McCain-Feingold

A recent settlement between the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) and Massachusetts Republican Party may highlight an emerging trend: state parties using federal preemption to avoid strict state campaign finance laws.  At issue was whether the Massachusetts Republican Party could use funds from its federal campaign account…
Continue Reading “When One Door Closes . . .”: McCain-Feingold Opens “Soft Money” Loophole In the States

On March 30, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Van Hollen v. FEC striking down the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) regulation that limited disclosure of donors to those who gave specifically for the purpose of funding “electioneering communications.”  Electioneering communications are broadcast…
Continue Reading “Electioneering Communications” Virtually Vanish in Wake of Van Hollen Decision

The Campaign Finance Institute has just released an analysis of national political party fundraising so far this election cycle.  The report concludes that the national parties are “holding their own” and refers to “the parties’ hard money success since 2002.”  This appears to be a revisionist attempt to demonstrate that…
Continue Reading The Truth About National Political Party Fundraising