"Regulators propose rules to prevent illegal coordination"

Wonderful to speak with Judy Lin of the AP for this one.

Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson said the state's proposal might simply push more of the fundraising to candidates and parties.

"California is trying to come out in front of this issue and, frankly, severely restrict the number of IEs that will be considered independent," Levinson said. "Increasingly it's a question of how and where do you want the money to flow, not whether it's going to flow."

"New FPPC chair takes low-profile approach"

Great to talk with Laurel Rosenhall of the Sacramento Bee for this piece. 

“Being a State Bar judge is a lower-profile, more insular position – you’re one of a number of people as opposed to the person leading a state agency. None of which is to say that she lacks the proper credentials. She was still in the business of regulating bad behavior,” said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School who sits on the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

Ravel raised the profile of the FPPC, Levinson said, by taking on well-known lobbyists and political operations.

“Every chair has their own style, and I don’t think Chair Remke is as interested in being high profile.”

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article4956267.html#storylink=cpy

"Schools officials face political penalties"

News from Riverside, CA. 

Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, who is vice president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, said the reporting regulations are complicated. However, she said, the information is important for the public to hold officials accountable. 

CA News: "State Sen. Tom Berryhill fined in political money laundering case"

Quoted in this article in the Los Angeles Times. 

“To the extent you circumvent campaign finance laws and you do it knowingly, this is serious,” said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who specializes in government ethics. “It looks like there was an intentional setup to flaunt the law.”

Berryhill becomes the fourth senator in recent months to be accused of misconduct, although unlike the other three, he does not face criminal charges.

Last month, the Senate suspended Democratic Sens. Ronald S. Calderon of Montebello, Leland Yee of San Francisco and Roderick Wright of the Inglewood area after they were hit with criminal charges. Wright was found guilty of lying about living in his Senate district, while Calderon and Yee have been indicted by federal authorities in separate cases for offering legislative favors for money.

Having a fourth case of misconduct reflects poorly on the Senate, Levinson said, although she does not think Berryhill's actions rise to the level of the criminal allegations against Yee and Calderon.

The scheme by Tom Berryhill disguised the true source of the money received by Bill Berryhill’s campaign and allowed Sen. Berryhill to circumvent the $3,600 contribution limit to a legislative candidate.

Two groups that used secret political donations haven't paid penalties

Quoted in this piece in the LA Times. 

One of those groups, the Small Business Action Committee, disputes its $11-million penalty and had only $11,260.74 in the bank as of June 30, according to the latest reports available. The other group, the California Future Fund for Free Markets, faces a $4-million penalty but has disbanded. The penalties were levied in October by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

"I don't know if they're ever going to see the full amount," said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who tracks campaign finance issues. "It can be very difficult to ever collect the money."

One of those groups, the Small Business Action Committee, disputes its $11-million penalty and had only $11,260.74 in the bank as of June 30, according to the latest reports available. The other group, the California Future Fund for Free Markets, faces a $4-million penalty but has disbanded. The penalties were levied in October by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

"I don't know if they're ever going to see the full amount," said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who tracks campaign finance issues. "It can be very difficult to ever collect the money."

Ann Ravel Confirmed to the Federal Elections Commission

A hearty congratulations to current Chair of the FPPC, future FEC Commissioner Ann Ravel, who was just confirmed today by the U.S. Senate!

A short piece I wrote for the HuffPo re Ann Ravel's nomination to the FEC is here.

FPPC Chair Ann Ravel comes to Loyola Law School

I am so grateful to FPPC Chair Ann Ravel for coming to Loyola Law School yesterday and today to share her thoughts and insights on political reform, disclosure, civic engagement, and many other issues. 

Pres. Obama taps FPPC Chair, Ann Ravel, for the FEC

President Obama just announced that he nominated Ann Ravel, the Chairwoman of the Fair Political Practices Commission, to the Federal Elections Commission. I have every confidence that Ann would be a terrific commissioner. She has fought hard for increased disclosure and transparency during her tenure at the FPPC. She continues to wage battles against so-called "dark money" and to push for greater civic engagement. She is smart and practical and I believe she'd make an enormously important contribution as a commissioner on the FEC.

State high court supports disclosure after whirlwind weekend of activity

Quoted in today's Daily Journal. 

Here is an excerpt:

The state Supreme Court justices needed less than 20 minutes to decide, unanimously, to compel an Arizona group to identify the source of its $11 million donation to a California campaign fund.

The decision came via teleconference at around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, according to a Supreme Court source with knowledge of the proceedings, and followed a whirlwind of activity by the court over the weekend. That included an all-nighter by one staff attorney who drafted alternative orders the court could issue depending on what the justices decided.

..

"This is just the beginning in terms of disclosure for the public," said Jessica Levinson, an elections law expert at Loyola Law School. "It's also just the beginning in terms of lawsuits and legislation."

FPPC to release ARL donors

I'll be on KCBS News and KQED discussing the ramifications.

Here is an article on the recent developments in this case in the Sac Bee.

California State Judge Grant's the FPPC's Motion against ARL

I'll be on KCBS radio this morning talking about the court's ruling.

Here are some articles about the court's ruling: Mercury News, KPCC, Sac Bee, Business Week.