Florida Libertarian Party Files Financial Report with Wrong Office, Gets a Fine of $70,000

Posted on by January 24, 2013
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The Florida Secretary of State has fined the Florida Libertarian Party $70,000 because the party’s financial report was a week late. The party treasurer filed the report on time, but he filed it with the Federal Election Commission instead of the Florida Elections office. The party is appealing the fine. An administrative hearing is being held February 20. The party is being assisted in this matter by an attorney.

A previous blog post here mentioned the Florida Green Party’s fine of $10,000. Also the Florida Secretary of State has cancelled the Objectivist Party’s ballot status because that party failed to keep the Secretary of State advised of the names of its current officers. And the Florida Secretary of State is threatening the Justice Party and Americans Elect because their financial reports still haven’t been filed. Thanks to Jim Riley for the news about the Libertarian Party.

Republican National Chair Wants Fewer Presidential Primary Debates, Shorter Primary Season

Posted on by January 24, 2013
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This CNN interview with Reince Priebus says that the Republican Party’s national chair wants fewer presidential primary debates in 2016, at least for Republicans. Also Priebus says he would like the presidential primaries to start later in the year, and finish up sooner. But he doesn’t indicate that he is doing anything to achieve these goals. Presidential primary dates are almost entirely set by state legislatures. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.

Missouri House Passes Bill for Special Elections When Statewide Executive Positions Become Vacant

Posted on by January 24, 2013
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On January 23, the Missouri House passed HB 110 by a vote of 115-45. It says when one of the statewide state executive positions becomes vacant, there will be a special election. Under current law, these posts are filled by appointment when they are vacant. See this story. In case the Lieutenant Governor is elected to Congress in a special election this coming June, there will be a special election to fill his job in November 2014. Without this bill, the office would next be voted on in 2016.

U.S. Supreme Court Sets Conference Date for Two Campaign Finance Cases

Posted on by January 24, 2013
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The U.S. Supreme Court will consider on Friday, February 15, whether to hear either one or two campaign finance cases. One is Danielczyk v U.S., 12-579, which challenges the federal law that makes it a criminal offense for a corporation to make any campaign contribution to a federal candidate. The other is McCutcheon v Federal Election Commission, 12-536, which challenges a federal law that say that an individual who wishes to make campaign contributions to many federal candidates cannot give all such candidates a total that is greater than $46,200 in any two-year period. The plaintiff who wishes to give more than $46,200 is Shaun McCutcheon, a resident of Alabama who wishes to contribute to many Republican congressional candidates. Another plaintiff in his case is the Republican National Committee. The lower courts upheld the challenged federal campaign laws.

Hearing Set in Illinois Green Party’s Ballot Access Case

Posted on by January 24, 2013
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A U.S. District Court in Chicago will hear Jones v McGuffage on Wednesday, January 30, at 1:30 p.m. This is the case filed by the Green Party to overturn the requirement that the party collect 15,682 valid signatures by February 2 if it wishes to run in the special April 2013 election for U.S. House, 2nd district. The case was filed on December 17, 2012, and is 1:12-cv-9997.