Conference on presidential public financing

The following announcement has arrived via e-mail:

Presidential Public Financing: Repairing The System

December 9, 2005, from 9 AM and Noon

Senate Hart Building Room 902


The Campaign Legal Center, Democracy 21, FEC Chairman Scott Thomas and Vice Chairman Michael Toner would like to invite you to attend a very important conference on the Presidential Public Funding System.

As we are all aware, the Presidential Public Funding System, which served the country well over the years, badly needs repair and reform. This conference will discuss the reasons for the system and its current problems. We also will discuss with Members of Congress, campaign finance experts, and others the changes needed to repair the Presidential Public Financing System and why Congressional action is needed before the 2008 elections.


To RSVP or for additional information, please contact Megan Brimhall, at mbrimhall@campaignlegalcenter.org or 202-736-2200.

"The Shape of Representative Democracy" Report Now Available

You can find it here. >From the press release:

Washington - Broad principles to reform congressional and legislative redistricting were announced today by a range of groups and individuals who are advocating the use of independent commissions to create competitive districts.

The principles were drafted by a group of experts with diverse backgrounds and political affiliations at a redistricting reform conference held last June in Airlie, Virginia. They are part of a report entitled The Shape of Representative Democracy and lay out an integrated approach that addresses both procedures for redistricting and standards for redistricting.


The procedural principles include: assigning the job of redistricting to an independent commission; ensuring transparency and a meaningful opportunity for interested parties and the public to participate effectively; and limiting redistricting to once a decade, following each census.


The recommended substantive standards for redistricting are: adhering to all constitutional and Voting Rights Act requirements; promoting competitiveness and partisan fairness; respecting political subdivisions and communities of interest; and encouraging geographical compactness.

More Prop. 77 News and Opinion

Here, here, here, and here.

"Internet campaign-finance carve-out fails in House"

Reuters offers this report.

"Expert: Ohio case might make politicians take closer look at donors"

A.P. offers this report, which begins: "The recent arrest of an Ohio man accused of illegally funneling donations to President Bush's re-election effort could force politicians to take more careful account of how their biggest boosters conduct fundraisers, a former federal election commissioner said." The "commissioner" in the story is Larry Noble, who served as general counsel to the FEC and has been suggested as an FEC commissioner, though he has not served in that position

-- 
Rick Hasen 
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School 
919 Albany Street 
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211 
(213)736-1466 - voice 
(213)380-3769 - fax 
rick.hasen@lls.edu 
http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html 
http://electionlawblog.org