Subject: Electionlawblog news and commentary 2/27/06
From: Rick Hasen
Date: 2/27/2006, 7:29 AM
To: election-law


Thoughts About the Vermont Campaign Finance Case to Be Argued Tomorrow

Over on the Moritz law electronic roundtable, you can find my latest contribution, How to Decide the Vermont Campaign Finance Case and Rick Pildes's contribution, Campaign Finance and Political Competition.


"Texas-size gerrymander case heads to high court"

The Chicago Tribune offers this report. Thanks to Howard Bashman for the link (as well as to links to many other election law related articles linked to over the last week---we should never take Howard for granted!).

"A Citizens' Assembly in the Golden State"

Jan Frel offers this column at Alter Net. Thanks to Rob Richie for the pointer, who also passes on links to Henrik Hertzberg's New Yorker column on the national popular vote plan for president and to this post on the question of recounts and the national popular vote plan.


"I.R.S. Finds Sharp Increase in Illegal Political Activity"

The New York Times offers this report. In somewhat related news, see Santorum's Charity Had 60% Overhead.


"Throw Out the Map: Supreme Court has chance to do Texas right"

The Dallas Morning News offers this editorial.


"DRAWING THE LINE; Will Tom DeLay's redistricting in Texas cost him his seat?"

Jeffrey Toobin offers this analysis in the New Yorker.


"U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments Tuesday on campaign finance"

AP offers this lengthy report.


"Supreme Court to Vote on Election-Law Cases; At issue are campaign spending caps in Vermont and redrawn voter districts in Texas."

The Los Angeles Times offers this report.


"Election law shake-up in fraud fear"

The Sunday Times (AU) offers this report, which begins: "BRITAIN will introduce laws this week to combat postal vote fraud in a bid to allay fears that the UK electoral system is open to abuse and rigging."


"High Court Mulls Campaign Finance Law"

FOXNews.com offers this report.


"Vermont's campaign finance law goes to High Court"

The Burlington Free Press offers this report.


"General plan initiative in legal thicket; No matter what supervisors do, court challenge likely

The Monterey Herald offers this report. More fallout from Padilla v. Lever.


"DeLay Using Campaign Funds to Pay Lawyers"

Roll Call offers this report (paid subscription required). It begins: "Having already spent more than $1 million on attorney fees in the past 20 months, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) is now dipping into his campaign war chest to pare down some of his mounting legal bills. Earlier this month, DeLay -- who's facing a heated GOP primary next month and a tough general election campaign after that--sent $110,000 from his campaign treasury to the Washington, D.C., law firm that has been handling legal questions surrounding his association with ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff."


"TV Ads Put Focus on Reiner; Some ask whether the tax-funded spots helped tout the producer's June preschool initiative."

The LA Times offers this interesting report. UPDATE: See Reiner Takes a Leave From Panel on Children.


Harvard Law Review Developments issue on "Voting and Democracy"

This looks like a very interesting set of papers in the February issue, posted on the web as follows:


This looks like a terrific set of papers that I look forward to reading.


"Jeb Bush's secret-squirrel hunt?"

Dan Smith has this interesting oped on disclosure of those funding ballot measure drives. Worth the read.

-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211
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rick.hasen@lls.edu
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