Analysis
Six numbers that demonstrate how the FEC is MIA
Today marks the start of the seventh month since the Federal Election Commission (FEC) lost its ability to do its job due to the resignation of one commissioner in August.…
Analysis
America First Policies, the nonprofit run by former Trump staffers and dedicated to supporting the president’s policies, has attracted a lot of news coverage over the past few weeks, between its avid participation in the Georgia special election and its ads targeting Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) for not supporting the Senate health care bill.
But even veteran reporters have been stumbling over terminology and erroneously calling the group a super PAC. It’s a 501(c)(4) “dark money” organization that, unlike a super PAC, does not have to disclose its donors.
The mistake is understandable — political advocacy and communication laws are rather tricky — but the distinction between super PACs and 501(c)(4)s is important to know. This mistake is sure to happen more frequently, especially because both types of group are becoming larger and larger players with each election, and their activities are often intertwined. Here’s our quick guide to parsing the difference.
Issue: Dark Money & Super PACs
Analysis
Today marks the start of the seventh month since the Federal Election Commission (FEC) lost its ability to do its job due to the resignation of one commissioner in August.…
Analysis
Media reports draw attention to coordination issues with super PACs, outside groups in 2020 races...
Outside groups, like super PACs and dark money organizations, frequently skirt anti-coordination rules designed to prevent wealthy donors and special interests from garnering undue influence in our elections. Issue One…
Analysis
Even as the loss of a quorum prevents the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from performing most of its duties, the agency continues to make the campaign finance reports filed by…