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Campaign Finance: Full Disclosure (Editorial)

July 20, 2011
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Creators Syndicate

Tougher campaign finance disclosure rules may soon be coming in the wake of a misguided U.S. Supreme Court decision that gutted key elements of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

The House is considering this week a bill that would force interest groups to tell the public who their top donors are when they run broadcast ads or send out mailings prior to elections. The bill also would ban campaign ads by government contractors, some subsidiaries of foreign companies and the banks that haven't repaid their bailout money to the government.

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Judge upholds new Iowa campaign disclosure rules

July 1, 2011
Associated Press

By Ryan J. Foley

A federal judge has upheld key parts of a new Iowa law requiring corporations and unions to disclose spending for or against political candidates, saying the rules increase transparency while protecting the right to free speech.

U.S. District Chief Judge Robert Pratt in Des Moines issued a written decision Wednesday rejecting arguments by Iowa Right to Life, which claimed the disclosure requirements were overly burdensome and chilled its ability to support candidates who share its opposition to abortion.

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Supreme Court's continuing defense of the powerful

July 1, 2011
Chicago Tribune

By E.J. Dionne

The U.S. Supreme Court now sees its central task as comforting the already comfortable and afflicting those already afflicted.

If you are a large corporation or a political candidate backed by lots of private money, be assured that the court's conservative majority will be there for you, solicitous of your needs and ready to swat away those pesky little people who dare to contest your power.

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I.R.S. Drops Audits of Political Donors

July 7, 2011
New York Times

 By Stephanie Strom

The Internal Revenue Service on Thursday abandoned its effort to force five big-ticket donors to pay gift taxes on contributions they made to nonprofit advocacy groups that are playing an increasing role in American politics.

“Until further notice, examination resources should not be expended on this issue,” Steven T. Miller, deputy commissioner for services and enforcement, wrote in a memo posted on the I.R.S. Web site.

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No Middle Ground

June 27, 201
New York Times

By Heather K. Gerken

What is it about campaign finance that brings out such hard-edged opinions from the justices? Today’s decision was as noteworthy for its rhetorical fireworks as for its substance. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan accused each other of ignoring the facts, ignoring the doctrine, even misunderstanding basic rules of logic. Neither left a single argument from the other unanswered.

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Special Report: A little house of secrets on the Great Plains

June 28, 2011
Reuters via Yahoo News

By Kelly Carr and Brian Grow

 

The secretive business havens of Cyprus and the Cayman Islands face a potent rival: Cheyenne, Wyoming.

At a single address in this sleepy city of 60,000 people, more than 2,000 companies are registered. The building, 2710 Thomes Avenue, isn't a shimmering skyscraper filled with A-list corporations. It's a 1,700-square-foot brick house with a manicured lawn, a few blocks from the State Capitol.

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Corporate spending and the risks of anonymous hate speech

Corporate spending and the risks of anonymous hate speech

What are the consequences of corporate speech? An ad running in a California congressional race may show the unintended results of a recent Supreme Court ruling.View the ad here. 



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Court ruling allows tools to hinder tax reform

April 13, 2011
Washington Times

By Seth McLaughlin

In a world where corporations and unions have growing influence over political races - thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last year - some lawmakers and fiscal hawks worry that the lack of restraints on these groups could cripple efforts to revamp the nation's tax system.

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Federal judge strikes down ban on corporate giving to candidates

May 27, 2011
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

By Aaron Gould Sheinin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A ruling by a federal judge in Virginia makes it legal for corporations to contribute directly to candidates for federal office in a case likely to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris’ ruling, which does not immediately apply to Georgia, grants corporations the same rights as individuals to give directly to candidates.

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