campaign finance

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The 'Sheldon Primary' Is What's Wrong With Politics

Dan Balz laments the influence of the super-rich mega-donors on elections

(Newser) - If you want to know why Americans are so disgusted with the political system, take a gander toward Las Vegas, where would-be Republican presidential candidates are lining up to kiss the ring of Sheldon Adelson . "Adelson has become a symbol of the new system of financing presidential elections,"...

IRS Targets Secret Campaign Cash

Administration looks to limit big-spending groups' political activity

(Newser) - The IRS and Treasury Department are looking to crack down on 501(c)4 groups—tax-exempt organizations that spent a reported $309 million in last year's election without having to reveal their donors. The groups (which the IRS code defines as promoting "the common good and general welfare") are...

High Court's Jammed Term: Campaign Finance, Abortion

ObamaCare, affirmative action once again on docket

(Newser) - The Supreme Court begins its new term today, and once again, there are plenty of headline-grabbing cases on the docket, the New York Times notes. In fact, says an expert, "this term is deeper in important cases than either of the prior two terms." A number of court...

Dead People Have Donated $586K to Politicians

And some people want those donations to be unlimited

(Newser) - Last week, someone noticed that a super PAC loyal to Mitch McConnell had gotten a $100,000 contribution from GOP mega-donor Bob Perry on June 3, which seemed odd given that Perry died back on April 13. The PAC later said there had been a clerical error, and that it...

Supreme Court to Consider Campaign Donation Limits

Case challenges the limit on how much an individual can give

(Newser) - The Supreme Court will hear a challenge to a campaign finance law that limits how much an individual can give to political campaigns. The justices today decided to hear an appeal from Shaun McCutcheon of Alabama and the Republican National Committee. They're arguing that the "aggregate limit" is...

Bachmann Won't Pay Her Campaign Workers: Ex-Aide

Peter Waldron accuses her of stiffing 5 Iowa staffers

(Newser) - A former official in Michele Bachmann's campaign is accusing her of withholding thousands of dollars in pay to Iowa staffers who refuse to sign a non-disclosure agreement, Salon reports. Peter Waldron posted his allegations yesterday on Christian Newswire , saying Bachmann has more than $2 million left over from the...

Media: Romney Charged Us $1K a Day for Travel

News outlets fight 'exorbitant' trail bills

(Newser) - Major news organizations are fighting what they say are exorbitant prices charged by Mitt Romney's campaign for reporters' travel expenses including food and transportation. Outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today have told the campaign they will be contesting charges that topped $1,000...

Nonprofit May Have Misled IRS on Big Donor
Nonprofit May
Have Misled IRS
on Big Donor
propublica

Nonprofit May Have Misled IRS on Big Donor

'Grabbed my name out of a hat,' he tells ProPublica

(Newser) - When a controversial nonprofit asked the IRS for tax-exempt status, it said it needed a speedy answer or its biggest donor would yank a promised $300,000 donation. The IRS complied with quick approval, and the Western Tradition Partnership went on to wage a successful fight against campaign-finance regulations, especially...

Goldman Donors Desert Obama
 Goldman Donors Desert Obama 

Goldman Donors Desert Obama

Financial industry throws its weight behind Mitt

(Newser) - Goldman Sachs execs and employees have abandoned President Obama in the biggest corporate campaign finance U-turn on record, a Wall Street Journal analysis finds. The firm's workers gave Obama more than $1 million in 2008—more than any other American corporation—but have given him just $136,000 this...

Romney&#39;s Cash Edge: $62M
 Romney's Cash Edge: $62M 

Romney's Cash Edge: $62M

Democrats raising less, spending more than Republicans

(Newser) - Mitt Romney widened his financial edge over President Obama last month, raising more and spending less as super PACs did much of his dirty work. The Obama campaign and DNC raised a combined $75 million in July, but spent $91 million, the New York Times reports. About $40 million of...

Election 2012's Projected Tab: $5.8B

Record amount expected to be spent on presidential, congressional races

(Newser) - The USA's continuing economic struggles certainly haven't had a negative impact on campaign spending—which could hit nearly $6 billion this year. A non-partisan group estimates that the total spent on presidential and congressional races will hit $5.8 billion, a record number that would top 2008's...

Supreme Court Strikes Down Mont. Campaign Finance Law
Supreme Court Strikes Down Mont. Campaign Finance Law
Supreme Roundup

Supreme Court Strikes Down Mont. Campaign Finance Law

Also, rules life in prison out of bounds for kids

(Newser) - The US Supreme Court today struck down a Montana campaign finance law that would have allowed states to curb the impact of the court's earlier Citizens United ruling. In a 5-4 vote along the court's usual ideological divide, the court issued a summary reversal, ignoring liberal justices' calls...

How Scott Walker Pulled It Off
 How Scott Walker Pulled It Off 
ANALYSIS

How Scott Walker Pulled It Off

Conviction, money, Democratic disorder drove recall results

(Newser) - So much for that recount . Scott Walker won handily last night , and today everyone's talking about why, and what it means. Here's what pundits and strategists are saying went into, and might come out of, the win:
  • The Democratic primary was a disaster, Democratic strategists tell Chris Cillizza
...

22 States Back Montana's Citizens United Challenge

State wants to keep power to limit political spending

(Newser) - Montana's attorney general is fighting to preserve his state's ability to curb corporate political spending, and almost half of America's states are backing him. Some 22 states and the District of Columbia have filed a brief urging the Supreme Court not to use its Citizens United decision...

Time to Make Souter Dissent on Citizens United Public

It could air the court's 'dirty laundry': Richard Hasen

(Newser) - The Supreme Court could soon revisit the issue of campaign finance, and it's time we heard David Souter's opinion on the matter. Souter wrote an unpublished draft dissent against Citizens United, the case that opened the door to super PACs; it was an issue dear to his heart,...

John Edwards Trial Begins: What to Watch

Plus, how many Americans like him? Not many: poll

(Newser) - It's not a great day for John Edwards: As his trial begins, a CBS News poll finds that just 3% have a favorable view of the former politician, and the New York Post reports that even his romance with Rielle Hunter—who will likely be called to testify—has...

Scott Brown Backed by (Gasp!) Yankees Honcho

Noted Red Sox fan's campaign got $2,500 from team's president

(Newser) - Scott Brown has a deal with a devil—the devil who wears pinstripes. The Massachusetts senator, who has touted his Red Sox fandom in radio and TV ads, last month got a $2,500 donation from Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees, the Boston Herald reports, in...

Broke Gingrich Renting Out Donor List

Campaign is $4.5M in debt

(Newser) - Newt Gingrich has reached new levels of desperation: To raise cash, he's started renting out his campaign's donor list for up to $26,000. Gingrich's campaign is $4.5 million in debt, and apparently those $50-a-pop pictures with Newt weren't helping to close the gap. Insiders...

Is John Edwards a Criminal?
 Is John Edwards a Criminal? 
trial starts today

Is John Edwards a Criminal?

As his trial begins today, legal experts question government's case

(Newser) - Jury selection begins today in the trial of John Edwards, and if it were a crime to be a sleazeball, he'd be going away for life. But what he's actually charged with—failing to report gifts of almost $1 million, hiding them as campaign contributions, and using them...

Supreme Court Agrees to Reconsider Citizens United

Ginsburg, Breyer think Montana ruling will be a chance to reverse decision

(Newser) - The Supreme Court has agreed to take a case that justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer say will give it a chance to rethink its infamous Citizens United v. FEC decision. The court is being asked to look into a Montana Supreme Court decision stating that its law restricting...

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