"Dreier Introduces Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006"

See this press release, which begins: "Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, today introduced H.R. 4975, the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, legislation to reform the lobbying and ethics rules of the House of Representatives. Among the original co-sponsors of the bill are Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), other members of the GOP elected leadership and several committee chairmen. The legislation is expected to be referred to the Committees on the Judiciary, Government Reform, Rules, Ethics, and House Administration. Dreier said he looks forward to the bill moving through the committee process, allowing members on both sides of the aisle to debate and amend it." The bill itself will be posted here. Here is a section by section summary, which shows that 527 reform is included in Rep. Dreier's measure.

"FEC's Toner Says Agency to Consider Rule For Internet After House Postpones Action"

BNA Money and Politics Report offers this report (paid subscription required), which begins: "Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael Toner reiterated March 16 that the FEC will consider at its next open meeting March 23 a revised rule dealing with Internet political communications. Toner made the statement at an FEC meeting after House Republican leaders announced late March 15 that they were pulling a bill (H.R. 1606) on the same subject from the agenda for congressional debate. The development appeared to increase the likelihood that the FEC would have to revise its regulations implementing the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, in line with court rulings, to remove a regulatory exemption for Internet political messages." Still no word on what the content of that final rule may be.

"We want our district back"

Texas. Rep. Marc Veasey offers this oped in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. It begins: "Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the Texas mid-decade redistricting case. Tom DeLay might have stolen our political power in southeast Fort Worth, but I refuse to let him silence us. In an effort to educate the media, federal legislators and Supreme Court justices on the damage done to the voting strength of southeast Fort Worth African-American voters, I traveled to Washington to tell our story."

"Justice Department clears New Orleans election over black protests"

JURIST offers this report.

Controversy over Invalidation of Petition Signatures Gathered by Non-Residents in Rialto, California

See here.

"Democrats demand inquiry into voter registration"

The Riverside Press Enterprise offers this report, which begins: "The California Democratic Party called on the state attorney general Thursday to investigate suspected voter-registration fraud cases in at least two counties, including more than 3,600 instances by one company in San Bernardino County. Meanwhile, the same signature-gathering company, John Burkett Petition Management, turned in 600 signatures Wednesday in Riverside County. Officials found problems with at least a third of the voter-registration cards, which were missing required driver-license or state-identification numbers, said Rebecca Martine, Riverside County's chief deputy registrar."

"A Promise to Voters: We'll Quit"

The New York Times offers this report, which begins: "NEW ORLEANS, March 15 -- For decades, when it came time to visit your friendly New Orleans property assessor with a complaint, the outcome was likely to be mutually beneficial. The assessor gave you a break on your taxes; you gave the assessor your vote in the next election. No use righteously demurring; the deal has been offered to generations of homeowners, always with a wink and nod. With seven elected assessors handy -- far more than in most other cities --- it has been a near-perfect system, except for the estimated $80 million in lost revenue annually to a hard-up New Orleans. This flaw, no longer considered folkloric in an age of diminished population and empty city coffers, has now sparked an ultimate gesture of political disgust. Seven challengers are running against the incumbent assessors in next month's municipal election and are pledging to quit as soon as they are elected. They are the newest political sensation here: the 'I.Q. ticket,' meaning 'I Quit.'"

"Official With No Campaign Is Still Spending Campaign Cash"

The New York Times offers this report.

"Making Every Vote Count: A Colloquium on Election Reform Legislation"

This conference will take place at Princeton University on April 6 and 7. The link will take you to the agenda of the event, which includes some terrific speakers. Here is the description:

"Making Every Vote Count," will focus on three bills in particular, the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA, or McCain Feingold), with a special emphasis on the implications of these acts for practice and policy in the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania region. Among the questions we hope to address are: "How has the McCain-Feingold Act both limited and driven policymaking at the state level;" "In what ways does HAVA challenge common definitions of voting equity, and what are the implications of that challenge for the future of policymaking;" "How might the Voting Rights Act change when it comes up for renewal later this year;" and "What are some important goals in election reform that both HAVA and the VRA fail to address?"

"CDT Responds to Markos"

John Morris of CDT has posted this response on the Kos website regarding the choice between, among other options, HR 1606 and HR 4900 (the CDT alternative). A snippet:

Let me address how DailyKos would be affected under HR 4900. I believe that DailyKos would be deemed to be news media (which HR 4900 would permit but HR 1606 does not address). So you and the blog would have no obligations under the rules. More generally, I believe that all or almost all blogs would be fully protected by HR 4900, either because they do not spend more than $5000 for advocacy, or because they are news media, or both.

Very interesting. If that's the intention, then perhaps the language of HR 4900 should be drafted to make this fact more self evident.
UPDATE: And here is another posting, responding to Bob Bauer's criticisms.
UPDATE 2: Bauer replies.
UPDATE 3: Here is a press release from Democracy 21 and other reform groups.

Tillman on Continuity of Congress

Seth Tillman has posted Model Continuity of Congress Statute on SSRN. The abstract:

This is a model continuity of Congress statute. States with constitutional provisions similar to U.S. Const. art. I, Section 7 could easily modify the act in light of their state constitutional and parliamentary nuances.

I note one defect in the model act in a footnote. If anyone could suggest a solution, I would be very grateful.

Petit on "Bad Legislative Intent"

C.E. Petit has posted the Intentional Fallacy on his Scrivener's Error blog. It discusses my draft article, Bad Legislative Intent.

Supreme Court Transcript in Vermont Campaign Finance Case Now Available

See here.

-- 
Rick Hasen
William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola Law School
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rick.hasen@lls.edu
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