In Washington…

     The Federal Election Commission approved an Advisory Opinion, holding that an individual who was organized as an LLC could make independent expenditures, since he and the entity were functionally the same, only his funds were used, and he had not elected to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes.  The vote, on a question the agency had never before addressed, was 5-0:  hence it was not a deadlock, and it fell short of bi-partisan unanimity only because one Commissioner, not present, did not vote.

In Florida…

     Republican legislative leaders have readied for consideration an election bill that would impose restrictions on voters and voter registration groups, but, more generously, would provide new benefits for elected officials, such as themselves, who would be cleared to set up leadership PACs and to receive, as political candidates, more party funding.

In Bolivia…

     President Evo Morales exacted an election law measure from the legislature by going on a hunger strike.  During the strike, the President slept on a bare mattress and subsisted on water and coca leaves.  He succeeded, except that he was required to accept as part of the price of victory an "anti-fraud", voter ID provision.  He further agreed to pay the costs of a new voter registry by abandoning plans for a new Presidential airplane.