"Voting act gets early lift from House"

New York Newsday offers this report, that those following the debate over Section 5 reauthorization will want to read.

"Governor Is Focus of Ethics Complaint"

The Los Angeles Times offers this report, with the subhead: "Top Democrats say that Schwarzenegger's lucrative contract with a publisher violated state laws over political gifts."

"FEC Clears Rev. Jerry Falwell on Complaint"

A.P. offers this report, which begins: " The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint against the Rev. Jerry Falwell that said he broke federal election law by urging followers last summer to re-elect President Bush. Falwell's lawyer, Mathew D. Staver, said in a news release Monday that the FEC notified him that it had ruled in the evangelist's favor by a vote of 6-0."

"Two San Diego councilmen convicted on corruption charges"

The San Diego Union-Tribune offers this report, which begins: "SAN DIEGO – Acting Mayor Michael Zucchet and Councilman Ralph Inzunza were convicted Monday on federal corruption charges, with a jury finding the politicians conspired with a strip club owner to ease restrictions on such clubs." Thanks to Robbin Stewart for the pointer.

"What Should the New Justice Do About Campaign Finance?"

Edward Foley offers this must read commentary on what is likely to, and what should, happen to campaign finance jurisprudence on the Supreme Court in light of Justice O'Connor's planned departure.

Polsky and Charles on 527s

Gregg Polsky and Guy Charles have posted Regulating 527 Organizations (forthcoming George Washington Law Review) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

In this Essay, we consider whether the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") has the authority to regulate independent 527 organizations (e.g., Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, Moveon.org, etc.) as political committees under the Federal Election Campaign Act. This issue, which was hotly debated during the last election cycle when it was considered and ultimately tabled by the FEC, is an extremely complex one that requires a deep understanding of election, tax, administrative, and constitutional law. After considering how these areas of law intersect, we conclude that the FEC lacks the authority to regulate independent 527 organizations as political committees.

"Keep Blogs Unregulated"

Adam Bonin offers this column in the National Law Journal.

-- 
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://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org