FEC Complaint Calls for Investigation of Possible Illegal Contributions & Coordination by Montana Congressional Candidate & Super PAC He Founded

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Democracy 21 joined with the Campaign Legal Center in urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate possible illegal in-kind contributions and coordination between Montana congressional candidate Ryan Zinke and the Super PAC he formed and that now supports his candidacy.  The complaint, based on published reports, points to the Special Forces for America’s (SOFA) […]

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Reform Groups Call on IRS and Treasury to Move Forward Expeditiously with Rulemaking for 501(c)(4) “Social Welfare” Groups

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In a letter sent to the IRS and the Treasury Department, eleven reform groups strongly urged the IRS and Treasury Department to move forward expeditiously with the rulemaking proceeding proposed to revise the existing federal regulations regarding electoral activities by tax-exempt section 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations. The reform groups include Americans for Campaign Reform, Brennan […]

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Reform Groups Join with Rep Van Hollen to Urge IRS to Limit Electioneering by Non-Profit Groups

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Comments Filed in IRS Rulemaking Seek Enforcement of Statutory Mandate That 501(c)(4) Groups Focus “Exclusively” on Social Welfare Public Citizen, Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center joined with Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to submit joint comments today in an IRS rulemaking advocating new regulations to stop section 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups from engaging in […]

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Democracy 21, Campaign Legal Center Join with Rep. Van Hollen to Urge IRS to Adopt Effective Definition of Political Activity for 501(c)(4) Eligibility

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Urge IRS to Include Supreme Court Approved Standard in Definition to Ensure Coverage of Campaign Attack Ads Posing as “Issue Ads” Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center joined with Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today to submit joint comments in an IRS rulemaking that called on the IRS to adopt a new definition of […]

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Watchdogs Urge FEC to Uphold Mobile Phone Ad Disclaimer Requirements & Conduct Long Overdue Rulemaking

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Democracy 21 joined the Campaign Legal Center in strongly urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to uphold federal disclaimer requirements for political advertisements on mobile phones and further pressed the agency to conduct a related rulemaking originally proposed by the FEC in 2011.  The watchdog groups filed comments in response to the FEC’s draft Advisory […]

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The McCutcheon Case:The Legal and Political Consequences if the Supreme Court Strikes Down Overall Contribution Limits

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By Fred Wertheimer In the Citizens United case, the Supreme Court by a 5 to 4 vote struck down the longstanding ban on expenditures by corporations in federal elections. In doing so, the Court opened the door to vast amounts of unlimited contributions and secret money being spent in federal elections – some $1billion in […]

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Reform Groups Urge Representatives to Vote No on Legislation to Restrict New IRS Rules on 501(c)(4) Standards

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Reform groups sent a letter to the House urging Representatives to oppose H.R. 3865, legislation that “would prohibit the Treasury Department/IRS from adopting necessary revisions in the rules used to determine whether an organization is operating exclusively for the promotion of social welfare for purposes of tax code Section 501(c)(4).” According to the letter: The […]

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Reform Groups Urge Reps. to Vote No on Legislation to Delay/Prohibit New IRS Rules

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Reform groups today sent a letter to members of the House Ways and Means Committee urging Representatives to oppose legislation currently under consideration by the Committee that would mandate a one-year delay in the current rulemaking by the Treasury Department/Internal Revenue Service to modify regulations governing standards for “social welfare” organizations under section 501(c)(4) of […]

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Fred Wertheimer Article for POLITICO Magazine: “Legalized Bribery”

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POLITICO Magazine Legalized Bribery Four years on, Citizens United is ruining democracy. Here’s how to get it back. By FRED WERTHEIMER Exactly four years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court changed the landscape of American politics—and in ways we have yet to understand fully. In its 5-to-4 decision in Citizens United v. FEC, the court struck […]

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Reform Groups Urge Senators to Vote No on House-Passed “Fig Leaf” Bill

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Reform groups today sent a letter to the Senate urging Senators to oppose H.R. 2019, sponsored by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) and passed last month by the House. The legislation purported to provide funding for a 10-year pediatric research initiative and to pay for this by repealing a portion of the presidential public financing system. […]

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