The Federal Election Commission levied nearly a quarter-million dollars’ worth of fines against three dark money groups for failing to report contributions from an organization run by Sean Noble after the Arizona political operative inadvertently disclosed the alleged violations in a 2014 interview.

A complaint filed with the Internal Revenue Service against a “dark money” group that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 2014 governor’s race appears to provide a stark example of the way new campaign finance laws could bar Arizona election officials from punishing a violation, even when it’s right in front of their faces.

This is why the courts exist

Arizonans could get the last word on whether to uphold or reject newly enacted campaign finance laws that would allow more “dark money” to flow into state elections.

A planned citizen referendum to reverse legislation that would make it easier to spend dark money in Arizona may be about to become twice as difficult.

The so-called “kingmaker” provision in a controversial campaign finance law that takes effect later this year may have to be downgraded to “princemaker” status, thanks to a proposed change being considered by lawmakers.

Under S1516, some candidates are more equal than others

A sweeping campaign finance bill enacted by the Arizona Legislature that critics say will flood the state with dark money in campaigns also removes criminal penalties for various types of political corruption.

Last week, Arizona Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Glenn Hamer bitterly complained about the claim that, under S1516 (campaign finance amendments), the state is ceding its authority to regulate campaign spending to the feds. “This claim is so far off the mark as to make me wonder whether the media doesn’t understand campaign laws or whether it’s choosing just to ignore the facts,” Hamer wrote.

Arizona Chamber CEO and President Glenn Hamer vigorously defended S1516 (campaign finance amendments) against “wildly inaccurate” claims that he said are being perpetuated by the media. “We’re all entitled to our own opinions, but not to our own facts,” he wrote in a blog.