A case headed to the Supreme Court could upend longstanding rules limiting federal political contributions. The Republican National Committee and an individual plaintiff filed an appeal yesterday after a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected their challenge to limits on the total amount an individual may contribute over
Super PACs
States Ramp Up Disclosure Rules for Political Spending; Federal Efforts Stall
By Lawrence H. Norton on
Outside groups have become a potent political force in the 2012 election campaign. Unleashed by the Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case and subsequent lower court rulings, such groups can raise unlimited sums from individuals and corporations for ads and other spending that is not “coordinated” with a candidate. The most dramatic example:…
Politics in the Workplace: As Election Season Heats Up, Do Not Overlook State Employment Laws
By Greg Ossi on
Posted in State, Super PACs
Ever wonder what “rights” employees have to express political views in a private workplace? Or whether any limits apply to an employer seeking to encourage political participation by its employees?
As companies consider rallying employees to support grassroots lobbying campaigns and employees engage with one another about the upcoming election (or perhaps seek to take…
FCC Orders TV Stations to Post Their Political Files Online
By Craig Ready* on
Posted in Disclosure, Super PACs
Starting August 2, 2012, affiliates of the four major television networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) in the nation’s 50 largest markets must transition from maintaining their “political file” in hard copy at their station to uploading the documents to an FCC website. The political file includes information about air time purchased regarding certain political…
IRS Unlikely to Move on Political Activity by 501(c)(4)’s Until After Election
By Lawrence H. Norton on
Tax-exempt groups known as 501(c)(4)’s have become a potent force in the 2012 election, eclipsing Super PACs as the vehicle of choice for many corporations and individuals because 501(c)(4)’s do not have to disclose their donors. Amid growing controversy about whether some 501(c)(4)’s are engaged in more extensive election-related activity than the law allows or…
Illinois Relaxes Contribution Limits to Counter Super PAC Spending; State Contractors Still Barred from Contributing under State Pay-to-Play Law
By Lawrence H. Norton on
In the wake of the corruption scandal involving former Governor Rod Blagojevich, Illinois adopted its first-ever limits on campaign contributions. Individuals could give candidates up to $5,000 per election, and corporations could give candidates up to $10,000. At a signing ceremony for the bill, held on the one-year anniversary of Blagojevich’s arrest, Governor Pat Quinn…
If it walks like a duck…
By Ronald M. Jacobs on
When does an organization—such as a 527 committee or a 501(c)(4) organization— have to register with the FEC as a political committee and disclose its donors? The Fourth Circuit recently upheld the FEC’s rules that answer that very question.
In the past the answer was very important because a political committee could only accept individual…