🚀 go-pugleaf

http://www.underreported.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1189

http://tinyurl.com/tk0y

According to Virginia law 24.2-910:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+24.2-910

    "Any person who is not a political committee and who makes
     independent expenditures, in the aggregate, in excess of $500 for a
     statewide election or $200 for any other election shall maintain
     records and report pursuant to Article 4 of this chapter all such
     independent expenditures including:

    "1. Any funds expended for the purpose of influencing the outcome of
        any election for public office; and

    "2. Any funds expended to publish or broadcast to the public any
        material referring to a candidate by name, description, or other
        reference and
        (i)   advocating his election or defeat,
        (ii)  setting forth his position on any public issue, voting
              record, or other official acts, or
        (iii) otherwise designed to influence individuals to cast their
              votes for or against him or to withhold their votes from
              him."

Any blog that pays for its own hosting easily exceeds $200 over one
year. For clarification, I contacted the Virginia State Board of
Elections.

In response to the following question:

    "Now that the Fairfax County Supervisor candidates are announced,
     if I provide an opinion on my blog that is negative or positive
     about what an incumbant Supervisor has done, would that require
     me to file a disclosure report pursuant to 24.2-910?"

I received the following response:

    "If the total aggregate of the independent expenditure is in excess
     of $200 and the expenditure is made to influence the outcome of an
     election for public office and if any material is published to the
     public referring to a candidate by name, description, or other
     reference, advocating the election or defeat, setting forth his
     position on any public issue, voting record, or other official
     acts, or otherwise designed to influence individuals to cast their
     votes for or against a candidate.

    "You must file a Statement of Organization and disclose the
     independent expenditure on a contributions and expenditures
     disclosure report.

    "The 'Paid for by' and 'Authorized by or Not Authorized by'
     Statements would apply as well.

    "Rise' Miller
     State Board of Elections
     Campaign Finance Division"

As the Internet is replacing the town square as the forum of public
debate (indeed town squares are illegal under Fairfax County, Virginia
zoning ordinances), laws need to be updated to take into account blogs,
or at least raise the dollar limits. 

--
Michael Malak      http://www.underreported.com
malak@acm.org      Surprising stories from the media and primary sources