The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 21, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A 2020 Alaska ballot initiative took steps to shine a light on dark money campaign funding. The U.S. Supreme Court just turned down a challenge to that law, and it may be good news for an expected case in Maine.

Alaska voters approved Ballot Measure 2 in 2020, which in addition to implementing open primaries and ranked choice voting, also took steps to disclose dark money funding of campaigns and ballot measures.

It requires candidates and ballot measure organizers to disclose the “true source” of funding for any contribution over $2,000 within 24 hours, limiting the ability of donors using 501c nonprofits and other entities to hide their identities.  For any group whose funding is 50% from out of state, a disclaimer must be added for all communications, including advertising. 

Claiming a violation of First Amendment rights, several groups and contributors sued, but November 18th, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down the case without comment. Great news for voters, and it also could bode well for Maine’s recently passed Question 1, limiting contributions to SuperPACs to $5,000 and requiring disclosure of those donations.  Organizers of that initiative expect it will be challenged, and think the U.S. Supreme Court majority could uphold a state’s power to regulate campaign finance contributions.

We have links to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Alaskans for Better Elections – Greater Transparency in Campaign Financing
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
U.S. Supreme Court – Appeal Request

Alaska Beacon – U.S. Supreme Court may consider Alaska’s ‘dark money’ disclosure rules
Anchorage Daily News – US Supreme Court rejects challenge to Alaska campaign disclosure rules approved by voters in 2020
Associated Press – A voter-approved Maine limit on PAC contributions sets the stage for a legal challenge

Groups Taking Action:

Alaskans for Better Elections, Maine Citizens to End SuperPACs

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Alaska #Maine #Dark Money #EndCitizensUnited #SCOTUS

The post SCOTUS Turns Down Case Challenging Alaska’s Dark Money Disclosure Law. Great News for Voters and a Possibly a Future Case in Maine. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 12, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time) 

Today’s Links now below the script

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A group organized to repeal ranked choice voting in Alaska may have used a church’s nonprofit status to avoid disclosing donor information, according to a complaint filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

Alaska Public Media reports that a complaint by Alaskans for Better Elections alleges that the Ranked Choice Education Association was formed as a wing of Wellspring Fellowship of Alaska, with the purpose of providing funding to repeal Ballot Measure 2, implemented in 2022.

Ballot Measure 2 creates a “top-four” system for Congressional races, establishes open primaries, and employs ranked choice voting for general elections.  It also mandates campaign transparency for “dark money” contributors donating to PACs, groups, nonprofits and corporations.

Wellspring Fellowship’s pastor, Dr. Arthur Mathias, is also the president of the Ranked Choice Education Association, which registered as a “church integrated auxiliary” of Wellspring.  Ranked Choice Education Association in turn made contributions to Alaskans for Honest Elections, which is collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to overturn Ballot Measure 2.   

Political contributions are not tax deductible at either the state or federal level, and overt political activity by churches can jeopardize federal non profit status.  The complaint accuses both organizations of not reporting contributions according to Alaska law, and possible misrepresentation of those donations.

We have a link to the report and the full complaint at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Alaska Public Media – Alaska Public Offices Commission Complaint by Alaskans for Better Elections
Alaska Public Media – Complaint alleges foes of Alaska’s ranked choice voting formed a church to funnel political donations
BallotPedia – Alaska Ballot Measure 2
Juneau Empire – Ranked choice repeal ‘church’ violating campaign laws, complaint alleges

Anchorage Daily News – Complaint alleges opponents of Alaska’s ranked choice voting formed church to skirt disclosure laws

Groups Taking Action:
Alaskans for Better Elections

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Get ADM Radio Report email!  Sign up here!

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #RankedChoiceVoting

The post Foes of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting Alleged to Have Used Church as a Front to Shield Disclosure of Donors appeared first on American Democracy Minute.