Five items, each of which may be of interest to someone here.
- An anonymous Republican Senator has put a secret hold on the Senate electronic disclosure bill, just like Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Stuck Tubes) did to try to thwart passage of the Coburn-Obama earmark reform. Sen. Feingold and Sen. Feinstein are pissed. If you can, call a Republican Senator, ask his/her office if they're responsible for the hold, and demand that the bill be released and voted on. Let us know if you hear anything.
The Senate Rules Committee held a hearing this morning on one of Markos' favorite causes -- removing the ban on party coordinated expenditures on general election candidates. As you may recall, federal candidates right now have no legal way to force party organizations like the DCCC or RSCC to pull objectionable ads ostensibly run on their behalves, even when the candidate believes the ad goes way off-message. Allowing explicit coordination may force such ads to be more responsible, and eliminate a barrier than has little reason for being, but there's also some potential costs. Bob Bauer explains what's at stake.
Among those with some concern are the CFI's Michael Malbin, who notes such a move "would give party leaders the power to bankroll a favored candidate not only in an open seat primary but also in a primary against a sitting member who was becoming too 'independent'.... The leaders have already become more powerful. Do you really want to take it this far?"
- A clean elections bill is moving forward in Iowa, and New Jersey has selected three legislative districts for a public financing pilot program. Speaking of which, did you check the box to make a three-dollar contribution to the presidential public financing system when filing your tax returns? According to USA Today, probably not.
- Remember when I asked you to help me think through some issues dealing with the future of campaign communications? Well, folks interested in my take on the upcoming FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life argument before the Supreme Court, dealing with electioneering communications by corporations and labor groups, can watch this ACS panel discussion from last week or read these prepared remarks.
- Most obscure of all, but worth noting: the FEC will be ruling tomorrow on an advisory opinion request regarding online fundraising -- if a site like ActBlue were to charge contributors a "convenience fee" for the credit card processing costs, does that fee function as an in-kind contribution to the candidate who benefits from the payment? Paul Ryan explains from the reform community's perspective. Isn't being a lawyer groovy?