By Kenneth P. Vogel If anyone had doubts about the role that anonymous and untraceable money will play in the 2012 campaign ad wars, a flurry of recent reports and voluntary disclosures should put them to rest. The full extent of the anonymous giving is by definition impossible to know. But the recent disclosures as […]
On July 30, 2007 Democracy 21 and other reform groups sent a letter to House members, strongly urging Representatives to vote for the lobbying and ethics reform legislation when it is considered by the House on the suspension calendar. Democracy 21 was joined by the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Public Citizen […]
USA TodayReports show that more campaigns raise big moneyBy John FritzeDecember 15, 2008 Nearly half of the nation’s House and Senate candidates raised $1 million or more in contributions for the 2008 election, about two-thirds more than a decade ago, campaign-finance reports show. Watchdog groups say ever-more-costly campaigns benefit incumbents, who have an easier time […]
CQ PoliticsRestrictions Put Dent In Congressional TravelBy Alex KnottSeptember 14, 2009 Lawmaker trips sponsored by outside groups have decreased by 56 percent since the ethics and lobbying overhaul law was enacted two years ago, according to a CQ MoneyLine study of congressional travel. Since then, more than 2,300 former sponsors of lawmaker trips, including many […]
By Kenneth P. Vogel Karl Rove’s team and the Koch brothers’ operatives quietly coordinated millions of dollars in political spending in 2010, but that alliance, which has flown largely under the radar, is showing signs of fraying. And with each network planning to dwarf its 2010 effort, Republicans worry that the emerging rivalry between the […]
Another Moment of Truth for the FEC– A Report from Washington by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer – This week, on May 13, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is scheduled to consider a proposal by two of its Commissioners that would put the brakes on "527 political organizations" that are circumventing the federal campaign finance […]
The Washington PostFEC Drops ‘Soft Money’ Action; GOP, Democratic Groups Warned About Future FundraisingThomas B. EdsallApril 29, 2003 The Federal Election Commission dismissed complaints against two inactive “soft money” committees yesterday but warned that tougher steps could be taken once active fundraising begins. The decisions announced yesterday were the first test of the regulatory enforcement […]
PoliticoWall Street invested heavily in ObamaBy Kenneth P. VogelJanuary 20, 2009 Barack Obama boasted on the campaign trail that his administration would not be beholden to special interests, because his presidential bid was funded by small donations from regular folks. But a Politico analysis of career contributions to the inner circle of the incoming White […]
PoliticoDems move to blunt Citizens UnitedBy Politico StaffApril 24, 2010 In the coming week, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) plan to unveil legislation to close campaign-finance loopholes opened by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. The legislation was written in consultation with the White House. Here […]
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