RedistrictingThe Campaign Legal Center is active in promoting state and federal reform of the redistricting process. It has done so by sponsoring conferences on this subject with other public interest groups and has issued a report on redistricting reform principles titled, "The Shape of Representative Democracy." von Spakovsky Gets It Wrong…Yet Again Hans von Spakovsky is telling anyone who will listen that the Indiana voter ID case was a complete vindication of his approval of a Georgia voter ID bill while at the Justice Department. Misleading and factually inaccurate statements like this are what have undermined his chances of confirmation from the outset. CLC Blog Update: Cases of Interest It is a busy time in campaign finance and election law, with a growing number of cases on court dockets around the country, particularly those challenging existing campaign finance laws. With all the new developments, it seemed a particularly good time to update our “Cases of Interest,” providing a brief summary of pertinent cases and the Campaign Legal Center’s involvement. Break Provides No Breakthrough on FEC Standoff The Easter recess has come and gone and the Federal Election Commission is still held hostage by President Bush and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The two have presented Senators with a Hobson’s choice — either vote for an individual who is wholly unworthy of Senate confirmation, or refuse to let this nomination go through and thus allow the commission charged with enforcing federal campaign laws to be brought to a halt during an election year. 50% Rule Gets Its Day in the High Court A redistricting case out of North Carolina accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court today could have a significant impact not only on voting rights law, but also on drawing districts (congressional, legislative, and local government) nationwide. The Court granted a petition for certiorari in Bartlett v. Strickland, which is likely to have a significant effect on the post-2010 round of redistricting. Super Tuesday was a Super Mess in New Mexico on Tuesday Caucus voting. In numerous polling places all across the nation on Super Tuesday, Americans faced hurdles of varying sizes as they went to cast their votes. Campaign Legal Center Policy Director Meredith McGehee’s mother Jackie relates her experience in New Mexico that offers a glimpse of her own perseverance as well a snapshot of the Election Day tribulations that have contributed to steadily falling voter turnout. Is DOJ Still Steeped in Politics? Some of the details by some in the Bush Administration to politicize the Justice Department’s law enforcement efforts are now well known, thanks in large measure to Senate and House Judiciary hearings held last year. Those hearings should continue in the year ahead for a couple of reasons. von Spakovsky Nomination Should be Withdrawn Too often the FEC is hamstrung by the partisan make-up of the Commission, but even a weak enforcement entity is far better than no enforcement entity at all. The current impasse must be resolved, especially given the fact that it is an election year. At this juncture, the ball is in President Bush’s court. FEC Impasse Continues Yesterday, the Senate left town without voting on the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to a six-year term on the Federal Election Commission. With the Senate set to adjourn the first session of the 110th Congress, Hans von Spakovsky’s recess appointment to the FEC will expire. Von Spakovsky Should Not Be Confirmed Doomsday scenarios of an unregulated 2008 election are being threatened in an attempt to force through the confirmation of a FEC nominee, Hans von Spakovsky, who is deeply embroiled in the scandals over the politicization of DOJ. There are a variety of ways to resolve the current impasse over the nominee whose case for confirmation cannot stand on the merits. Chorus Against von Spakovsky Continues to Grow A growing list of organizations continues to weigh in against the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the FEC for his partisan abuse of his office while serving at DOJ. At the same time, the politicization of DOJ remains very much in the news. |
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