Making Decisions on Corporate Campaign Expenditures
Thomas J. Spulak
The Nation has just witnessed one of the most expensive election campaigns - with over $6 billion spent by candidates, political parties and committees. Whether all of that money made a difference remains to be seen. More »
What’s in Store in Congress on Campaign Finance Reform?
Lauren M. Donoghue
As mentioned in the previous article, having just gone through the most expensive election in U.S. history, $6 billion spent, what action can we expect Congress to take on this issue in the coming session? According to an Associated Press poll released in 2012, 83 percent of Americans believe that there should be at least some limits on the political expenditures corporations and unions can make. More »
DC Circuit Reversed Van Hollen. Players Changed Tactics to Avoid Disclosure. Did It Matter in 2012?
Claudia A. Hrvatin
On September 18, 2012, in Van Hollen v. Federal Election Commission,1 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a March 30th ruling of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that required organizations making electioneering communications to disclose their donors. More »
Capitol Hill Recruiting - ‘Tis the Season!
J.C. Boggs
The 2012 elections are now over, the holidays have come and gone, Congress and the White House have negotiated on the fiscal cliff (for the time being). Amidst all this, some Members and staff are more focused on negotiating their own future and finding employment in 2013. More »
Grassroots Lobbying Laws - A Growing Trend
Nikki Reeves, Terrence Burek
People do not often associate the terms “lobbying” and “lobbyist” with actions such as posting a flyer, circulating a petition, or taking out a newspaper advertisement. In as many as thirty-six states1, however, these types of activities (often referred to as “grassroots lobbying” or indirect lobbying) could potentially subject an individual or a business to lobbying registration and reporting requirements. More »
Goldman Sachs Pays First-Of-Its-Kind Settlement to Close Pay to Play Action with the SEC
Grant Nichols
On September 27, 2012, Goldman Sachs agreed to pay $12 million to settle claims with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) alleging that one of its employees engaged in a pay-to-play scheme. More »
Breakdown of New FCPA Guidance
On November 14, the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) released their much-anticipated Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) guidance, entitled, “A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” (“the Guide”). More »
New Cycle; New Contribution Limits?
Claudia A. Hrvatin
On December 17, the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") posted a new "Timely Tip" reminding PAC treasurers that certain limits on contributions, such as those for individuals to candidates, are adjusted every odd-numbered year in accordance with the consumer price index ("CPI"). More »
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