Legal Center Press Releases

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Jun 29, 2009 -- Citizens United Deferral Raises Troubling Possibilities: Statement of Trevor Potter, Campaign Legal Center President

The Supreme Court's decision to ask for argument on whether to overrule Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and related portions of McConnell v. FEC is deeply troubling. There is no reason for the Supreme Court to alter over 100 years of federal policy restricting corporate campaign finance activity in federal elections. Corporations have special legal benefits which enable them to collect vast amounts of money for non-political purposes. They are not voters. In these circumstances, there is no reason to allow them to spend their vast commercial funds in elections.

Jun 24, 2009 -- Redistricting Reform Bill Tackles Systemic Abuse: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

The way most states draw congressional districts must change if we are to break the partisan gridlock in Washington. Representatives John Tanner (D-TN) and Mike Castle (R-DE) and Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) are to be commended for moving the ball forward on reforming this process with the introduction of the Fairness And Independence in Redistricting (FAIR) Act.

Jun 22, 2009 -- Test Case Falls Short of Toppling Voting Rights Act: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

Today the Supreme Court in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One ("NAMUDNO") v. Holder, rightly recognized the historic accomplishments of the Voting Rights Act and declined to rule on NAMUDNO's challenge to the constitutionality of the law. The Court instead ruled on narrower statutory grounds: its decision granted all political subdivisions the right to apply for bailout from the requirements of Section 5.

Jun 8, 2009 -- A Victory for Judicial Integrity from High Court: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

May 1, 2009 -- President Obama's FEC Pick is Not the "Change We Need": Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

The nomination of John Sullivan by President Obama to a seat on the FEC is cause for concern. Mr. John Sullivan's only known statements on campaign finance issues have been made to the FEC on behalf of the union that employs him.

Apr 28, 2009 -- Reformers File in Challenge to Election Ad Disclosure Laws

Today, the Campaign Legal Center, with Democracy 21, filed an amici brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Koerber and Committee for Truth in Politics (CTP) v. FEC. The Koerber case, brought by attorney Jim Bopp, seeks to overturn existing disclosure requirements for election advertisements and to undermine the FEC's enforcement of the regulations governing political committees.

Apr 15, 2009 -- Attorney General Urged to Remove Supervisors Who Handled Sen. Stevens' Prosecution

Today the Campaign Legal Center wrote to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to safeguard ongoing public corruption investigations and prosecutions by placing the supervisors who oversaw the prosecution of Senator Ted Stevens on administrative leave or by reassigning them temporarily.

Apr 1, 2009 -- DOJ Motion to Dismiss Sen. Stevens Indictment: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement yesterday that, after reviewing the record and based on the totality of circumstances, he was going to seek dismissal of the original indictment against convicted former Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) raises serious questions and concerns. The motion filed by the Government in the case today and other allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in the case are gravely serious and must be fully addressed. But the outright dismissal of an indictment rather than agreeing to a new trial is such an extreme measure that it warrants additional explanation. What is it about the information that now justifies outright dismissal of the indictment with prejudice?

Mar 26, 2009 -- SCOTUS Voting Rights Case: Former Republican Officeholders and Bailed Out Jurisdictions File Briefs in Defense of Voting Rights Act

On March 25, 2009, attorneys from the Campaign Legal Center filed an amici brief with the United States Supreme Court in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, a challenge to the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act. The amici included former Republican Members of Congress, Governors, a U.S. Attorney General and a presidential nominee of the Party.

Mar 19, 2009 -- A Legal Analysis of Senate Electronic Filing Bill (S. 482) and Poison Pill Amendment

The Campaign Legal Center has created a Legal Analysis of the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act (S. 482) and an anticipated hostile amendment that has been utilized by opponents to derail previous versions of this Senate electronic filing legislation.

Mar 16, 2009 -- CREW and Campaign Legal Center Ask Justice Dept. to Investigate Chamber of Commerce

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) wrote to the Department of Justice today asking for an investigation into whether the Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) and its president, Tom Donohue engaged in criminal violations of campaign finance law.

Mar 12, 2009 -- Minority Voter Registration Problems Outlined to Senate Rules Committee

The Campaign Legal Center submitted a letter today at the request of the Senate Rules Committee following the March 12th hearing concerning voter registration problems during the 2008 election cycle. The letter outlines the case against Waller County, Texas for violations of the Voting Rights Act in order to suppress voter registration efforts by students of historically black Prairie View A&M University. The Campaign Legal Center represented Prairie View students in the matter.

Mar 12, 2009 -- Reformers File in EMILY's List Contribution Limit Evasion Case

Today, the Campaign Legal Center, with Democracy 21, filed an amici brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to defend key FEC regulations that aim to prevent federal political committees from spending "soft money" (i.e., funds not in compliance with federal law contribution restrictions) to influence federal elections.

Mar 9, 2009 -- BCRA Sponsors File in RNC Challenge to "Soft Money" Ban

Today the original cosponsors of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) and former Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), filed an amici brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in RNC v. FEC, the latest challenge to the law's "soft money" restrictions.

Mar 9, 2009 -- Supreme Court Redistricting Decision in Bartlett v. Strickland: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

The decision is disappointing and seems to open the door to still more packing of minority voters into fewer districts so as to minimize the number of political races their votes will impact and thus diluting their political voice. It remains to be seen how this decision will influence the next round of redistricting and we will hope for the best. But it seems highly unlikely that this decision will not be harnessed for political gain at the expense of minority voters when district lines are redrawn following the 2010 census.

Mar 2, 2009 -- Legal Analysis of the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act

The Campaign Legal Center has reviewed S. 49, the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act. S. 49 seeks to strengthen federal public corruption laws by closing loopholes in the federal bribery and illegal gratuities statute and by providing federal prosecutors with additional resources to combat official misconduct. We conclude that this legislation would be an important tool in holding public officials accountable for abuses of public office.

Feb 26, 2009 -- Fairness Doctrine Amendment to DC Voting Rights Act Bill: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

The Fairness Doctrine was never on the table except in the minds of talk radio hosts and those seeking their favor on Capitol Hill. Today's use of the Fairness Doctrine by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) in an offered amendment to the DC Voting Right Act bill was nothing more than a Trojan horse.

Feb 18, 2009 -- Dragging the Census into the White House: Statement of Meredith McGehee, Campaign Legal Center Policy Director

The announcement that the White House intends to take a direct role in overseeing the 2010 census is disturbing. At a minimum, it gives the appearance of politicizing a key pillar of our representative democracy - a fair and impartial counting of all Americans, as required by the Constitution.

Feb 12, 2009 -- Reform Groups Concerned about FEC Priorities

Today reform groups sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission criticizing the agency for its misguided rulemaking priorities. The letter also expressed disappointment at the lack of enforcement on the part of Commissioners McGahn, Hunter and Petersen. The letter was sent by Democracy 21, the Campaign Legal Center, the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of the United States, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG.

Feb 10, 2009 -- Charging Baseball Players but Not DOJ Officials for False Testimony to Congress: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

Today's charge against major league baseball star Miguel Tejada speaks volumes about the skewed law enforcement priorities within the Justice Department.

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