[EL] ELB News and Commentary 4/16/14
Rick Hasen
rhasen at law.uci.edu
Wed Apr 16 09:06:51 PDT 2014
"Court to Weigh Challenge to Ban on Campaign Lies"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60549>
Posted on April 16, 2014 9:02 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60549>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
AP preview
<http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_POLITICAL_SPEECH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>
of the /Susan B. Anthony/ case.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60549&title=%E2%80%9CCourt%20to%20Weigh%20Challenge%20to%20Ban%20on%20Campaign%20Lies%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, Supreme Court
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
"GOP Congressman Isn't Sure The Civil Rights Act Is Constitutional"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60547>
Posted on April 16, 2014 9:01 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60547>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
TPM reports.
<http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/ted-yoho-civil-rights-act-constitutional>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60547&title=%E2%80%9CGOP%20Congressman%20Isn%E2%80%99t%20Sure%20The%20Civil%20Rights%20Act%20Is%20Constitutional%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in Voting Rights Act <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=15>
"Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A."
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60545>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:55 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60545>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
NYT
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/us/bloomberg-plans-a-50-million-challenge-to-the-nra.html?ref=politics&_r=0>:
"Michael R. Bloomberg, making his first major political investment since
leaving office, plans to spend $50 million this year building a
nationwide grass-roots network to motivate voters who feel strongly
about curbing gun violence, an organization he hopes can eventually
outmuscle the National Rifle Association."
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60545&title=%E2%80%9CBloomberg%20Plans%20a%20%2450%20Million%20Challenge%20to%20the%20N.R.A.%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, lobbying
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>
"Billionaire Hedge Fund Leaders Join Ricketts's Super-PAC"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60543>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:48 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60543>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Bloomberg reports
<http://click.email.bloomberg.com/?qs=ec62875d992ab410d7de0293b7875e08dd8b9ea2eb9f09f1e009336b14f73e89>.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60543&title=%E2%80%9CBillionaire%20Hedge%20Fund%20Leaders%20Join%20Ricketts%E2%80%99s%20Super-PAC%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Wealthy donors pump money into super PACs as 2014 midterm contests
heat up" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60540>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:46 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60540>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
WaPo reports.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wealthy-donors-pump-money-into-super-pacs-as-2014-midterm-contests-heat-up/2014/04/15/7364ee66-c4ec-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60540&title=%E2%80%9CWealthy%20donors%20pump%20money%20into%20super%20PACs%20as%202014%20midterm%20contests%20heat%20up%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"McCutcheon Attorney Files New Challenge To Contribution Limits for
Traditional PACs" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60538>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:45 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60538>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Bloomberg BNA
<http://news.bna.com/mpdm/MPDMWB/split_display.adp?fedfid=44880425&vname=mpebulallissues&jd=a0e9c3x9t7&split=0>:
An attorney who helped launch the successful challenge to the cap on
individual campaign contributions recently decided by the Supreme
Court has filed a new lawsuit
<http://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/document/Stop_Reckless_Economic_Instability_Caused_By_Democrats_et_al_v_Fe>
challenging limits on contributions by traditional political action
committees (PACs) that contribute to candidates (Stop Reckless
Economic Instability Caused By Democrats (Stop Reid) v. FEC, E.D.
Va., No. 14-397, filed 4/14/14).
Attorney Dan Backer of DB Capitol Strategies filed the new case
April 14 in federal district court in Alexandria, Va., on behalf of
a PAC called Stop Reckless Economic Instability Caused By Democrats
(STOP REID). The suit names the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as
defendant.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60538&title=%E2%80%9CMcCutcheon%20Attorney%20Files%20New%20Challenge%20To%20Contribution%20Limits%20for%20Traditional%20PACs%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Democratic super PAC raises big sum for Senate fights"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60536>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:42 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60536>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
USA Today reports.
<http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2014/04/15/democratic-senate-majority-pac-raises-big-sum-for-senate-fight/>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60536&title=%E2%80%9CDemocratic%20super%20PAC%20raises%20big%20sum%20for%20Senate%20fights%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
Gov. Christie Wants Unlimited Donations to Candidates in State and
Federal Elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60534>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:41 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60534>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Why not
<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/15/_christie_campaign_finance_system_is_ridiculous_122294.html>?
It's not like New Jersey has had any problems with corrupt politicians.
And Christie doesn't seem to mind kneeling before oligarchs
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/chris-christie-occupied-territories-apology-105169.html>.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60534&title=Gov.%20Christie%20Wants%20Unlimited%20Donations%20to%20Candidates%20in%20State%20and%20Federal%20Elections&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"What John Roberts Doesn't Get About Corruption"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60532>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:38 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60532>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Zephyr Teachout
<http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/what-john-roberts-doesnt-get-about-corruption-105683.html#.U06jxsexQu4>writes
for /Politico/ magazine.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60532&title=%E2%80%9CWhat%20John%20Roberts%20Doesn%E2%80%99t%20Get%20About%20Corruption%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Supreme
Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
"Obama on Voter ID: Right Speech in the Right Place for the Right
Reason" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60530>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:36 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60530>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Brentin Mock blogs
<http://www.demos.org/blog/4/15/14/obama-voter-id-right-speech-right-place-right-reason>.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60530&title=%E2%80%9CObama%20on%20Voter%20ID%3A%20Right%20Speech%20in%20the%20Right%20Place%20for%20the%20Right%20Reason%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
Blogging, Listserv Technical Issues
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60528>
Posted on April 16, 2014 8:35 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60528>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Due to some problems at UCI yesterday and today, there have been issues
with the blog as well as with the Election Law listserv and Legislation
listserv.
The blog seems to be back. As to the listservs, it appears that some
listserv members who subscribe via email addresses from yahoo, comcast,
aol, or hotmail may have had their accounts inadvertently suspended. We
are working on it.
Thanks for your patience.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60528&title=Blogging%2C%20Listserv%20Technical%20Issues&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>
"In wake of McCutcheon case, states abandon aggregate contribution
limits" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60526>
Posted on April 15, 2014 9:41 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60526>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
DLA Piper
<http://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2014/04/in-the-wake-of-mccutcheon/>
Political Law Alert.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60526&title=%E2%80%9CIn%20wake%20of%20McCutcheon%20case%2C%20states%20abandon%20aggregate%20contribution%20limits%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Supreme
Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
"Supreme Court to consider challenge to law barring campaign
falsehoods" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60524>
Posted on April 15, 2014 9:39 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60524>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
David Savage
<http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-court-false-statements-20140416,0,5789165.story#axzz2z1MO2GIN>
previews /Susan B. Anthony/ for the /LAT./
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60524&title=%E2%80%9CSupreme%20Court%20to%20consider%20challenge%20to%20law%20barring%20campaign%20falsehoods%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaigns <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, Supreme Court
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
"Longtime Professor Peter Tiersma, who shaped Calif. jury
instructions, leaves legacy of scholarship"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60522>
Posted on April 15, 2014 9:37 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60522>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Very sad news
<http://www.lls.edu/resources/newsroom/newsroomfeed/listofnewsitems/name,86619,en.html>
about my former Loyola colleague Peter Tiersma. He was a giant in the
field of law and language. Everyone in California today benefits from
his important work on clarity in jury instructions. Condolences to his
family and friends.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60522&title=%E2%80%9CLongtime%20Professor%20Peter%20Tiersma%2C%20who%20shaped%20Calif.%20jury%20instructions%2C%20leaves%20legacy%20of%20scholarship%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>
Political Campaign Ethics Conference in Miami-Dade
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60520>
Posted on April 15, 2014 1:30 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60520>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
This event
<http://ethics.miamidade.gov/library/Publications/camp_conf_prog_4-1.pdf> sponsored
by the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust and the St.
Thomas University Center for Ethics looks great. It includes a
Bonifaz-Bopp debate on campaign finance.
*Registration: **www.stu.edu/campaignethicsconference*
<http://www.stu.edu/campaignethicsconference>
*More information: ethics.miamidade.gov or 305-579-2594 *
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60520&title=Political%20Campaign%20Ethics%20Conference%20in%20Miami-Dade&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
Federalism and Election Law <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60518>
Posted on April 15, 2014 1:28 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60518>by
Heather Gerken <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=6>
Those interested in the intersection between election law and federalism
might want to take a look at a new Feature in the Yale Law Journal,
which I blog about here
<http://balkin.blogspot.com/2014/04/federalism-as-new-nationalism.html>.
Entitled "Federalism as the New Nationalism," it marks the emergence of
a nationalist school of federalism. A lot of the work in the Feature
centers on the relationship between state and national politics and thus
may be of interest to election-law junkies.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60518&title=Federalism%20and%20Election%20Law&description=>
Posted in election law and constitutional law
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=55> | Tagged election law
<http://electionlawblog.org/?tag=election-law>, federalism
<http://electionlawblog.org/?tag=federalism>
"Supreme Court Protester Sentenced to Time-Served"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60515>
Posted on April 15, 2014 12:53 pm
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60515>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Tony Mauro
<http://www.nationallawjournal.com/legaltimes/id=1202651206100/Supreme+Court+Protester+Sentenced+to+TimeServed%3Fmcode=0&curindex=0&curpage=ALLhttp://>:
In a statement to the judge, Newkirk said he had spoken out at the
Supreme Court and broken the law "in the tradition of civil
disobedience" to draw attention to the court's 2010 Citizens United
ruling and the then-pending McCutcheon campaign finance case.
<http://www.nationallawjournal.com/id=1202649627595/The-Post-%27McCutcheon%27-World?slreturn=20140315143529>
"Our democracy is greatly threatened" by the court's decisions
weakening restrictions on campaign money, Newkirk told McKenna. "The
Supreme Court has played a shameful role."
The sentencing concluded a morning marked by hallway negotiations in
which the Supreme Court---represented by court legal counsel Ethan
Torrey---played a significant behind-the-scenes role. Torrey was
present in the courtroom, as was a Supreme Court police officer.
After the session was over, the officer handed Newkirk a "barring
notice" alerting Newkirk that he is prohibited from setting foot on
Supreme Court property for the next 12 months. Earlier, Newkirk's
lawyer, Jeffrey Light, told McKenna that Newkirk, a resident of Los
Angeles, had "no intention to return to the Supreme Court to do this
again."
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60515&title=%E2%80%9CSupreme%20Court%20Protester%20Sentenced%20to%20Time-Served%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Supreme
Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
"IRS chief: New rule on the way for tax-exempt groups"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60513>
Posted on April 15, 2014 10:28 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60513>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
USA Today
<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/14/irs-commissioner-john-koskinen/7701609/>:
The Internal Revenue Service is prepared to rewrite a proposed rule
regulating the political activities of non-profit groups to address
complaints from the right and left that it goes too far, IRS
Commissioner John Koskinen said Monday.
"In all likelihood we will re-propose a redefined rule and ask for
more public comment," Koskinen told USA TODAY's Capital Download.
It's a process he predicts will take "until the end of the year and
beyond" to complete. The proposed regulation of groups known as
501(c)(4)s drew a record 150,000 comments before the deadline in
late February.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60513&title=%E2%80%9CIRS%20chief%3A%20New%20rule%20on%20the%20way%20for%20tax-exempt%20groups%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in tax law and election law <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=22>
Larry Noble on the FEC Commissioner Breakdown
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60511>
Posted on April 15, 2014 10:24 am
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60511>by Rick Hasen
<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Blogging
<http://www.clcblog.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=558:more-dysfunction-at-the-fec>
at CLC:
Truth be told, I wish there were a better position than the one Vice
Chairwoman Ravel and Commissioner Weintraub have taken. But at some
point you have to say "enough is enough" and let everyone play by
the same rules. While I don't think this will do anything to
improve the current FEC, it may highlight the FEC's complete
breakdown as an effective enforcement agency. In the end, Congress
and the White House have to be held accountable for the fact that
there will be no serious enforcement of the campaign finance laws
until fundamental changes are made to the agency, including the
appointment of commissioners who believe in the law and its enforcement.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60511&title=Larry%20Noble%20on%20the%20FEC%20Commissioner%20Breakdown&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, federal
election commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24>
Gov. Cuomo Signs Bill Adding New York to National Popular Vote
Compact <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60509>
Posted on April 15, 2014 9:43 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60509>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Release. <http://t.co/a8rOo2Jrbx>
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60509&title=Gov.%20Cuomo%20Signs%20Bill%20Adding%20New%20York%20to%20National%20Popular%20Vote%20Compact&description=>
Posted in electoral college <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=44>
"Kansas Gets Extra Time In Voter Registration Case"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60507>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:43 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60507>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The latest <http://www.kscbnews.net/news/?nk=35687>on Kobach v. EAC.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60507&title=%E2%80%9CKansas%20Gets%20Extra%20Time%20In%20Voter%20Registration%20Case%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>,
Election Assistance Commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=34>,
Elections Clause <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=70>
Congratulations to Donald Tobin <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60505>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:35 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60505>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
The tax law/election law scholar and teacher from OSU's Moritz College
of Law isthe new dean
<http://www.oea.umaryland.edu/communications/news/?ViewStatus=FullArticle&articleDetail=22561>at
the University of Maryland Law School.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60505&title=Congratulations%20to%20Donald%20Tobin&description=>
Posted in election law biz <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=51>
"Public Trust Act -- A Public Financing Trial and Tribulation"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60503>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:32 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60503>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Jisha Dymond
<http://www.corporatepoliticalactivitylaw.com/new_york/public-trust-act-public-financing-trial-tribulation>on
the new NYS public financing law.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60503&title=%E2%80%9CPublic%20Trust%20Act%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Public%20Financing%20Trial%20and%20Tribulation%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"New Proposal: 15 Executive Actions to Overcome Government
Dysfunction" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60501>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:27 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60501>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Press release:
<http://www.brennancenter.org/press-release/new-proposal-15-executive-actions-overcome-government-dysfunction>"Following
the Obama administration's vow to use strong executive action in the
face of a paralyzed Congress, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU
School of Law released a new policy proposal today
<http://www.brennancenter.org/publication/15-executive-actions>
outlining 15 steps the administration can take to strengthen democracy,
secure justice, and further the rule of law."
Of the 15, it looks like these are the ones related to voting and elections:
1.
Direct federal agencies to find ways to increase voter
participation nationwide.
2.
Direct federal agencies to accept designation as NVRA agencies.
3.
Enlist the private sector to assure free and fair elections.
4.
Appoint Republicans and Democrats to the Election Assistance and
Federal Election Commissions.
5.
Sign an executive order requiring disclosure of political
spending by entities awarded government contracts.
6.
Request that the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue
regulations requiring disclosure of corporate political spending.
7.
Request that the Federal Communications Commission to require
more thorough disclaimers of outside spending on political
advertisements.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60501&title=%E2%80%9CNew%20Proposal%3A%2015%20Executive%20Actions%20to%20Overcome%20Government%20Dysfunction%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>
"TurboTax Maker Linked to 'Grassroots' Campaign Against Free, Simple
Tax Filing" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60499>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:19 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60499>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Must-read ProPublica
<http://www.propublica.org/article/turbotax-maker-linked-to-grassroots-campaign-against-free-simple-tax-filing>:
Over the last year, a rabbi, a state NAACP official, a small town
mayor and other community leaders wrote op-eds and letters to
Congress with remarkably similar language
<https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/tax-letters> on a
remarkably obscure topic.
Each railed against a long-standing proposal that would give
taxpayers the option to use pre-filled tax returns. They warned that
the program would be a conflict of interest for the IRS and would
especially hurt low-income people, who wouldn't have the resources
to fight inaccurate returns. Rabbi Elliot Dorff wrote in a Jewish
Journal
<http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/item/irs_return_free_bad_for_most_vulnerable>
op-ed
<http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/item/irs_return_free_bad_for_most_vulnerable>
that he "shudder[s] at the impact this program will have on the most
vulnerable people in American society."
"It's alarming and offensive" that the IRS would target the "the
most vulnerable Americans," two other letters said. The concept,
known as return-free filing, is a government "experiment" that would
mean higher taxes for the poor, two op-eds argued.
The letters and op-eds don't mention that, as ProPublica laid out
last year
<http://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-maker-of-turbotax-fought-free-simple-tax-filing>,
return-free filing might allow tens of millions of Americans to file
their taxes for free and in minutes. Or that, under proposals
authored by several federal lawmakers, it would be voluntary, using
information the government already receives from banks and employers
and that taxpayers could adjust. Or that the concept has been
endorsed by Presidents Obama and Reagan and is already a reality in
some parts of Europe.
So, where did the letters and op-eds come from? Here's one clue:
Rabbi Dorff says he was approached by a former student, Emily
Pflaster, who sent him details and asked him to write an op-ed
alerting the Jewish community to the threat.
What Pflaster did not tell him is that she works for a PR and
lobbying firm with connections to Intuit, the maker of best-selling
tax software TurboTax.
"I wish she would have told me that," Dorff told ProPublica.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60499&title=%E2%80%9CTurboTax%20Maker%20Linked%20to%20%E2%80%98Grassroots%E2%80%99%20Campaign%20Against%20Free%2C%20Simple%20Tax%20Filing%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, lobbying
<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>
"How Democrats Work To Restrict Voting and Disenfranchise People in
a Purple State" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60497>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:12 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60497>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
RNLA blog post
<http://thereplawyer.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-democrats-work-to-restrict-voting.html>
on Virginia.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60497&title=%E2%80%9CHow%20Democrats%20Work%20To%20Restrict%20Voting%20and%20Disenfranchise%20People%20in%20a%20Purple%20State%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>
CPI Documents How Some Political Consultants Reward Themselves
Handsomely via Super PACs <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60495>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:08 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60495>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Here
<http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/04/15/14537/super-pac-leaders-score-perks-political-donations>.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60495&title=CPI%20Documents%20How%20Some%20Political%20Consultants%20Reward%20Themselves%20Handsomely%20via%20Super%20PACs&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>
"Can You Lie in Politics? Supreme Court Will Decide"
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60493>
Posted on April 15, 2014 8:07 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=60493>by
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
Roll Call reports
<http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/chabot-driehaus-lying-supreme-court-ohio-case/?dcz=>.
Despite the headline, I don't expect
<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=57900> that the Supreme Court will reach
the merits of the question in the upcoming /Susan B. Anthony /case.
Share
<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D60493&title=%E2%80%9CCan%20You%20Lie%20in%20Politics%3F%20Supreme%20Court%20Will%20Decide%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, Supreme
Court <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=29>
--
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
http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20140416/dcb5014f/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: share_save_171_16.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1504 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20140416/dcb5014f/attachment.png>
View list directory