|
Dec 7, 2007 -- Legal Center Weekly Report: December 7, 2007
The Campaign Legal Center, along with other reform groups, sent a letter to Congress on December 6 asking for co-sponsorship of legislation introduced earlier in the week that would repair the presidential public financing system. The legislation sponsored by Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) would increase the overall spending limits and the amount of public funds available for candidates who opt for the presidential system.
The reform groups include: Americans for Campaign Reform, Campaign Legal Center, Committee for Economic Development, Common Cause, Democracy 21, the League of Women Voters, Public Campaign, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG.
Additionally, the Campaign Legal Center's Policy Director, Meredith McGehee issued a statement on December 5 addressing the importance of "The Presidential Funding Act of 2007" and its potential to repair the important institution in time for the 2012 race. McGehee stressed that the dizzying fundraising race in the current presidential race will fuel public outrage and build support for the proposed legislation. "The idea of the White House on the public auction block has never sat well with American voters," said McGehee, "Their support will be pivotal to push through this critically important piece of legislation."
Campaign Legal Center Policy Director Meredith McGehee released a statement on December 4 condemning Senator John Ensign's (R-NV) continual hold on S.233, the "Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act," which would require the electronic filing of Senate campaign finance reports. McGehee referenced Sen. Ensign's letter to Senate Rules Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), in which he revealed that he had no intention of withdrawing his amendment that demands full donor disclosure by any organization seeking to file an ethics complaint. The statement also called attention to the irony of Senator Ensign holding up the as an example to be emulated the House ethics process "which turned a blind eye to Rep. Mark Foley's stalking of congressional interns and to misdeeds by Members and staffers that have led to federal prison sentences."
Legal Center Executive Director Serves as Legal Counsel in VA Bailout Case
On December 5, 2007, Middlesex County, Virginia, and the United States Department of Justice filed a Joint Motion to enter a Consent Judgment and Decree that, if approved by the three-judge court, will give the County an exemption, known as a bailout, from the special provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The joint motion was accompanied by a proposed Consent Judgment and Decree and a Stipulation of Facts . If granted, Middlesex County will become the 14th jurisdiction to obtain a bailout since the 1982 amendments to the Act were enacted, which permitted local governments to seek a bailout. Legal Center Executive Director J. Gerald Hebert serves as legal counsel to Middlesex County in this matter.
Oral argument was held before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 4, 2007, in Willie Ray v. State of Texas. This lawsuit was filed in 2006 and challenges several provisions of Texas law that impose burdens on the constitutional and federal statutory rights of voters and political parties. The suit also alleges racially selective law enforcement of Texas election laws by the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. The district court granted a limited preliminary injunction which enjoined the State from prosecuting a narrow class of persons who merely possess, consensually, the absentee ballot of another voter. That injunction was stayed by the Fifth Circuit just before the November 2006 general election. This appeal by the State of Texas followed. Oral argument in the Fifth Circuit on behalf of the Ray plaintiffs-appellees was presented by Kathleen Hartnett of the Washington, DC law firm, Spiva & Hartnett LLP. Campaign Legal Center Executive Director Gerald Hebert serves as co-counsel to the plaintiffs in the case.
Legal Center Blog Highlights
Each week, the Campaign Legal Center staff posts blog entries on its site, www.clcblog.org. Click to read this week's entries: "Why Subpoena Power Is Key to Real Ethics Reform," "Ensign's Electronic Filing Obstruction," or to sign up for the blog, click here.
To read a variety of this week's editorials and articles on a variety of Campaign Legal Center issues, including an Op-Ed by Meredith McGehee featured in Roll Call, please click here. |
