News

Statement by Fred Wertheimer Concerning Organizing for Action

According to an op-ed by Jim Messina, the National Chairman for Organizing for Action, published March 7, 2013 on CNN.com, “[E]very donor who gives $250 or more to this organization will be disclosed on the website with the exact amount they give on a quarterly basis. We have now decided not to accept contributions from […]

No Set Price for Meetings with President? Really?

Statement by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer White House press secretary Jay Carney today reportedly said at his daily briefing, “Any notion that there is a set price for a meeting with the president of the United States is just wrong.” Really? So what does Mr. Carney make of the following published reports? An article […]

Watchdogs Urge More Disclosure of Expenditures by Political Committees in Comments on FEC Rule

Today, Democracy 21 joined the Campaign Legal Center in filing comments with the Federal Election Commission supporting a draft rule interpreting disclosure requirements for political committee expenditures and urging the Commission to require even more detailed disclosure of payments by a committee’s vendor to subvendors on behalf of that committee.

Editorials from the New York Times and the Washington Post on Organizing for Action

The New York Times The White House Joins the Cash Grab By: Editorial Board March 3, 2013 It is tempting to applaud the nonprofit group now spending nearly $100,000 on ads to pressure Republican lawmakers to accept gun-control measures. The group is fighting a well-financed and powerful corporate gun lobby that has never hesitated to […]

Contractor Contribution Ban Defended by Watchdogs in Appeals Court Filing

Today, Democracy 21 joined the Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen in filing an amici brief in Wagner v. FEC opposing an effort to overturn the 70-year-old ban on campaign contributions by federal contractors.  The case is currently on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia after a federal district […]

MSNBC: “Wertheimer: OFA ‘creates the opportunity to buy corrupting influence’”

MSNBC: Now with Alex Wagner Wertheimer: OFA ‘creates the opportunity to buy corrupting influence’ The MSNBC NOW with Alex Wagner panel discussed the recent criticism of OFA about access for big spenders to the president, and Democracy 21’s Frank Wertheimer described President Obama’s use of OFA to advance his agenda as “outsourcing” a portion of […]

Washington Post: “Obama’s new political group to lure unlimited donations”

The Washington Post Obama’s new political group to lure unlimited donations By Tom Hamburger– In close consultation with President Obama, two of his top political strategists are designing an ambitious new organization funded by donations from wealthy individuals and corporations aimed at making political and legislative gains at the federal and state levels. The fledgling […]

Fred Wertheimer Op-ed: “Supreme Court Could Create System of Legalized Bribery”

Supreme Court Could Create System of Legalized Bribery in Washington Depending on its Decision in McCutcheon Case By: Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer There are enormous stakes for the country in the campaign finance case the Supreme Court agreed to review this week. If the Supreme Court strikes down the existing limits on the aggregate […]

The Washington Post: “McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court”

The Washington Post McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court By T.W. Farnam– McCutcheon could be the new Citizens United.The Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday to hear a campaign finance case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, in its next term gives the justices a chance to continue their dismantling […]

Democracy 21/ACS Issue Brief: A New Federal Agency is Needed to Enforce Campaign Finance Laws

 Says President Must Act; Proposes Ideas for Reform As the U.S. Supreme Court readies to hear another case that could result in further undermining of the campaign finance laws, a new American Constitution Society Issue Brief written by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer and its Counsel Don Simon argue that the federal agency tasked with […]