Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The United States Supreme Court, in Barr v. American Assn. of Political Consultants, upheld most of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, which banned most robocalls.  Political consultants and others challenged the law…

Latest Developments: The President of the United States announced his intention to nominate Allen Dickerson to the Federal Election Commission.  The Wall Street Journal has background information about Mr. Dickerson. The United States Department of Justice issued a release detailing the arrest of “four…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission is losing its quorum, again.  Commissioner Caroline Hunter tendered her resignation to the President, effective July 3, 2020.  Politico reports that she will join the legal team of a nonprofit that works on criminal…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission met for the first time in 9 months, with a quorum as a result of the recent appointment of Trey Trainor to the Commission.  The Commission elected Mr. Trainor as its…

Latest Developments: James E. Trainor III was formally sworn in as a member of the Federal Election Commission, according to an announcement by the Commission.  The Commission now has a quorum.  The Commission’s first public meeting is scheduled for June…

Latest Developments:   The United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in Deon v. Barasch, struck down Pennsylvania’s broad ban on campaign contributions from the gaming industry.  The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports that the court found that the “state’s prohibition…

Latest Developments: The Internal Revenue Service published final amended regulations that revise rules governing when a nonprofit organization must disclose its donors on Schedule B.  The Hill explains that “only charities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the code…

Latest Developments The United State Senate confirmed James E. Trainor III “to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023.”  Politico points out that the action restores a quorum of the Commission after…

Latest Developments The Missouri Legislature approved Senate Joint Resolution 38, which places a measure on the November ballot to reduce legislative contribution limits by $100 and eliminate inflation adjustments, revise the method of redistricting the legislature, and ban gifts from…

Latest Developments The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants, which questions whether a federal law that prohibits robocalls to cellphones violates the First Amendment.  SCOTUSblog’s analysis indicates that “most justices appeared…