Subject: news of the day 4/21/05
From: Rick Hasen
Date: 4/21/2005, 9:33 AM
To: election-law

Criticism of the Carter-Baker Commission by "Progressive Democrats of America"

See here.


"CALIFORNIA: Panel discusses fixing initiative process"

The San Francisco Chronicle offers this report.


"DeLay Charity for Children Financed by Corporations"

The New York Times offers this report. A question for the campaign finance reform community: can contributions to DeLay's charity be regulated (either disclosure or contribution limits) on grounds of potential benefit to candidate and close relationship to candidate under McConnell footnote 51?


" Why were charges filed in first place?"

The Sun-Sentinel offers this report on the Dyer controversy. See also this New York Times report.


Bauer on 527 Hearing

See his comments here. Bob's main web page features links to the prepared testimony from yesterday's hearing. See also this A.P. report, this brief note from the Washington Post, and this Roll Call report (paid subscription required).


Cherry-Picking Data to Bolster Statistical Argument in Washington State Recount?

Following up on this post, see this Seattle Times article. Michael McDonald also questions whether the GOP-expert statistical report has failed to include measures of statistical uncertainty in the calculations. UPDATE: McDonald provides more information here. Update 2: You can find the Katz and Gill reports posted here. FINAL UPDATE: Michael McDonald has now analyzed the Katz report and sends along the following analysis:

I have reviewed the method used by Jonathan Katz. I am glad to report that he did indeed calculate a measure of uncertainty for his estimate presented
on p.8 of his report. However, I believe that he used the wrong measure of uncertainty that greatly understates the uncertainty of his estimates, as I
will elaborate. The correct measure of uncertainty throws the validity of his conclusions into doubt. As Dr. Katz mentions, it is unfair to attack
his work when he can't respond because of legal considerations. He may have a reasonable explanation why he used his approach. So, please keep this in
mind until he has had a chance to defend his work. However, I note that all I present below is elementary statistics that can be found in any
introductory statistics book.
(you can see the remainder of the analysis by clicking the link below)
 Continue reading "Cherry-Picking Data to Bolster Statistical Argument in Washington State Recount?" 
-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211
(213)736-1466
(213)380-3769 – fax
rick.hasen@lls.edu
http://electionlawblog.org
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