CLC Update: May 2, 2013
More Bailouts of Covered Jurisdictions Moving Forward as Supreme Court Weighs Voting Rights Act / Reform Groups Call Out President Obama on Broken Promises and Lack of Leadership to Reform the Corrupt Campaign Finance System / Watchdogs Urge FEC to Halt Proposal to Worsen Its Already Ineffective Enforcement of Campaign Finance Laws / Reform Groups Urge Congress to Close Gaping Disclosure Loopholes / Legal Center President Participates in Event Marking 500,000 Comments to SEC Urging Disclosure of Corporate Political Spending / Legal Center Hosts Libyan International Exchange Fellow / Senior Counsel Participates in Symposium Focusing on Citizens United Fallout / Legal Center President Participates in “Restore the Republic” Conference / Senior Counsel Participates in Webchat on OpenSecrets Report on Political Activity by Tax-Exempt Groups / Policy Director Addresses Students at American University
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CLC Update: April 12, 2013
New Litigation Summary from CLC Chronicles Rush of Challenges to Campaign Finance Laws / Stephen Colbert Assists in Dedication of Ham Rove memorial Conference Room at Campaign Legal Center / Voting Rights Act Bailouts Continue While Supreme Court Weights Act’s Constitutionality / Watchdogs Question Whether President Obama is Complying with Ethics in Government Act / CLC Senior Counsel Participates in State Department Delegation to Egypt / Legal Center President Participates in “Lessons of Watergate” Conference / Legal Center Executive Director Joins George Washington Law Panel Discussion Previewing Legally Significant Issues in Shelby County v. Holder
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Legal Center Weekly Report: March 8, 2013
Supreme Court Oral Argument in Voting Rights Act Challenge / Challenge to Aggregate Contribution Limits to be Heard by Supreme Court / Supreme Court Leaves Ban on Direct Corporate Contributions Alone, Denies Cert in Danielczyk Case / Contractor Contribution Ban Defended by Watchdogs in Appeals Court Filing / New Hampshire Becomes First State to Bailout from Voting Rights Act Preclearance Requirements / U.S. Chamber’s & API’s Gross Mischaracterizations of the Law Rebutted in SEC Comments Filed by Legal Center / Watchdogs Urge More Disclosure of Expenditures by Political Committees in Comments on FEC Rule / Legal Center Senior Counsel Submits Testimony in Support of New York Attorney General’s Disclosure Regulations / Legal Center President Participates in American Law Institute Election Project / Executive Director Joins George Mason Law Panel Discussion Previewing Supreme Court Rights Act Challenge / Legal Center Participates in Twitter Town Hall on Voting Rights Act Challenge / Telephone Press Briefing on Shelby County & Bailouts / Executive Director Addresses American University Washington Program
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Legal Center Weekly Report: February 15, 2013
Voting Rights Act Defended in Supreme Court Brief by Bailed Out Jurisdictions in Shelby County v. Holder / Watchdogs File in Defense of Disclosure Laws in 10th Circuit in Free Speech v. FEC / Reformers Urge House Administration Chair to Hold Hearings to Address 2012 Election Abuses & Fixes / Office of Congressional Ethics Urged to Steer Clear of Rules Change Procedural Minefield / Reform Groups Commend House Leaders for Reauthorizing Office of Congressional Ethics / Senior Counsel Speaks at Penn Law Symposium / Executive Director Appears at University of Baltimore Law School / Legal Center Special Counsel Joins Brennan Center Panel on Modernizing Voting System
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Legal Center Weekly Report: January 18, 2013
Supreme Court Again Comes Down On Side of Donor Disclosure, Denies Cert in Real Truth About Abortion / FEC & DOJ Complaints Filed Over “Straw Companies” that Funneled $12 million to FreedomWorks Super PAC / IRS Urged to Investigate American Tradition Partnership and Its Suspect Application for 501(c)(4) Status / Crossroads GPS Application to IRS Bears No Resemblance to Shadow Party Committee that Spent $70 Million Anonymously on Ads / Stephen Colbert’s Ham Rove Memorial Fund Makes Generous Contribution to Campaign Legal Center / Legal Center Counsel Testifies in Support of Disclosure Measure / Conservative Groups Join Reform Coalition Calling for President to Fix the FEC and for Congress to Preserve the Office of Congressional Ethics / Legal Center’s Paul S. Ryan Addresses Senate Presidents’ Forum / SEC Moves to Require That Corporations Disclose All Political Spending / Legal Center Urges Reps. Shuler & Emerson to Resign or Recuse Themselves Due to Conflicts of Interest/ Legal Center Names Megan McAllen First Rapoport Legal Fellow / Senior Counsel Joins Panel at Indiana Common Cause Meeting
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Legal Center Weekly Report: December 11, 2012
Watchdogs File in Defense of Vermont’s Disclosure Laws in 2nd Circuit / Watchdogs Question IRS Priority List Which Continues to Ignore Abuse of Tax Laws by 501(c)(4)s for Partisan Politics / Legal Center Urges Members to Support the Empowering Citizens Act to Overhaul Broken Campaign Finance System / Trevor Potter Delivers Keynote Address at Annenberg Public Policy Center Conference / Moyers & Company Airs Interview with Trevor Potter / Policy Director Meredith McGehee Featured Speaker at American League of Lobbyists Annual Meeting / Executive Director Gerry Hebert Speaks at NCSL Conference / Paul Ryan and Trevor Potter Address Annual COGEL Conference / Trevor Potter Speaks at World Forum on Governance / National Press Club Panel Features Trevor Potter / Trevor Potter Joins Panel Discussion at UCLA Law School / Reddit Features Trevor Potter Ask Me Anything Session / New York Fair Elections Panel Features Trevor Potter / Trevor Potter Speaks to Notre Dame Law Student
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Legal Center Weekly Report: November 16, 2012
District Court Upholds Ban on Contributions from Governmental Contractors / Legal Center Files Brief Defending Wisconsin Disclosure Laws in 7th Circuit Court of Appeals / Legal Center President Helps Craft & Launch the American Anti-Corruption Act / Trevor Potter Appears Again on The Colbert Report / Policy Director Meredith McGehee Again Named Top Lobbyist / Trevor Potter Speaks at The Atlantic’s Washington Ideas Forum / Trevor Potter Featured Prominently in PBS Frontline Segment / Senior Counsel Paul S. Ryan Addresses University of Denver Strategic Issues Panel on Campaign Finance / Legal Center President Appears at GW Law Review Symposium / Tara Malloy Addresses Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court / Trevor Potter Speaks at IFES 2012 U.S. Election Program
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Legal Center Weekly Report: October 26, 2012
Three-Judge Court Halts South Carolina Voter ID Law for 2012 / Lawsuit Forces Partial Settlement for Harris County, Texas Voters: 9,000 Affected Voters Will Be Advised That Their Right to Vote Will Not Be Challenged / Illinois’ Contribution Limits Upheld by 7th Circuit Court of Appeals / FEC Issues Advisory Opinion Rejecting Tea Party Leadership Fund Request for Non-Enforcement of Six Month Requirement for Multicandidate PAC Status / Policy Director Joins Panel at American University / Legal Center President Featured in Washington College Lecture Series / Election Observers Meet with Legal Center Staff / Senior Counsel Speaks at Toledo Law Review Symposium / Campaign Legal Center Meets with Legislative Fellows from the Middle East / Executive Director Addresses Audiences at Yale Law School / Updated Summary of Litigation Distributed by Legal Center / Legal Center Releases Guide to the Current Rules for Federal Elections
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Legal Center Weekly Report: October 9, 2012
Federal Court in Wyoming Sides with Campaign Legal Center & Democracy 21, Rejects Latest Disclosure Challenge / Federal Court Rejects Challenge To Illinois Contribution Limits / U.S. District Court Upholds Federal Aggregate Contribution Limits / Court Rejects Another Disclosure Challenge, Siding with Campaign Legal Center Again / Closing Arguments Heard in South Carolina v. United States / Watchdogs Criticize FEC for Disregarding Public Comment Period, File Comments on Tea Party Leadership Fund Advisory Opinion Request / Trevor Potter Featured Guest on Bill Moyers “Elections for Sale” / Watchdogs Lay Out Clear Violations by Rove’s Group and Warn IRS of Continuing Harm from Lack of Enforcement / Reform Groups Call for New Appointees to the Office of Congressional Ethics / Trevor Potter at University of Denver Law School for Speech and Panel / New America Foundation Forum Features Trevor Potter / Senior Counsel Addresses American University Washington Program
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Legal Center Weekly Report: September 21, 2012
8th Circuit Rules on Minnesota’s Corporate Contribution Ban and Disclosure Laws / McCutcheon v. FEC Oral Argument Heard by Three-Judge Panel / Appeals Court Panel Overturns Van Hollen v. FEC / Legal Center Defends Hawaii’s Disclosure Regs & Contractor Contribution Ban in 9th Circuit Brief / Court Accepts Legal Center Brief Defending Contribution Limits Despite Opposition from Illinois Liberty PAC / Trevor Potter Part of Intelligence Squared Super PAC Debate / Legal Center, Reformers Urge House to Oppose Measure to End Convention Funding & Support Full Presidential Public Financing Fix / Legal Center President Speaks to Fourth Annual Public Funds Forum / Senior Counsel Teaches at George Washington Law School
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Legal Center Weekly Report: August 31, 2012
Court Finds Texas Voter ID Law Violates Voting Rights Act / South Carolina Voter ID Law Goes to Trial / Latest Court Disclosure Challenge Opposed by Campaign Legal Center / Watchdogs Defend Federal Disclosure Laws in Latest Challenge Filed in Wyoming / Watchdogs Defend Contractor Contribution Ban in Court Filing / Campaign Legal Center Challenges Florida’s Plan to Purge Voters / Fourth Circuit Denies Rehearing in Challenge to Century-Old Law Banning Corporate Contributions to Candidates & Parties / Legal Center and Democracy 21 Send Further Evidence to IRS that Groups Seeking to Influence Elections are Wrongly Claiming 501(c)(4) Status
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Legal Center Weekly Report: August 9, 2012
Legal Center Joins Voting Rights Litigation in South Carolina & Florida / Legal Center Files Again in Defense of Texas Campaign Finance Laws / Legal Center Urges IRS to Enforce Tax Laws Despite Pressure from GOP Senators / American Future Fund’s Attempt to Evade Candidate “Soft Money” Ban Challenged by Legal Center / Another Attempt to Evade Campaign Finance Law Challenged by Legal Center / Legal Center Executive Director Speaks at NCSL Legislative Summit in Chicago / Congressional Forum on Voting Rights Requests Statement of Legal Center Executive Director
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Legal Center Weekly Report: July 26, 2012
Fourth Circuit Overturns Decision That Struck Down Century-Old Law Banning Corporate Contributions to Candidates & Parties / Legal Center Executive Director Represents Disenfranchised Voters in Texas Voter ID Trial / Rep. Van Hollen Files Brief in Appeal to Successful Challenge to Political Ad Donor Disclosure Regs / RNC Court Challenge to Aggregate Contribution Limits Opposed by Reformers / DISCLOSE Act of 2012 Fails to Overcome Filibuster in the Senate / IRS to Consider Changes to 501(c)(4) Eligibility Rules / Government Watchdog Groups Press Mitt Romney to Reveal Bundler Information
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Legal Center Weekly Report: June 26, 2012
Donor Disclosure Provisions Again Upheld by Fourth Circuit in Real Truth About Obama / Legal Center Senior Counsel Condemns Supreme Court’s Summary Reversal of American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock / House Appropriators Back Down from Attempt to Block New FCC Regulations to Put Public Files Online / FEC Deadlocks On Attempted Evasion of Disclosure Laws / Reformers Criticize White House Response to Petition Calling for New FEC Commissioners / FEC Clears Political Contributions Via Text Message / Reform Groups Urge Senators to Support Bill Reforming Presidential Public Financing System / Legal Center President Addresses Netroots Nation Annual Gathering / Executive Director and Senior Counsel Lead Workshops at American University Law School Summer Law Institute / Legal Center President Addresses League of Women Voters’ 50th Annual Convention / Senior Counsel Speaks at “Shadow Money” Conference at National Press Club
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Legal Center Weekly Report: June 4, 2012
Supreme Court Urged to Let Stand Lower Court Decision Upholding Montana’s Corporate Expenditure Restriction / Legal Center President Joins with Other Elections Officials in Brief Supporting Montana’s Corporate Expenditure Restriction / Funders of Electioneering Communications Must be Revealed: Appeals Court Denies Stay / Challenge to Florida’s Political Disclosure Law Rejected by 11th Circuit / Oral Argument in Corporate Contributions Case / Legal Center Debunks U.S. Chamber of Commerce Criticisms of DISCLOSE Act in Senate Letter / Legal Center and 37 Other Organizations Urge Senators to Vote for DISCLOSE Act of 2012 / Legal Center Challenges Latest Attempt by Outside Group to Skirt Disclosure Laws / FEC Issues Advisory Opinion Upholding Aggregate Contribution Limits As Urged By CLC / FCC Vows to Fight Broadcaster Suit to Keep Public Files Offline / Legal Center Files FEC Complaint Against Rep. Towns for Personal Use of Campaign Funds / New Crossroads GPS Information Submitted to IRS by Watchdogs Concerning Violations of Tax Status / Legal Center Distributes Overview of Court Challenges to Campaign Finance & Disclosure Laws Nationwide / Legal Center President Addresses the Campaign Finance Crisis in Speech to the American Law Institute Annual Meeting / CLC Senior Counsel Speaks at National Institute on Money in State Politics Annual Meeting / Trevor Potter Hosts Conference Board Event on Corporate Political Activity / Legal Center President Addresses Stanford Policy Forum
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Legal Center Weekly Report: May 4, 2012
Legal Center Files Complaint Against Rep. Shock for Illegal $25,000 Solicitation / Senior Counsel Testifies Before Senate Rules Committee on Senate Electronic Filing / FEC Announces It Will Not Appeal Van Hollen Decision / Van Hollen Opposes Stay of Disclosure Ruling / FCC Vote Brings Broadcaster Political Ad Files to the Internet for Top 50 Markets / Legal Center Files FEC Comments in Support of Proposal to Allow Political Contributions via Text Message / Legal Center President Delivers Capstone Lecture at Lawrenceville School / Senior Counsel & Communications Director Meet with European Election Observers
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Legal Center Weekly Report: April 23, 2012
FEC Disclosure Regulations Struck Down by District Court in Van Hollen v FEC / Legal Center Files in Defense of California Disclosure Law / Senior Counsel Testifies in U.S. House of Representatives Forum / Colbert Report Twice Features Legal Center President and Collects Peabody Award for Super PAC Coverage / Legal Center Urges IRS to Curb Abuse of 501(c)(4) Tax Status / Still No Response from White House on FEC Replacement Petition / Dozens of Civic Organizations and Investor Groups Call on House Members to Support DISCLOSE Act / Reform Groups Urge Senators to Pass Electronic Filing Bill / Executive Director Addresses Rutgers University Law Review Symposium / Legal Center President Speaks at Loyola Law School / Legal Center President Speaks at Georgetown University Law Center
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Legal Center Weekly Report: March 30, 2012
Another Attack on State Campaign Finance Laws Turned Back in Texas / Legal Center Files in Defense of Washington State Disclosure Law Already Upheld by Supreme Court / Legal Center Calls on IRS to Ignore Efforts to Curb Eligibility Investigations of Political Groups Utilizing Tax-Exempt Status / Legal Center and Democracy 21 Call on IRS to Establish Bright-Line Standard / Legal Center and Democracy 21 Remind FEC it has No Authority to Strike Down Contribution Limits / Legal Center and Democracy 21 Urged FEC to Require Registration for Obvious Political Committee / Government Watchdog Groups Ask Presidential Candidates to Reveal More Bundler Information / Trevor Potter Statement to Senate Rules Committee on DISLCOSE Act / Reform Groups Urge Senators to Support and Pass the DISCLOSE Act / Senate Accepts Weaker House STOCK Act, Drops Other Reforms / Members Urged to Support Amendment to FCC Bill Requiring Disclosure / Legal Center President Speaks at Stevenson Center Luncheon / Washington & Lee Law Students Hear from Executive Director on Voting Rights Act and Redistricting / Legal Center President, Jack Abramoff and Buddy Roemer Form Panel on Campaign Finance Reform / Legal Center President Speaks With Reform Groups about Money in Politics / Policy Director Addresses American University Students/ FEC Program Director and Director of Communications Meet with Seattle University Students
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Legal Center Weekly Report: March 1, 2012
Legal Center Seeks Investigation of Contribution from Super PAC to Romney Campaign / Senate Passes STOCK Act; House Removes Anti-Corruption Provisions / Legal Center Releases Report on Maxed Out Donors Contributing Heavily to Super PACs / Legal Center, Reformers Call for Bipartisan Cosponsors for Stripped-Down Disclosure Legislation / Legal Center, Reformers and More Than 25,000 Americans Call on President Obama to Replace Lame Duck FEC Commissioners / Coalition Calls for Senate Hearings on Corporate Governance Solutions / Legal Center President Discusses Legacy of Citizens United on NPR’s Fresh Air / Interview with Legal Center President on PRI’s The Takeaway / Legal Center President, Board Members, Featured at Brookings Institution Discussion / FEC Program Director Addresses American University Students / Policy Director Addresses William & Mary Students
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Legal Center Weekly Report: January 26, 2012
Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Campaign Contributions and Independent Expenditures by Foreign Nationals / Rep. Van Hollen’s challenge of FEC Rules Heard in District Court / In Two Appearances, Trevor Potter Helps Stephen Colbert Transfer Control of His Super PAC and Avoid Coordination as Colbert Weighs Candidacy / Petition Urges Obama to Act Swiftly to Overhaul the FEC by Replacing Commissioners / Legal Center’s Paul Ryan Addresses Super PACs on C-SPAN / Legal Center President Appears on The Diane Rehm Show to Discuss Citizens United, and Its Impact / Legal Center Attorney on NPR’s To The Point
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Legal Center Weekly Report: December 22, 2011
Challenge to Florida’s Political Disclosure Laws Draws Legal Center Brief in 11th Circuit / Legal Center Files FEC Complaint Filed Against Perry Campaign and Perry-Supporting Super PAC Urging Investigation of Shared Video Footage / Legal Center Presses for IRS Action on Groups that Continue to Abuse Tax Laws / Legal Center Urges Legislative Activity on Insider Trading / The FEC Deadlocked – Refusing to Grant Permission to American Crossroads to Run “Fully Coordinated” Ads with Candidates / Legal Center Calls for Passage of Legislation to Help Prosecutors Battle Public Corruption / Legal Center President Addresses International Corporate Governance Network / Legal Center Attorney on Multiple Panels at COGEL Annual Conference / Legal Center President Keynotes at Texas Lobbying and Ethics Conference
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Legal Center Weekly Report: December 1, 2011
Legal Center Urges FEC to Reject Super PAC American Crossroads’ Request for Permission to Coordinate Ads with Candidates / Legal Center Files Comments in Internet Ad Disclaimer Rulemaking Proceeding / House Urged to Vote Down Effort to Repeal Presidential Public Financing System and Terminate Election Assistance Commission / Reform Groups Press Congress to Curb Congressional Insider Trading / Legal Center President Participates in World Forum on Governance / Legal Center Staff Addresses National Press Club’s Regional Reporters
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Legal Center Weekly Report: November 10, 2011
Legal Center Files Brief in Appeal of Decision Overturning Century-Old Law Banning Corporate Contributions to Candidates & Parties / Legal Center Files Brief in Real Truth About Obama’s Continuing Bid to Overturn Donor Disclosure Requirements / FEC Urged by Legal Center to Reject Senator Lee’s Attempt to Create a “Super Leadership PAC” / Legal Center Calls for FEC Overhaul, Submits Congressional Testimony on Dysfunctional Agency/ Trevor Potter Delivers Keynote Address at Conference Board’s Symposium on Corporate Political Spending /Tara Malloy on the PBS News Hour Takes on the Myth of ‘Independent’ Super PACs / Trevor Potter Helps Stephen Colbert File FEC Comments on American Crossroads’ Request to Run “Issue Ads” That are Coordinated with Candidates in Reality But Not in Law
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Legal Center Weekly Report: October 17, 2011
Legal Center Challenges Tax Exempt Status of Crossroads GPS, Priorities USA American Action Network and Americans Elect / Legal Center Releases Analysis of Candidate Super PAC Funding by ‘Maxed Out’ Donors / Trevor Potter Helps Stephen Colbert Form “Anonymous Shell Corporation” / Policy Director Named Top Grassroots Lobbyist by The Hill / Legal Center President Travels to China for Carter Center to Speak on Political Transparency / Executive Director Speaks at University of Buffalo Law School Redistricting Conference / Legal Center President Joins Panel at New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Forum / FEC Program Director a Guest on “The Hutchinson Report Newsmaker Hour” / Legal Center President Speaks to American University Students / Legal Center Blog Highlights / Week in the News
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Legal Center Weekly Report: September 26, 2011
Legal Center Files in Defense of Texas Campaign Finance Laws / Eighth Circuit Rehears Minnesota Disclosure Case / Reform Groups Urge Chairman Durbin to Stave Off Attempts to Repeal or Defund Presidential Public Financing System / Legal Center President Speaks at AEI Event on Modernizing Voter Registration System / Policy Director Participates in Business Ethics Network Webinar / Associate Counsel Addresses AU class / Legal Center Blog Highlights / Week in the News
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