| Subject: [EL] Electionlawblog news and commentary 9/29/10 |
| From: Rick Hasen |
| Date: 9/28/2010, 9:11 PM |
| To: Election Law |
Reply-to: "rick.hasen@lls.edu" |
I earlier noted
a work crunch which is affecting my blogging schedule. While I'm
finishing up two
projects,
Dan
Tokaji has generously agreed to guest blog from Sept. 30
through October 7. I still may put up some posts from time to
time, but during the next week please send any tips to Dan.
After next week, I expect to do some extra election-related
blogging and commentary.
The NY Times offers this
report. "The plan, which the lobbyists and watchdog groups
have been presenting to Congressional staff members in recent
closed-door meetings, would limit the contributions that
lawmakers can take from the beneficiaries of earmarks they
arrange. Top officials from companies getting earmarks would be
limited to donating $5,000 to lawmakers in each two-year
election cycle, and they would not be allowed to give at all
while seeking an earmark."
The NY Times offers this
report.
First conservatives railed
against liberals for supporting appointment, rather than
election, of state judges.
Now liberals attack
Tea Party conservatives for arguing for repeal of the 17th
amendment, giving voters, rather than state legislatures, the
choice of U.S. Senators.
That's how this
editorial in the News and Sentinel (West Virginia)
begins. The editorial explains that "Raese, the Republican
candidate for the unexpired term of the late Sen. Robert Byrd,
is offering to pay a West Virginian in each county who submits
the most published letters to the editor in support of his
candidacy, which can only be seen as ethically disgusting and
insulting to those who truly have a political opinion they wish
to share with newspaper readers."
Actual vote
buying through absentee ballots remains a problem in West
Virginia.
A Mark Fiore cartoon.
Richard Winger explains.
Dan Tokaji has written this
commentary for Moritz.
Siefert
v. Alexander involves a judicial candidate's personal
solicitation of campaign contributions. Bauer
v. Shepard involves, among other things, limits on the
political party activities of judicial candidates.
In my post on the 7th Circuit opinion in Siefert, I wrote:
"If Judge Siefert chooses further appeal, this would be a case
that might interest the Supreme Court." I commented on the
importance of Judge Easterbrook's opinion in Bauer here.
USA Today offers this
editorial. Senator McConnell responds
with an oped.
So Paladino can
get the Conservative Party line in the NY Governor's race.
Ah, fusion.
Absentee Ballots to military and overseas voters out
early.
The Washington Independent offers this
report.
The Strategist offers this
analysis.
-- 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