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Blog
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Welcome to the Holtzman Vogel Law Blog. We aim to keep you
up to date on important legal developments and other items of interest. On this
blog, we'll track developments in the news and changes to the rules and regulations
affecting political committees, corporate PACs, trade associations, non-profit groups
and advocacy organizations. We'll also keep you updated on the lobbying and ethics
arena. The Law Blog is designed to supplement our regular newsletter.
On behalf of the Holtzman Vogel team, I hope you find this site helpful and interesting.
And we hope you'll become a regular visitor. (If you'd like to receive our newsletter,
please click here to sign up.)
Jill Holtzman Vogel
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Monday, August 16, 2010
Connecticut Lawmakers Override Veto, Resuscitate Public Funding Law
The Hartford Courant reports "Overriding a veto by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the state House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill that safeguards the state's landmark program of public financing for political candidates. The 106-30 vote clears the way for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dannel Malloy to access to $6 million in public campaign funds. The Senate passed an override vote last week....Malloy hailed Friday's vote, which will help him compete against his wealthy Republican opponent, Tom Foley."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hartford Courant: Battle Over State's Campaign Finance Reform Law Moves To Federal Court
The Hartford Courant reports on the court challenge to Connecticut's campaign finance law, including a public funding provision.
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
NYT: Paterson Seeks Overhaul to Combat Corruption
The New York Times reports "Gov. David A. Paterson on Wednesday will unveil a set of sweeping proposals to rein in political corruption in state government, including vastly expanded ethics oversight, term limits for all state officeholders and a system of public campaign financing modeled on New York City’s, administration officials said on Monday. Under the proposed legislation, which Mr. Paterson will make a centerpiece of his State of the State address on Wednesday, New York would for the first time provide matching funds to candidates for state office, limit lobbyists to contributions no larger than $250 and ban corporate contributions entirely. The maximum contribution for any candidate for state office, including the governor, would fall to $1,000 from $55,900, and the limits would apply to candidates who opt out of public financing."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, January 04, 2010
New York Times Editors For Public Funding
In their first campaign finance-related editorial of 2010, the New York Times editors conflate fees paid to lobbyists with campaign contributions, and decide that public funding for both Presidential and Congressional campaigns is the answer. And it is up to President Obama: "He must repair the damage done by his unfortunate rejection last year of publicly subsidized election financing as an alternative to the temptations of the special-interest trough." So much for that "small donor revolution."
Click here to read the entire post.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Press Release: CCP files lawsuit challenging Wis. taxpayer financed judicial campaigns
The Center For Competitive Politics (CCP) is challenging Wisconsin's new law providing public funding for state Supreme Court justice elections. According to the group's press release, "Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed the 'Impartial Justice Act' (SB 40) earlier this month. The bill provides $300,000 in initial taxpayer funds to participating candidates with additional 'rescue funds' of up to $900,000 available based on the spending of non-participating candidates and independent groups. Federal judges in Arizona and Connecticut have ruled similar 'rescue funds' provisions unconstitutional under the U.S. Supreme Court's reasoning in Davis v. Federal Election Commission (2008)."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, November 16, 2009
USA Today Editorials on Campaign Contributions, Defense Earmarks, and Public Funding of Elections
USA Today has this editorial on the maybe/maybe not link between campaign contributions and defense earmarks, and says the solution to the problem is public funding of Congressional elections. Rep. Dan Lungren responds with this piece, and argues, "Don’t use taxpayer dollars to underwrite political campaigns."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Judge Upholds Finding that Democratically-Elected Arizona State Representative Must Forfeit Office Due To Campaign Finance Violations
The Arizona Republic reports "For the second time this year, a state authority has determined that Rep. Doug Quelland must forfeit his office over campaign-finance violations.
On Monday, a state administrative law judge upheld the May finding of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission that Quelland violated a number of campaign-finance laws, including using private funding while running under the state's public campaign-finance scheme, and failing to report a $15,000 contract with political consultant Larry Davis.
The penalty for these violations is removal from office and $30,500 in fines, judge Thomas Shedden concluded.
Quelland's attorney, Tim Casey, said the lawmaker will contest the decision in Maricopa County Superior Court. Until then, Quelland, who was out of town Monday, can continue to serve in the Legislature."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Sacramento Bee: Lobbyists sue to block campaign-finance ballot measure
The Sacramento Bee reports " California lobbyists have filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court to stop the vote on a ballot measure scheduled for the June primary election that would make them the guinea pig in an experiment on campaign finance.
The lobbyists say the measure to make them collectively pay approximately $34 million to fund California's statewide secretary of state campaigns in 2014 and 2018 unfairly restricts their free speech rights and restricts people's constitutional right to petition their government. . . . Authored by former Assemblywoman and current state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, the measure would hit lobbyists, lobbyist employers and lobbying firms for $700 each to help pay for the campaigns for two secretary of state races."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Public Campaign & Common Cause Memo on Citizens United
Reuters posts this "editorial memo" from representatives of Public Campaign and Common Cause, on the possible outcomes of the Citizens United case. The interest groups also discuss the policy response options, and conclude that public funding of campaigns is the best response.
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
More on the Connecticut Public Funding Decision
The Hartford Courant has this article ("Federal Judge Throws Out Connecticut's Landmark Campaign Finance Law") on the recent decision striking down Connecticut's public funding program. From the Courant: "Connecticut election officials reacted with sharp criticism and promised an all-out legal fight Friday after a federal judge threw out the state's landmark campaign finance law, saying it puts minor party office seekers at an unconstitutional disadvantage when they challenge traditionally better-financed major party candidates."
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Federal Court Strikes Down Connecticut's Public Financing Program
The federal district court in Connecticut has stuck down the state's public financing program on the grounds that it discriminates against minor party candidates. The full opinion in Green Party of Connecticut v. Garfiled (D.Conn. Aug. 27, 2009) is available here. The state has indicated it will appeal the decision.
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
New Blood in the "Reform" Ranks
Roll Call has an interesting piece on Daniel Weeks, the 26 year old leader of Americans for Campaign Reform. Roll Call refers to Mr. Weeks as "Fred Wertheimer 2.0."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Fmr. Senators Bob Kerrey and Warren Rudman: Free speech and our election laws
Former Senators Kerrey and Rudman (who now are are co-chairs of Americans for Campaign Reform) have this op-ed in the Boston Globe. They suggest that regulation and free speech need not be at odds when it comes to campaign finance, and argue that the Fair Elections Now Act (which would provides public funding for Congressional elections) is the answer to all our problems.
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, July 31, 2009
House Admin Committee Holds Public Financing Hearing
Yesterday, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing on a bill (HR 1826, the "Fair Elections Now Act") that would provide public financing for congressional campaigns. According to Roll Call, "Members debated the benefits and drawbacks of a national public financing option for Congressional campaigns on Thursday, with Republicans rejecting the idea and Democrats largely embracing it."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Washington Independent: Small Movement in Congress Eyes Campaign Finance Reform; Bill Would Provide Public Funds for Congressional Races
The Washington Independent has this article on the public funding proposal currently pending in Congress. According to the article, "despite a popular sense that money plays too great a role in the process — and despite a recent push from seasoned campaign finance reformers newly energized by the change in administrations — there appears to be little appetite in Washington this year to change how candidates are elected."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
CNN: Deep-pocketed donors want campaign finance reform
CNN reports that 58 Democrat donors, who have contributed $16 million between them, are delivering a letter today to all Democrat members of Congress demanding passage of the Fair Elections Now Act, which would provide public funding for Congressional races. We'll post the letter when it's been made public. It will be interesting to see if the 58 donors pledge to stop supporting those who don't support the public funding bill.
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
AP: Conn. campaign financing system faces budget ax
The AP reports "Connecticut's public campaign financing system, considered the nation's most far-reaching, may fall prey to budget cuts."
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Bloomberg: Proponents Count on Obama to Help Change Fundraising
From Bloomberg News: "Supporters of legislation to overhaul the way congressional campaigns are funded say President Barack Obama’s support and his fundraising prowess are crucial to their success."
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, April 03, 2009
von Spakovsky in Politico: Should taxpayers subsidize pols?
Hans von Spakovsky explains in a Politico op-ed an aspect of Sen. Durbin's Fair Elections Now Act that has not gotten much attention yet - how the program will be funded. As von Spakovsky notes, Congressional public funding wouldn't be paid for with voluntary tax return checkoff dollars.
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Politico: Campaign finance bill lacks ban
Contrary to previous reports, the "Fair Elections Now Act" does not include a ban on contributions from registered lobbyist. An interest group director, David Donnelly of the Public Campaign Action Fund, took the blame. Why the provision was ultimately omitted is unclear.
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Press Release: Durbin, Specter, Larson, Jones Introduce Bills to Reform Financing of Congressional Election
Senators Durbin and Specter, along with Representatives Larson and Jones, held a press conference yesterday to introduce their new version of the Fair Elections Now Act, which would provide public funding for congressional elections.
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Washington Times: McCain: Public financing is 'dead'
The Washington Times reports "Sen. John McCain, an architect of sweeping campaign-finance reform who got walloped by a presidential candidate armed with more than $750 million, predicts that no one will ever again accept federal matching funds to run for the nation's highest office."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sen. Durbin To Introduce "Fair Elections Now Act," Providing Public Funding For Congressional Elections
The Wall Street Journal reports that the legislation "would give congressional candidates the option of financing their campaigns partly through a public fund, in exchange for limiting their funding from corporate political-action committees."
Click here to read the entire post.
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