Entries from October 2008

October 30, 2008

The Page: Where They Are Thursday

Obama: Sarasota, FL; Virginia Beach, VA, Columbia, MO
Biden: Arnold, MO; Williamsport, Allentown, PA;
McCain: Defiance, Sandusky, Elyria, Mentor, OH
Palin: Cape Girardeau, MO; Erie, Williamsport, PA

October 30, 2008

The Hill: Dems spend big to beat GOP Senate leader

Senate Democrats, seeking retribution for the defeat four years ago of former leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), have poured $2 million into ousting Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).
New data made available by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) also show that Democrats have made Sens. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) two of their top [...]

October 30, 2008

Last-Minute Get-Out-the-Vote Activity by Party Committees

Party committees conducting GOTV activity now should be aware that such activity is considered to be federal election activity (FEA) under the Act. As such, it must be paid for with federal funds or with an allocation between federal and Levin (or Levin-eligible) funds. Engaging in reportable FEA will trigger monthly filing requirements for the [...]

October 30, 2008

Federal Election Commission Advisory Opinion Requests Update

The following Advisory Opinion Request (AOR) is now available:

2008-16 (Libertarian Party of Colorado), http://saos.nictusa.com/aodocs/1005510.pdf

October 30, 2008

Legal Times: Just How Much Campaign Money Comes from Washington, Anyway?

A new report testifies to the generosity of Washington, D.C., and its suburbs—when it comes to members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
MAPLight.org, which analyzes money in politics, has released a report on three years of fundraising by House members. The report breaks down contributions by geographic area, including which ZIP codes gave the most. [...]

October 30, 2008

Legal Times: Livingston Group Gets Former Clinton Adviser

Mark Lindsay, a former senior White House adviser to Bill Clinton, has joined The Livingston Group as a consultant specializing in health care and pharmaceuticals, international relations and business development, and financial services and tax.
Most recently, Lindsay served on the Minnesota finance committee for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. He also previously held a number [...]

October 30, 2008

Legal Times: Wiley Rein Sues Former Client for Failing to Pay Bills

Wiley Rein filed a $450,000 suit against its former client SCC Acquisitions after SCC allegedly failed to pay for work the firm provided.
Thomas Kirby, a partner at the firm handling the lawsuit, says the real estate development company, which does business as SunCal Companies and is based in Irvine, Calif., retained Wiley Rein about six [...]

October 30, 2008

TBO.com: Judge blocks Fla. ‘electioneering’ law

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked enforcement of a Florida law requiring groups to register with the state if they merely mention political issues or candidates in publications or other communications.
U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle, in granting the preliminary injunction, wrote that “no court has ever upheld such a sweeping regulation of political speech.”
The [...]

October 30, 2008

St. Pete Times: Election revolt over provisional ballots

After Florida’s 2000 election debacle, Congress thought it had found a way to avoid turning away voters whose qualifications were in question: allow them to cast a provisional ballot.
But a record voter turnout this year, plus a new voter verification law, could lead to the casting of thousands of provisional ballots Tuesday.
In any close races, [...]

October 30, 2008

Orlando Sentinel: Lobbyist agrees to refund $20,000

Tallahassee lobbyist Michael Dobson has agreed to pay back $20,000 to a client who hired him to win legislative passage of a new license plate last spring.
Dobson is registered to lobby the Florida Legislature for 10 clients, including the Capitol City Chamber of Commerce and several bio-fuel and renewable energy groups, including the Florida Renewable [...]