In one of the most watched campaign finance disclosure enforcement cases, last week, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld a trial court’s finding that a trade association intentionally failed to register and report contributions and expenditures in opposition to a ballot initiative that would have required labeling of genetically modified
Continue Reading Campaign Finance Violation for Unregistered Political Committee Upheld in Washington State, but $18 Million Penalty Must Still Pass Excessive Fine Test
ballot initiative
Colorado Enacts Replacement Campaign Finance Enforcement System
Just one week ago, a federal court in Colorado held that the state’s system for enforcing its campaign finance laws was unconstitutional. Moving quickly, the Colorado Secretary of state has enacted temporary enforcement rules, effective immediately.
Under the new rules, any person may file a complaint, just like under…
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Colorado Campaign Finance Enforcement System Found Unconstitutional
In a case with interesting ramifications, a federal court this week struck down major parts of Colorado’s campaign finance enforcement system as unconstitutional.
The system at issue, which was created through a ballot initiative, generally allowed any person who believed there had been a violation of the state’s campaign finance…
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California Gov. Brown Signs California DISCLOSE Act into Law
On Saturday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California DISCLOSE Act, AB249, into law. We posted a detailed analysis of the law when it passed the legislature, but the key points bear repeating as it will be of interest to anyone who gives or spends money in California elections.
Continue Reading California Gov. Brown Signs California DISCLOSE Act into Law
California’s Proposition 32 Defeated
Some politically-active corporations are breathing a sigh of relief following last night’s defeat of California’s Proposition 32. Although the media focused on the ballot initiative’s proposal to bar unions from using payroll deductions to collect PAC contributions, the initiative would have also had three equally far-reaching effects for corporations. First,…
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Ballot Initiative Could Put An End To Federal Corporate PAC Giving In California
California voters will face 11 statewide ballot initiatives when they visit the polls in less than three weeks. One, Proposition 32, has garnered significant media attention because it would bar unions from using payroll deduction to collect PAC contributions. Its effects on corporate PACs — which could be just…
Continue Reading Ballot Initiative Could Put An End To Federal Corporate PAC Giving In California