On May 8, A new Federal Election Commission opinion draft was issued concerning whether contributors to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein’s campaign may make new contributions to her, even if they had already given her the maximum amount allowed by law. The draft says that such contributors may give again. However, this only applies to contributions which either never went into Feinstein’s campaign bank account, or contributions which were deposited into Feinstein’s bank account and then removed again by the Treasurer.

As been reported previously, Feinstein’s campaign treasurer embezzled millions of dollars from Feinstein’s campaign account. The treasurer was also campaign treasurer for many other California Democrats, and funds intended for some candidates were frequently transferred to bank accounts for other campaigns, before being embezzled.

The draft represents a change in the original draft. The FEC is likely to approve the new draft at its May 10 meeting. Thanks to the Center for Competitive Politics for the link.

Here is a link to the Indiana presidential primary results.

On May 8, the Ohio legislature passed SB 295, which repeals the omnibus election law bill of 2011. This means (assuming the Governor signs the bill, and it is considered certain that he will) that the statutory petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties goes back to what it was in 2006 when it was held unconstitutional by the 6th circuit. That deadline is November of the odd year before the election in presidential years, and January of the election year in mid-term years.

It has now been over five years since the old deadline was held unconstitutional, and yet the Ohio legislature has not fixed the law. In the meantime, Ohio federal courts and the Ohio Secretary of State have been helpful in permitting five minor parties to appear on the ballot.

In contrast to Ohio, the Tennessee legislature last month passed a bill for an August petition deadline for newly-qualifying parties. The Tennessee legislature acted only two months after the old deadline was held unconstitutional.