"Campaign finance law must cover Internet, four politicos argue"

C|NET News offers this report. See also FEC Having Problems Drafting Internet Regulations.

"Propaganda and the Money Trail"

The Washington Times offers this editorial on the Pew controversy, which includes the following line: "In reality, on the road to campaign-finance "reform," there were two indispensable men, neither of whom was Mr. Treglia and both of whom were presidents." The editorial also accuses Pew of "avoid[ing] any transparency in their financial dealings with propaganda organizations like National Public Radio (NPR) and the American Prospect (a left-wing magazine)." It appears that the New York Sun offers an editorial on the topic here, but I cannot access it without a subscription. See also Bob Bauer's new post, "The Campaign Legal Center, the Campaign Finance Institute, and North Carolina Right to Life, Inc. v. Leake."

Election Reform throughout the U.S.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers Voter List Lacks Key Element, which begins: "lthough at least 82 felons voted illegally Nov. 2 in Milwaukee alone, state election officials are constructing a new voter list that could leave the door open to fraud when a simple step would close it."

The Denver Post offers Election Reform Plan Heading to the Full Senate.

The Daily Texan offers House, Senate Bills Combat Negative Campaign Ads."

"Georgia Remap Bill Heads to Governor's Desk"

Roll Call offers this breaking news report (paid subscription required). A snippet: "Republicans, who now have unified control of state government, sought to change the current map, drawn by Democrats in 2001, because they argued the boundaries were unfairly drawn to produce partisan gains. They say their new map, drawn by a Westmoreland aide, splits fewer precincts and counties and reunites communities of interest. Democrats, meanwhile, have called the virtually unprecedented mid-decade action a GOP power grab and have threatened a court challenge." The change will need to be precleared under Section 5 by the Justice Department.

Crayton to USC

USC has hired entry level election law scholar Kareem Crayton. This hire strengthens Los Angeles's position as the U.S. city with the highest concentration of election law scholars (not necessarily per capita) of any U.S. city (with Beth Garrett, me, Dan Lowenstein, and Adam Winkler).

Please feel free to send me additional news about election law entry level hires, lateral moves, and tenure grants, which I'll post on the blog.

Center for Public Integrity Responds to Pew Attacks

Don't miss this column by Bill Allison.

McCain, Feingold, Shays and Meehan Send Letter to FEC on Internet Regulation

I have posted the letter here. A snippet: "We are confident that the Commission can find a way in its rulemaking to allow unregulated and robust political debate on the Internet, such as that seen on independent blogs, to continue, without creating loopholes for soft money to once again flow into federal campaigns."

"Congress Should Leave Elections to the States"

Rebecca Vigil-Giron writes this San Francisco Chronicle oped. The author is the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State and New Mexico secretary of state.

-- 
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and William M. Rains Fellow
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
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rick.hasen@lls.edu
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http://electionlawblog.org