On June 14, the 9th circuit rejected an attempt to open up a loophole in campaign finance, concerning individuals who want to give more than the maximum donation permitted under federal law. The defendant in a criminal case was charged with arranging for his friends and associates to give campaign contributions to a particular federal candidate, at the maximum limit permitted. Then, the instigator of the idea promised to reimburse those friends and associates.

The 17-page decision is called USA v Pierce O’Donnell, 09-50296. The 9th circuit interpreted federal campaign restrictions to mean that the behavior is illegal. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. In this particular case, the defendant had caused the 2004 John Edwards for President campaign to be the beneficiary of $26,000, because the Defendant had arranged for 13 of his associates to each contribute $2,000 to that campaign.

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether to hear Republican National Committee v Federal Election Commission, at its June 24, 2010 conference. The Court will probably say on June 28 what it decided. Observers feel the Court is likely to hear the case.

The case challenges the parts of the McCain-Feingold law set limits on how national political parties may spend money.

On June 10, Dan Collins, Huffington Post editor for New York, predicted that Andrew Cuomo, who is certain to be this year’s Democratic nominee for Governor, will eventually relent and accept the gubernatorial nomination of the Working Families Party as well.

That news is at the very end of his article.