FEC By a 3-3 Vote Refuses to Appeal Extreme and Overreaching Decision by D.C. Court of Appeals in EMILY’s List Case That Declared Important FEC Regulations Unconstitutional

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Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer The three Republican Commissioners of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) once again have failed to discharge their duty to faithfully administer the campaign finance laws. By voting in the EMILY’s List case to block the recommendation of the FEC General Counsel to appeal the decision by a three-judge […]

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National Journal: Health Reform’s Unending Money War

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National JournalHealth Reform’s Unending Money WarBy Eliza Newlin Carney March 1, 2010 It’s too early to say how the messy, protracted health care debate will end. But one thing is already clear: It’s generated record lobbying expenditures. And like health care itself, the lobbying battle over health reform just keeps costing more. Health-care-related lobbying and […]

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The Los Angeles Times Editorial: Finish Campaign Reform

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On Tuesday, the Republican Party smashed soft-money fund-raising records by wooing corporate chieftains at a dinner headlined by President Bush. About $30 million, the lion’s share of it soft money, was collected. If any further proof were needed of the importance of the campaign finance reform that Congress passed in March, the dinner provided it. […]

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New Ethics Plan Already Under Fire

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An article appeared today in Roll Call entitled "New Ethics Plan Already Under Fire." The article begins, ”More than six months past their deadline, leaders of a special task force established to overhaul the House ethics process remain coy about the group’s work, even as reform advocates consider attacking a forthcoming proposal as too weak.” […]

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New York Times Editorial: The Secret Election

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For all the headlines about the Tea Party and blind voter anger, the most disturbing story of this year’s election is embodied in an odd combination of numbers and letters: 501(c)(4). That is the legal designation for the advocacy committees that are sucking in many millions of anonymous corporate dollars, making this the most secretive […]

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Washington Post Editorial Praises Success on McCain-Feingold Law

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An editorial appeared today in The Washington Post entitled, "Campaign Finance Success." The editorial begins, ”The McCain-Feingold campaign finance law was supposed to be — or so its critics warned — a body blow to political parties. Starved of the six- and seven-figure ‘soft money’ checks to which they had become addicted, opponents said, the […]

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POLITICO: New business plan: crushing Dems

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By: Jeanne Cummings and Chris Frates Democrats may be going out of their way to say they aren’t anti-business, but business is gearing up to demonstrate that it’s anti-Democrats – at least when it comes to members of the party’s liberal wing. The latest blatant signs of hostility come from coal executives who are considering starting […]

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The Hill: Lawmakers skip taxes on family travel

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The HillLawmakers skip taxes on family travelBy Mike SoraghanFebruary 9, 2009 Many members of Congress may have a Tom Daschle problem. A week after the former senator withdrew his nomination for Health and Human Services secretary because of reports he didn’t pay taxes on a car and driver, lawmakers are facing their own tax questions. […]

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Editorials From The New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer Support Disclosure

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The New York Times Where Are the Good-Government Republicans? March 28, 2012 Senator John McCain recently denounced the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision as “naïve and politically ignorant,” telling Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, that “the consequences are manifesting themselves every day in what will someday be, sooner rather than later, a huge scandal.” […]

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