Author Archives: Dan Tokaji

The opinion in Judicial Watch v. FHFA is here.

The WaPo, Slate, and Boston Globe have stories on the revelation that former Bain Capital executive Ed Conard is the man behind the $1 million contribution to the pro-Romney SuperPAC that was made in the name of W Spann LLC.   There are responses from Democracy 21 and Campaign Legal Center, who filed a complaint with the FEC yesterday on the matter.  On a related but lighter note, Steven Hayward has this post on the initial version of D21′s press release yesterday.

Politico reports here that the person responsible for the $1 million donation to the pro-Romney SuperPAC in the name of W Spann LLC is … [drumroll please]

Ed Conard, a former Bain Capital official with long ties to Romney.  

Well, that seems kinda anticlimactic.

Democracy 21 and Campaign Legal Center have filed an FEC complaint against mystery donor W Spann LLC and the Doe(s) behind it. Democracy 21′s press release is here and CLC’s here.

Open Secrets asks and answers the question here.

At SCOTUSblog, Adam Winkler has this post on potentially game-ending questions, in Citizens United and the Affordable Care Act litigation.

Still more on this story, from Michael Isikoff on MSNBC, National Journal, NPR, and WaPo, plus commentary from Alexandra Petri, Brad Smith, Ben Smith, and David Weigel.

This editorial urges President Obama to issue an executive order on the subject.

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy has this commentary on Roll Call.

Politico’s Josh Gerstein reports here on the guilty plea by L.A. Attorney Pierce O’Donnell, which follows the Ninth Circuit’s reinstatement of charges last year (unrelated to the indictment against Edwards for using donor money to cover up his affair and out-of-wedlock child).

“If Attorney General Biden doesn’t act soon, Delaware is likely to turn into the Cayman Islands of political fundraising,”

     – David Donnelly, Public Campaign Action Fund, asking for investigation into $1 million mystery contribution to pro-Romney superPAC

The Center for Governmental Studies has released this report.  From today’s press release announcing it: 

The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) today released a new report and model law recommending that California adopt a comprehensive new approach to the way state candidates raise funds to conduct their campaigns. Public Campaign Financing in California: A Model Law for 21st Century Reform, urges replacing larger, private campaign contributors with small campaign donors and public campaign financing….

The proposed California Campaign Reform Act aims to (1) reduce the negative influence of large contributions on candidates, officeholders and public policy; (2) free candidates and office holders from the time pressures of fundraising; (3) increase the time they devote to discussing urgent issues; (4) increase citizen participation in the electoral process; and (5) encourage new candidates to run for office.

From The Caucus.

Update:  Fred Wertheimer comments here.

Update 2:  Still more, from TPM.

The HLS Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation has this post from Lucian Bebchuk and Robert J. Jackson, Jr., based upon an SEC rulemaking petition from them and eight other prominent corporate and securities law professors.

An interesting state/local relations issue, arising from Pitkin County’s campaign finance rules, which include a $500 contribution limit.

Michael Isikoff has this report on MSNBC.com.  “Mysterious, very mysterious,” as the Backyardigans might say (sorry, but this is what happens to your pop culture references when you have a two-year old).

The WaPo reports here.

The NYT has this report.

Eric Wang has this this op-ed on the UK’s campaign finance system in today’s Washington Times.