Fred’s Weekly Note Archive

Attorney General Barr’s Indefensible Performance

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | May 2, 2019 Attorney General William Barr is a dangerous person to be serving as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer. The Attorney General is supposed to embody and stand for the Justice Department’s stated mission to “ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” Instead, Barr has made […]

Where’s the full report, Mr. Barr?

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | April 4, 2019 “Congress must receive the complete Mueller report and accompanying documents. Nothing less can be accepted by Congress or the American people.” A Day of Action is being held around the country today to demand that Attorney General William Barr turn over to Congress the complete report prepared […]

H.R. 1 For the People goes to the Senate

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | March 28, 2019 “The For the People Act is a marker bill – a blueprint for what must be done to address Washington influence-money corruption, voter suppression, extreme partisan gerrymandering, and misuse of public office for private gain.” Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) yesterday announced the introduction of the Senate companion […]

What Happens After The Mueller Report

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | March 21, 2019 “The American people and Congress have a right to know this information and, in fact, to have the entire Mueller report and findings made public.” Every week, the media starts buzzing that the Mueller report is coming any day now. One of these weeks the buzz will […]

The Senate Battle for Reforms Is On

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | March 14, 2019 “The President and his administration have engaged in innumerable ethics abuses that have made the system in Washington far worse.” Following the passage last week in the House of H.R. 1, unprecedented democracy reform legislation, the effort now switches to the Senate. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) will […]

H.R. 1’s Amendment To Strengthen Ban on Foreign Election Spending

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | March 7, 2019 “Rep. Slotkin’s amendment would make illegal in future elections the outrageous abuses perpetrated by Russia in the 2016 presidential election.” As the House works its way through more than 70 amendments being offered this week to H.R. 1, the For the People Act, Democracy 21 is supporting […]

H.R. 1 Goes To The Floor Next Week

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | February 28, 2019 “We know Senate Majority Leader McConnell will block any Senate votes in this Congress. But we beat Senator McConnell when he tried to block passage of the McCain-Feingold soft money ban back in 2002. Ultimately, we will beat him again.” The dramatic hearing yesterday in which Michael […]

Mueller’s Report Is The Beginning, Not The End

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | February 21, 2019 “Whatever Mueller’s report contains, Congress and ultimately the public must have access to the full report. “ There are stories this week that Special Counsel Robert Mueller may submit his final report on the Russia investigation as early as next week. If he does, Justice Department regulations […]

H.R. 1: A Holistic Approach To Repairing Our Democracy

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | February 14, 2019 “The health and integrity of our democracy is on the line. The fight for H.R. 1 is a fight that must be won.” I testified today in support of H.R. 1 at the House Administration Committee on a panel that included representatives from the Brennan Center and […]

The Attacks On HR1 Begin

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | February 7, 2019 “Underlying these and other attacks is a simple goal of reform opponents: to allow big money donors to continue secretly injecting large sums into our elections with no public accountability and therefore no way to determine if the donors and the Members who benefit have exchanged large […]