRA is unconstitutional with respect to referendum 
petitions  in general, we need not, and do not, address the State’s “
informational”  interest. ")

But the Court did reach the issue and accepted the  information interest in 
Harriss and Citizens United.  Here's a piece of  Citizens United, which 
surely you remember:


The Court has explained that  disclosure is a less restrictive alternative 
to more comprehensive  regulations of speech. See, e.g., MCFL , 479 U. S., 
at  262. In Buckley , the Court upheld a disclosure requirement for  
independent expenditures even though it invalidated a provision that imposed  a 
ceiling on those expenditures. 424 U. S., at 75–76. In McConnell ,  three 
Justices who would have found §441b to be unconstitutional nonetheless  voted to 
uphold BCRA’s disclosure and disclaimer requirements. 540  U. S., at 321 
(opinion of Kennedy, J. ,  joined by Rehnquist, C. J., and Scalia, J.  ). And 
the Court has upheld registration and disclosure requirements  on lobbyists, 
even though Congress has no power to ban lobbying itself.  United States v. 
Harriss , _347 U. S.  612_ 
(http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct-cgi/get-us-cite?347+612) , 625 (1954) (Congress “has  merely provided for a modicum of 
information from those who for hire attempt  to influence legislation or who 
collect or spend funds for that purpose”).  For these reasons, we reject 
Citizens United’s contention that the  disclosure requirements must be limited to 
speech that is the functional  equivalent of express advocacy.  
Citizens United also disputes  that an informational interest justifies the 
application of §201 to its ads,  which only attempt to persuade viewers to 
see the film. Even if it disclosed  the funding sources for the ads, 
Citizens United says, the information would  not help viewers make informed choices 
in the political marketplace. This is  similar to the argument rejected 
above with respect to disclaimers. Even if  the ads only pertain to a 
commercial transaction, the public has an interest  in knowing who is speaking about 
a candidate shortly before an election.  Because the informational interest 
alone is sufficient to justify  application of §201 to these ads, it is not 
necessary to consider the  Government’s other asserted interests. 




On 8/26/2013 9:03 AM, _JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com)  wrote:


Regarding:
 
The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized the information  interest as 
sufficient to support disclosure of political activities, from  Harriss to 
Citizens United to Doe v. Reed
 
Sorry Rick, but not true.  Doe v Reed recognized only the  state's interest 
in preventing and discovering fraud, not a voter  information interest.  
Jim Bopp
 
 
In a message dated 8/26/2013 10:17:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu)  writes:



Steve,
I'd like to see more on the substance and  less on the hyperbole.  Saying 
"Wrong" is not very edifying.
In  fact, Lloyd's point is correct as a matter of doctrine. The Supreme 
Court  has repeatedly recognized the information interest as sufficient to  
support disclosure of political activities, from Harriss to Citizens  United to 
Doe v. Reed. You may disagree with what the Court has said, or  the 
extension to so-called grassroots lobbying, but explanation rather  than dismissive 
tone would be more welcome.
Rick

On 8/26/2013 6:22 AM, Steve Hoersting  wrote:


Wrong. 
Find and check out a video seminar called A Skeptical Look at  Grassroots 
Lobbying Disclosure on the Cato Institute website. 
Suffer through the whole thing and you will be much further  along. 
Best,
Steve Hoersting 
On Aug 26, 2013 9:17 AM, "Lloyd Mayer" <_lmayer at nd.edu_ 
(mailto:lmayer at nd.edu) > wrote:


 
Having  recently delved into grassroots lobbying disclosure, I should note  
that another rationale asserted in its favor is providing information  to 
the targeted members of the public.  Providing information is  of course one 
of government interests stated by the Court in  Buckley for permitting 
required disclosure even in the face of  constitutional objections, and is the 
primary (only?) rationale relied  upon in the portion of the Citizens United 
decision relating to  disclosure.  Of course in those contexts the interest 
was  providing information to voters, but it is not a great stretch to  
expand that interest to include providing information to the public  that is 
sought to be influenced in the grassroots lobbying  context.   
Lloyd  Hitoshi Mayer 
Professor  of Law & Associate Dean 
Notre  Dame Law School 
P.O.  Box 780 
Notre  Dame, IN 46556-0780 
campus  address:  1106 Eck Hall of Law 
_(574)  631-8057_ (tel:(574)%20631-8057) /cell:  _(574) 598-0740_ 
(tel:(574)%20598-0740) /fax: _(574)  631-4197_ (tel:(574)%20631-4197)  
Web  Bio: http://law.nd.edu/directory/lloyd-mayer/ 
SSRN  Author Page: 
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=504775 
 
 
From: _law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu)   
[mailto:_law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu) ]  On 
Behalf Of Eric Lycan
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013  8:46 AM
To: Smith, Brad; _law-election at uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election at uci.edu) 
Subject: Re:  [EL] KY Legislative Ethics proposal to require reporting of 
grassroots  lo...

 
Thanks  to everyone from both points of view for the informative  
responses.   
I  am aware of the case law (though Harris was a new one to me) as to  
disclosure of electoral spending, and also that many states have  grassroots 
lobbying disclosure.  What is not clear to me is how  the anti-corruption 
rationale applies to allow regulation of  non-electoral, indirect speech on 
current legislative issues (as  opposed to ballot issues addressed in Belotti).  
If independent  expenditures are not sufficiently corrupting to justify a 
ban on IEs,  can independent non-electoral, non-candidate/officeholder speech 
be  regulated - even to the extent of requiring disclosure - when there  can 
be no corrupting influence (recognizing that not everyone agrees  with that 
premise)?  It seems to me that removing the electoral  element from the 
equation takes the anti-corruption rationale off the  field. 
The  regulation of direct lobbying might be the justification for  
regulation of speech by the lobbyist’s employer; however, if the  ability to make 
contributions does not affect the ability of a  (non-corporate) contributor to 
make unlimited IEs in the post-CU  world, perhaps the added element of 
lobbyist involvement does not  justify the regulation of such purely 
issue-related  speech. 
If  anyone is aware of challenges to state grassroots lobbying laws, I  
would be very interested in the courts’ analyses.  And of course  your 
thoughts, which are compelling reading.   Thanks. 
 
D. Eric  Lycan
Steptoe  & Johnson PLLC
2525 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 300 
Lexington, KY  40504
O: _859-219-8213_ (tel:859-219-8213)  F: _304-933-8715_ (tel:304-933-8715)  
C: _859-621-8888_ (tel:859-621-8888)   
_Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com_ (mailto:Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com) 
_www.steptoe-johnson.com_ (http://www.steptoe-johnson.com/)  
Twitter:  @KYcampaignlaw 

 
 
From: _law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu)   
[mailto:_law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu) ]  On 
Behalf Of Smith, Brad
Sent: Sunday, August 25,  2013 9:02 AM
To: _law-election at uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election at uci.edu) 
Subject: Re:  [EL] KY Legislative Ethics proposal to require reporting of 
grassroots  lo...

 
For  reasons Jim and Allen have addressed, and a couple others as well, I  
think it is dishonest to say that the Court has "approved," "upheld,"  or 
"sanctioned" the type of disclosure that the reform community and  CLC now 
seek to impose broadly on 501c4 groups. There is certainly  language in 
Citizens United (especially when coupled with McConnell  and Doe v. Reed) to make 
one project that the Court would uphold such  regulation if presented 
squarely with the issue today. But for now the  controlling precedent, in which the 
Court has squarely faced that  issue, remains Buckley (and also MCFL), 
which does not sanction that  type of disclosure and was not altered by Citizens 
United.    
 

 
The  particular Kentucky rule may have different implications because the  
Court has seemed willing to tolerate more regulation of the behavior  of 
registered lobbyists. However, one could also consider it a weaker  case for 
such regulation, since the language the reform community  seeks to rely on in 
Citizens United and McConnell did concern  candidates running for office, 
not any advertising discussing  issues.  
 
 
Bradley A.  Smith 
Josiah H.  Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault 
Professor of Law 
Capital  University Law School 
303 E.  Broad St. 
Columbus,  OH 43215 
_614.236.6317_ (tel:614.236.6317)  
http://law.capital.edu/faculty/bios/bsmith.aspx

 
  
____________________________________
 
 
From: _law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu)   [_law-el
ection-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu) ]  on behalf 
of _JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com)  [_JBoppjr at aol.com_ 
(mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com) ]
Sent: Sunday,  August 25, 2013 8:37 AM
To: _PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org_ (mailto:PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org) 
; _Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com_ (mailto:Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com) ; 
_rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu) ; _law-election at uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election at uci.edu) 
Subject: Re:  [EL] KY Legislative Ethics proposal to require reporting of 
grassroots  lo...
 
 
Regarding:
 
I’m  struggling to understand how you can read this passage from  Citizens 
United: “For these reasons, we reject Citizens  United's contention that the 
disclosure requirements must be limited  to speech that is the functional 
equivalent of express advocacy”; and  then write: “McConnell and Citizens 
United upheld  electioneering communications reporting after being convinced 
by  studies that ECs were the functional equivalent of express  advocacy.”
 

 
Let  me try to help you with your struggle.
 

 
McConnell upheld the EC provision  because studies convinced the majority 
that ECs were the functional  equivalent of express advocacy and did not 
apply to genuine issue  advocacy.  WRTL then  narrowed the definition of 
functional equivalent to apply only when  there is no reasonable interpretation of 
the message of the  communication other than it appeals for a vote for or 
against a  candidate -- "the appeal to vote test."
 

 
CU argued that the disclosure  provision should also be limited by the 
"appeal to vote test" --  the WRTL definition  of functional equivalent.  This 
is what the Court rejected  -- leaving disclosure to encompass all ECs upheld 
by McConnell--  which the Court said was the functional equivalent of 
express advocacy  and did not encompass genuine issue advocacy.
 

 
It  is true that Kennedy used the phrase "functional equivalent of express  
advocacy" without referencing whether it was WRTL's or  McConnell's -- 
leading some to be confused about this. However, the  parties were arguing that 
it should be limited to WRTL's "appeal to  vote test" -- WRTL's new 
definition of functional  equivalent. 
 

 
So  we are now back to McConnell's definition of ECs, which does not  apply 
-- said the McConnell Court -- to genuine issue  advocacy.
 

 
Some times you need to look  at what the parties are arguing to understand 
what the Court  rejected.
 

 
Jim  Bopp
 

 
In  a message dated 8/24/2013 12:29:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
_PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org_ (mailto:PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org)   writes:
 
 
Jim, 
I’m  struggling to understand how you can read this passage from  Citizens 
United: “For these reasons, we reject Citizens  United's contention that the 
disclosure requirements must be limited  to speech that is the functional 
equivalent of express advocacy”;  and then write: “McConnell and Citizens 
United upheld  electioneering communications reporting after being convinced 
by  studies that ECs were the functional equivalent of express  advocacy.” 
The  8 members of the Court upholding the challenged disclosure  
requirements in Citizens United gave no indication they had  been “convinced” that 
the ads were “the functional equivalent of  express advocacy.”  On the 
contrary, the Court held that it  made no difference whether the ads were the “f
unctional equivalent  of express advocacy” and explicitly rejected the “
contention that  the disclosure requirements must be limited to speech that is 
the  functional equivalent of express advocacy.” 
And  in doing so, the Citizens United Court explicitly  distinguished 
spending restrictions, citing its decision in  WRTL, from the disclosure 
requirements at issue in  Citizens United.  The Court wrote: “As a final point,  
Citizens United claims that, in any event, the disclosure  requirements in § 
201 must be confined to speech that is the  functional equivalent of express 
advocacy.  The principal  opinion in WRTL limited 2 U.S.C. § 441b's 
restrictions on  independent expenditures to express advocacy and its functional  
equivalent.  Citizens United seeks to import a similar  distinction into BCRA's 
disclosure requirements.  We reject  this contention.”  558 U.S. at 368-69 
(citation to WRTL  omitted). 
And  you, Jim, rejected the notion that the ads at issue in Citizens  
United were the “functional equivalent of express advocacy,”  repeatedly 
characterizing the ads as “issue advocacy” in the  complaint you filed in the 
case.  Your amended complaint filed  on 12/21/2007 refers to “issue-advocacy ad”
 in para. 18, refers to  the ads as “protected issue advocacy” in para. 
18, argues that the  ads are subject to disclosure only because the FEC 
refused to  include “the Supreme Court’s issue-advocacy safe harbor” established  
in WRTL in para. 22, and again refers again to the ads as  “issue advocacy”
 in para. 27.  
Give  yourself some credit, Jim!  It seems you and your co-counsel  
throughout the Citizens United litigation convinced the Court  that the ads were 
NOT the functional equivalent of express  advocacy.  Yet the Court upheld the 
disclosure requirements  applicable to the ads anyway. 
And  there’s also the Supreme Court’s decision in Harriss, where  the 
Court held with respect to lobbying-related disclosure  (i.e., what you would 
likely call “genuine issue advocacy”):  “Under these circumstances, we 
believe that Congress, at least  within the bounds of the Act as we have construed 
it, is not  constitutionally forbidden to require the disclosure of 
lobbying  activities.”  United States v. Harriss, 347 U.S. 612,  625 (1954). 
And  there’s the Court’s decision in Bellotti, where, with respect  to 
corporate spending regarding a ballot referendum (i.e.,  what you would likely 
call “genuine issue advocacy”), the Court  wrote: “Identification of the 
source of advertising may be required  as a means of disclosure, so that the 
people will be able to  evaluate the arguments to which they are being 
subjected.  In  addition, we emphasized in Buckley the prophylactic effect of  
requiring that the source of communication be disclosed.  435  U.S. 765, 792 
(internal citations omitted) (citing Buckley,  424 U.S. at 66-67; Harriss, 347 
U.S. at 625-626). 
In  short, what I wrote yesterday (“The Court has struck down limits on  
contributions and expenditures, while upholding disclosure  requirements 
applicable to issue advocacy.”) is indeed true.   Best, 
 
Paul  Seamus Ryan 
Senior  Counsel 
The  Campaign Legal Center 
215  E Street NE 
Washington,  DC 20002 
Ph.  _(202) 736-2200 ext.  214_ (tel:(202)%20736-2200%20ext.%20214)  
Mobile  Ph. _(202)  262-7315_ (tel:(202)%20262-7315)  
Fax  _(202)  736-2222_ (tel:(202)%20736-2222)  
Website:  http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/ 
Blog:  http://www.clcblog.org/ 
To  sign up for the CLC Blog, visit: 
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=1&Itemid=63 
Follow  us on Twitter @CampaignLegal  
Become  a fan on Facebook
 
 
From: _JBoppjr at aol.com_ (mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com)  [mailto:_JBoppjr at aol.com_ 
(mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com) ]  
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2013 8:57 AM
To:  Paul Ryan; _Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com_ 
(mailto:Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com) ; _rhasen at law.uci.edu_ (mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu) ; 
_law-election at uci.edu_ (mailto:law-election at uci.edu) 
Subject:  Re: [EL] KY Legislative Ethics proposal to require reporting of  
grassroots lo...

 
This is not  true:
 

 
The  Court has struck down limits on contributions and expenditures,  while 
upholding disclosure requirements applicable to issue  advocacy
 

 
Buckley upheld independent  expenditure reports after limiting them to 
express advocacy  communications thus protecting  issue advocacy.  McConnell and 
 Citizens  United upheld electioneering communications reporting  after 
being convinced by studies that ECs were the functional  equivalent of express 
advocacy -- not genuine  issue advocacy.
 

 
So there is actually no  Supreme Court precedent approving the reporting of 
issue advocacy or  grass root lobbying at all, only cases limiting campaign 
finance  reporting to express advocacy or its functional equivalent.   Jim 
Bopp
 

 
 
In a message dated  8/23/2013 4:41:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
_PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org_ (mailto:PRyan at campaignlegalcenter.org)   writes:

 
Mr.  Lycan, 
I’m  not writing to express an opinion regarding the KY Legislative  Ethics 
Commission recommendation you wrote about—I haven’t given  it any thought. 
 And I’m not familiar with similar  legislation elsewhere.  I’m only 
writing to explain that the  Supreme Court for decades has applied different 
scrutiny to, and  has recognized different governmental interests supporting,  
reporting/disclosure requirements vis-à-vis direct limits on  political 
contributions and spending.  The Court has struck  down limits on contributions 
and expenditures, while upholding  disclosure requirements applicable to 
issue advocacy. 
In  Citizens Against Rent Control, a case you cite, the Court  struck down 
a limit on contributions to ballot measure committees  and, in doing so, 
noted approvingly the reporting/disclosure  requirements applicable to the 
plaintiff ballot measure  committee’s issue advocacy.  The Court wrote: 
“Notwithstanding  Buckley and Bellotti, the city of Berkeley argues  that § 
602 is necessary as a prophylactic measure to make known  the identity of 
supporters and opponents of ballot measures. It is  true that when 
individuals or corporations speak through  committees, they often adopt seductive 
names that may tend to  conceal the true identity of the source. Here, there is 
no  risk that the Berkeley voters will be in doubt as to the identity  of 
those whose money supports or opposes a given ballot measure  since 
contributors must make their identities known under § 112 of  the ordinance, which 
requires publication of lists of contributors  in advance of the voting. See n. 
4, supra.”   454 U.S. at 498 (emphasis added). 
Similarly,  in the other cases you cite—WRTL and Citizens  United—the 
Court invalidated spending limits . . . NOT  disclosure requirements.  And in 
Citizens United, the  Court explicitly upheld a challenged disclosure 
requirement.   In doing so, the Citizens United Court explicitly rejected  the 
argument that disclosure must be limited to express candidate  advocacy and cited 
its decision in U.S. v. Harriss  upholding grassroots lobbying disclosure 
requirements.  The  Court wrote: 
“The  Court has explained that disclosure is a less restrictive  
alternative to more comprehensive regulations of speech. See,  e.g., _MCFL,_ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=1
986161155) _ 479 U.S., at 262, 107 S.Ct.  616._ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=1986161155)  In 
Buckley, the Court upheld a disclosure  requirement for independent 
expenditures even though it  invalidated a provision that imposed a ceiling on those  
expenditures. _424 U.S., at 75–76, 96 S.Ct.  612._ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=1976142308)  In 
McConnell, three Justices who would have found  _§ 441b_ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=2USCAS441B&FindType=
L)  to be  unconstitutional nonetheless voted to uphold BCRA's disclosure 
and  disclaimer requirements. _540 U.S., at 321, 124 S.Ct.  619_ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=2003
909967)  (opinion of KENNEDY, J., joined by Rehnquist, C.J., and  SCALIA, 
J.). And the Court has upheld registration and disclosure  requirements on 
lobbyists, even though Congress has no power to  ban lobbying itself. _United 
States v.  Harriss,_ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=1954120885) _ 347 U.S. 612, 625, 74 S.Ct.  
808, 98 L.Ed. 989 (1954)_ 
(http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=dfa1.0&vr=2.0&DB=708&FindType=Y&SerialNum=1954120885)  (Congress “has merely provided 
for a  modicum of information from those who for hire attempt to  influence 
legislation or who collect or spend funds for that  purpose”). For these 
reasons, we reject Citizens United's  contention that the disclosure 
requirements must be limited to  speech that is the functional equivalent of express  
advocacy.”  558 U.S. at 369. 
Regardless  of what one thinks of the KY Legislative Ethics Commission  
recommended reporting/disclosure requirement, a court would/should  apply a 
different constitutional analysis than the analyses  employed in the 
contribution and spending limit cases you  cite.  Best, 
 
Paul  Seamus Ryan 
Senior  Counsel 
The  Campaign Legal Center 
215  E Street NE 
Washington,  DC 20002 
Ph.  _(202) 736-2200 ext.  214_ (tel:(202)%20736-2200%20ext.%20214)  
Mobile  Ph. _(202)  262-7315_ (tel:(202)%20262-7315)  
Fax  (202) 736-2222 
Website:  http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/ 
Blog:  http://www.clcblog.org/ 
To  sign up for the CLC Blog, visit: 
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=1&Itemid=63 
Follow  us on Twitter @_CampaignLegal_ (http://bit.ly/j8Q1bg)    
Become  a _fan on  Facebook_ (http://on.fb.me/jroDv2) 
 
 
From: _law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu)   
[mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu]  On Behalf Of Eric Lycan
Sent: Friday, August 23,  2013 3:49 PM
To: Rick Hasen; _law-election at UCI.edu_ (mailto:law-election at UCI.edu) 
Subject:  [EL] KY Legislative Ethics proposal to require reporting of  
grassroots lobbying

 
A  KY political newspaper reports that the Legislative Ethics  Commission 
(which regulates lobbyists, gift rules, etc.) has made  recommendations to 
adopt new legislation.  Much of it is  unsurprising, but it also includes the 
following  language: 
“Recommendation:  Require reporting of the Cost of advertising which 
appears during  a session of the General Assembly, and which supports or opposes  
legislation, if the cost is paid by a lobbyist's employer or a  person 
affiliated with an employer.” 
This  seems of very dubious constitutionality (see, e.g., Citizens  Against 
Rent Control v Berkeley, WRTL, Citizens United,  etc.).  If the state 
cannot prohibit independent, express  candidate advocacy, it is hard to justify 
significant regulation  of pure grassroots advocacy.  I would like to read 
other  thoughts, though, on the extent to which the reporting requirement  
might survive challenge as a justifiable speech restriction.   Does the fact 
that is applies only to employers of lobbyists alter  the corruption rationale 
analysis?  Is mere reporting an  insignificant burden?  Is anyone aware of 
similar legislation  elsewhere, or a challenge to such?   
Thanks. 
 
D. Eric  Lycan
Steptoe  & Johnson PLLC
2525 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 300 
Lexington, KY  40504
O: 859-219-8213 F: 304-933-8715 C:  859-621-8888  
_Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com_ (mailto:Eric.Lycan at Steptoe-Johnson.com) 
_www.steptoe-johnson.com_ (http://www.steptoe-johnson.com/)  
Twitter:  @KYcampaignlaw 

 
 
From: _law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu_ 
(mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu)   
[mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu]  On Behalf Of Rick Hasen
Sent: Friday, August 23,  2013 1:04 AM
To: _law-election at UCI.edu_ (mailto:law-election at UCI.edu) 
Subject:  [EL] ELB News and Commentary 8/23/13

 
_Law and Political Process Study Group Panel  at APSA on Shelby County_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54746)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 8:03 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54746)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
I hope  to see many of you in Chicago: 
Law and Political Process Study  Group
Panel 1   The Future of the  Voting Rights Act After the Shelby County  
Case   
Date:  
Thursday, Aug 29, 2013, 2:00 PM-3:45  PM     
[ ]  
Location:  
Hilton 4A, 4th Floor
Subject  to change. Check the Final Program at the  conference.  
Chair(s):  
Bruce E. Cain
Stanford  University   
Author(s):      
Regional Differences in Racial  Polarization in the 2012 Presidential 
Election:  Implications for the Constitutionality of Section 5 of  the Voting 
Rights Act   
Charles Stewart   
Massachusetts Institute of  Technology   
Stephen D.  Ansolabehere   
Harvard  University 
Racially Polarized Voting,  Dilution, and Preclearance: Post-Shelby  County 
  
Richard L. Engstrom   
Duke  University 
Shelby County and the Illusion of  Minimalism   
Richard L. Hasen   
University of  California-Irvine 
The Constitutional Structure of  Voting Rights Enforcement   
Franita Tolson   
Florida State  University   
Discussant(s):  
Luis Ricardo Fraga
University of  Washington,
Guy-Uriel Charles
Duke University School  of Law 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54746&title=Law%20and%20Political%20Process%20Study%20Group%20Panel%20at%20APSA%2
0on%20Shelby%20County&description=) 


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

 
_“U.S. Is Suing in Texas Cases Over Voting  by Minorities”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54743)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 5:50 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54743)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_Charlie Savage reports  _ 
(http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/23/us/politics/justice-dept-moves-to-protect-minority-voters-in-texas.html?hp) for the NYT. 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54743&title=“
U.S.%20Is%20Suing%20in%20Texas%20Cases%20Over%20Voting%20by%20Minorities”&description=) 


 
Posted in  _Department of Justice_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26) , 
_election administration_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18) , 
_redistricting_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6) , _Supreme Court_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29) , _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 

 
_“Prosecutors charge 2 campaign aides for  Miami mayoral candidate Francis 
Suarez in absentee-ballot  probe”_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54740)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 5:48 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54740)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_Miami Herald_ 
(http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/22/3580232/prosecutors-charge-2-campaign.html) : “Miami-Dade  prosecutors on Thursday charged two 
political operatives for Miami  mayoral candidate Francis Suarez — including 
his campaign manager  — with unlawfully submitting absentee-ballot requests 
online on  behalf of voters….Francis Suarez, a sitting city commissioner and  
lawyer, was cleared of any wrongdoing during the investigation,  according 
to the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office. His only  involvement was 
advising his campaign to seek legal advice to make  sure any online requests did 
not run afoul of the law.” 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54740&title=“
Prosecutors%20charge%202%20campaign%20aides%20for%20Miami%20mayoral%20candidate%20Francis%20Suarez%20in%20absentee-ballot%20probe”
&description=) 


 
Posted in  _absentee ballots_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=53) , 
_campaigns_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59) , _chicanery_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12)   | Comments  Off 

 
_“Justice Department Sues Texas Over Voter  ID Law”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54737)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 5:45 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54737)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_WaPo reports_ 
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-department-sues-texas-over-voter-id-law/2013/08/22/ac654a68-0b4b-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_s
tory.html) . 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54737&title=“Justice%20Department%20Sues%20Texas%20Over%20Voter%20ID%20Law”
&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 

 
_More Analysis of DOJ Filings Against  Texas_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54734)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 4:29 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54734)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_Zack Roth_ 
(http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/08/22/justice-department-sues-to-block-texas-voter-id-law/)  
_Lyle Denniston_ 
(http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/08/u-s-sues-texas-over-voter-id/)  
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54734&title=More%20Analysis%20of%20DOJ%20Filings%20Against%20Texas&description=) 


 
Posted in  _Department of Justice_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26) , 
_The Voting Wars_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60) , _Voting Rights Act_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15)   | Comments  Off 

 
_“Campaign Finance and the Cost of Doing  Business”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54732)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 4:26 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54732)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_Steve Klein _ 
(http://wyliberty.org/feature/campaign-finance-and-the-cost-of-doing-business/) on the McCain  campaign conciliation agreement. 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54732&title=“Campaign%20Finance%20and%20the%20Cost%20of%20Doing%20Business”
&description=) 


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

 
_And We’re Back to the “Messes with Texas”  Headlines_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54730)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 4:18 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54730)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_The Week_ 
(http://theweek.com/article/index/248642/the-justice-department-messes-with-texas-over-its-voter-id-law)   on today’s DOJ move. 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54730&title=And%20We’re%20Back%20to%20the%20“Messes%20with%20Texas”
%20Headlines&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 

 
_“Eric Holder Sues Texas Over Voter ID.  Here’s Why It’s a Long Shot.”_ 
(http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54727)  
 
Posted on _August 22, 2013 4:16 pm_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54727)   
by _Rick Hasen_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3)  
 
_TNR reports_ 
(http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114436/eric-holder-sues-texas-over-voter-id-law-why-he-might-lose) . 
 
 
 
(http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http://electionlawblog.org/?p=54727&title=“Eric%20Holder%20Sues%20Texas%20Over%20Voter%20ID.%20Here’
s%20Why%20It’s%20a%20Long%20Shot.”&description=) 


 
Posted in  _Department of Justice_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=26) , 
_Voting Rights Act_ (http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15)   | 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://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
_http://electionlawblog.org_ (http://electionlawblog.org/) 

  
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Steptoe  & Johnson PLLC Note:
This e-mail and any attachments are  confidential and may be protected by 
legal privilege. If you are not  the intended recipient, be aware that any 
disclosure, copying,  distribution or use of this e-mail or any attachment is 
prohibited. If  you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us 
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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) 

hhttp://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/

_http://electionlawblog.org_ (http://electionlawblog.org/) 



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(mailto:Law-election at department-lists.uci.edu) 
http://department-lists.uci.edu/mailman/listinfo/law-election



-- 

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) 

hhttp://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/

_http://electionlawblog.org_ (http://electionlawblog.org/) 


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