Category: Newsletters

  • Federal judge upholds Santa Fe donor disclosure law

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    On Jan. 29, Judge Judith Herrera, of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, upheld a Santa Fe city ordinance requiring entities spending $250 or more to advocate for or against ballot propositions to disclose their donors. Who are the parties to the suit? The plaintiff is the Rio Grande Foundation (RGF),…

  • Florida lawmakers consider changes to public-sector union membership and dues processes

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    Florida lawmakers are considering legislation (H0001) that would, if enacted, change how public-sector employees join, resign from, and pay membership dues to unions. What does the bill propose? The bill would make the following changes: Requires employees who wish to join a union to sign a membership authorization form. The form must include an acknowledgment…

  • 41 pledged delegates at stake in Democratic Iowa caucuses

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    February 3, 2020: The Iowa caucuses take place on Monday, where there are 41 pledged delegates at stake for Democrats. The Democratic National Committee released its criteria for the Feb. 19 presidential primary debate in Las Vegas, Nevada.         Which of the following Democrats won the narrowest Iowa caucus victory in party history? Hillary Clinton…

  • Dems and surrogates make final campaign stops in Iowa

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    January 31, 2020: Democratic presidential campaigns set events with candidates and surrogates across Iowa. John Delaney ended his presidential campaign.         Each Friday, we highlight a presidential candidate’s key campaign staffer. Brigit Helgen is a Democratic staffer with experience in political communications. She graduated from Harvard University in 2008. Helgen previously worked as Klobuchar’s chief of staff.…

  • Pence campaigns in Iowa for Trump

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    January 30, 2020: Mike Pence is campaigning in Iowa on behalf of Donald Trump. TIME profiled Joe Biden for its Feb. 10 cover story.         State Spotlight Notable Quote of the Day “Everybody’s playing nice up until Iowa because they want to stay everyone’s second choice.” – Mike Nellis, Democratic consultant Democrats Michael Bennet discussed the…

  • Three states consider bills barring public agencies from requiring donor information from 501(c)s

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    Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee are considering legislation that would bar public agencies from requiring 501(c) nonprofit entities to provide them with personal information about their donors. The bills share identical definitions of “public agencies” and “personal information.” They also assign the same penalties for noncompliance. “Public agency” definition: any state or local governmental entity. “Personal…

  • Heart of the Primaries 2020, Republicans-Issue 3 (January 29, 2020)

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    This week: Two Van Drew challengers withdraw in NJ-02, six candidates now running in open GA-14 primary, and Club for Growth PAC endorses challenger in TX-12. On the news Where do Republican and conservative pundits and commentators disagree? Each week, we bring you excerpts that highlight differing views. “As for the ‘vulnerable’ Republicans, they need…

  • Heart of the Primaries 2020, Democrats-Issue 3 (January 29, 2020)

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    This week: We preview the MD-07 special primary on Feb. 4, Texas AFL-CIO backs Cisneros in TX-28, and several House progressives say they will pay DCCC dues On the news Where do Democratic and progressive pundits and commentators disagree? Each week, we bring you excerpts that highlight differing views. “In the months leading up to…

  • Biden and Sanders hit with negative ads in Iowa

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    January 29, 2020: Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are the subject of two new negative ad campaigns in Iowa. Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on Tuesday night.         Notable Quote of the Day “But even setting aside that there are more competitive candidates in Iowa this year than ever before,…

  • Buttigieg, Steyer, Warren air new Iowa ads

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    January 28, 2020: Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, and Elizabeth Warren are airing new ads in Iowa. Michael Bloomberg became the first 2020 presidential candidate to visit all 14 Super Tuesday states.         Notable Quote of the Day “Political experts in the state told me that the vast majority of New Hampshire’s undeclared voters aren’t really…