Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013

Supported amending the filibuster rules so that a super-majority would no longer be required to end floor debate in the Senate (specifically, Senate Rule XXII and Senate Rule V). Supported the Government by the People Act (H.R. 20), providing for a voluntary system of financing Congressional elections using a mix of small private donations and federal funds and establishing a refundable tax credit to encourage grassroots campaign donations. Supported the Empowering Citizens Act (H.R. 270), providing for a repair of the presidential public financing system, creating a similar public financing system for Congressional races, strengthening rules prohibiting coordinated spending by outside groups and ending individual candidate-specific independent-expenditure only committees (individual candidate-specific "Super PACs"). Supported the Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 3899, S. 1945)to strengthen and amend the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's opinion in Shelby County v. Holder. Supported the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013 (H.R. 2902, S. 1424) to require the Supreme Court to promulgate a Code of Ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that should include the 5 canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with an amendments or modifications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. Supported S.J. Res. 19, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution permitting Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money to influence elections. Supported up-or-down Senate confirmation votes on nominations to the Election Assistance Commission. Supported efforts to encourage federally facilitated Health Benefit Exchanges to be fully compliant with the National Voter Registration Act for voter registration purposes. Supported the Democracy Restoration Act (H. 4459, S. 2235) to secure the federal voting rights of persons when released from incarceration. Support the Real Time Transparency Act (S. 2207, H.R. 4442) to require all federal candidates to report contributions to the FEC within 48 hours. Supported the DISCLOSE Act (S. 2516, H.R. 148) to require disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities influencing elections with independent expenditures.

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, White House Office

Supported amending the Senate filibuster rules so that a supermajority would no longer be requred to end debate (specifically, Rule XXII and Rule V). Supported the Government By the People Act (H.R. 20), providing for a voluntary system of financing Congressional elections using a mix of small private donations and federal funds and establishing a refundable tax credit to encourage grassroots campaign donations.Supported the Empowering Citizens Act (H.R. 270), providing for a repair of the presidential public financing system, creating a similar public financing system for Congressional races, strengthening rules prohibiting coordinated spending by outside groups and ending individual candidate-specific independent-expenditure only committees (individual candidate-specific "Super PACs"). Supported the Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 3899, S. 1945) to amend the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's opinion in Shelby County v. Holder. Supported the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013 (H.R. 2902, S. 1424) to require the Supreme Court to promulgate a Code of Ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that should include the 5 canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with any amendments or modications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. Supported the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act (H.R. 1133), to require fundraising organizations to submit quarterly reports on entities that have contributed above a certain threshold towards a presidential library. Opposed the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 (H.R. 3865) that would mandate a one-year delay in rulemaking by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service to modify regulations governing standards for "social welfare" organizations under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and candidate-related political activity. Filed comments supporting and opposing different elements of the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service proposed rules to define activities that should constitute candidate-related political activity as distinct from social weflare activities of 501(c)(4) organizations, with an interest in promoting disclosure of political spending. Urged the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department to move forward expenditiously with its rulemaking proceeding and issue necessary new regulations governing electoral activities by tax-exempt 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations in the wake of hundreds of millions of dollars in undisclosed spending through these organizations after the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Opposed the Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019), a bill to repeal public fudning for party presidential nominating conventions. Urged Senators to consider professional diversity in recommending nominees to fill judicial vacancies, including public interest attorneys. Supported the Safeguarding Elections for our Nation's Troops through Reforms and Improvements (SENTRI) Act (S. 1728) to improve voter registration and ballot access opportunities for military and overseas voters.

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

Supported amending the Senate filibuster rules so that a supermajority would no longer be required to end debate (specifically, Rule XXII and Rule V). Supported elements of the Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 269), providing for a voluntary system of financing Congressional elections by matching small dollar donations with federal funds.Supported elements of the Grassroots Democracy Act (H.R. 268), providing for a voluntary system of financing Congressional elections using a mix of small private donations and federal funds and establishing a refundable tax credit to encourage grassroots campaign donations. Supported elements of the Empowering Citizens Act (H.R. 270), providing for a voluntary system of financing congressional and presidential elections by matching small dolalr donations with federal funds. Urged Members of the House of Representatives and Senate to update and restore the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Supported the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013 (H.R. 2902, S. 1424) to require the Supreme Court to promulgate a Code of Ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that should include the 5 canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with any amendments or modifications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. Supported the No Taxpayer Money for Corporate Campaigns Act of 2013 (H.R. 3480) so that entities receiving federal funds may not use those funds to elect or defeat political candidates or lobby. Supported the No Political Funds for Personal Use Act (H.R. 3466) to prohibit candidates or employees associated with federal political action committees to use committee funds for personal activities. Supported the Safeguarding Elections for Our Nation's Troops Through Reforms and Improvements (SENTRI) Act (S. 1728) to improve voter registration and ballot access opportunities for military and overseas voters, clarify that requests for absentee ballots should remain valid for a full election cycle, strengthen protections of voting rights for miltary and overseas voters, and require reporting on implementation and effectiveness of voter assistance obligations. Opposed the Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019), a bill to defund the presidential public financing system. Supported the Citizen Involvement in Campaigns Act of 2013 (H.R. 3586) to allow a $200 tax credit ($400 for joint return) for contributions to a candidate for federal public office or to the national committee of a national political party.

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE