Complaints charge more PACs violating registration law

Longtime lobbyist and political activist Ray Bacon on Friday filed complaints with the Nevada Secretary of State's office charging that three political action committees are committing the same legal violations as a Virginia group supporting Brian Sandoval.

Secretary of State Ross Miller won a court order to force the Alliance for America's Future to register as a PAC. The group had refused on First Amendment grounds, saying it was concerned about possible retaliation against contributors.

Carson District Judge James Wilson agreed with Miller and this week issued a preliminary injunction that bars the Alliance from running TV ads supporting Sandoval's race for governor until its officers register with the state and list their contributors.

Miller's staff argued the law is designed to ensure Nevada voters can find out who is trying to influence campaigns in the state and is not designed to limit free speech.

"Let's level the playing field," said Bacon. "Make them all register."

The complaints charge that three PACs - The Patriot Majority, Club for Growth and Tea Party Express - are running ads designed to defeat Sue Lowden's bid for U.S. Senate and that none is registered in Nevada.

Bacon said he doesn't believe the Nevada law requiring PACs to register and list both their officers and contributors would survive a constitutional test.

"But if we're going to enforce it, enforce it on everyone, not just one," he said.

On the complaint forms, Bacon asked Miller's Elections Division to seek an injunction against the three PACs to block their advertisements from airing.

"The same action that was taken against the advertisements supporting Sandoval must be taken on an expedited basis in this matter," he wrote, in order to stop any "illegal activity from continuing and illegally distorting the electoral process in Nevada."

Elections Deputy Matt Griffin said there is nothing his office can do because the U.S. Senate battle is a federal race. He said the state has no authority over candidates in a U.S. Senate race, that only the Federal Elections Commission or the Justice Department has jurisdiction.