News
The IRS was dead wrong to target conservative groups claiming tax-exempt status as section 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organizations based on their names and identified interests. This never should have happened and steps should be taken to ensure it does not happen again. At the same time, however, it is clear that a number of groups […]
In a letter sent today, reform groups urged Senators and Representatives “to pass campaign finance disclosure legislation this year to close the gaping disclosure loopholes in the campaign finance laws. These loopholes resulted in more than $300 million in secret contributions being spent by outside groups to influence the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.” The […]
The Huffington Post FEC Commissioners All Serving Expired Terms Now By: Paul Blumenthal WASHINGTON — All five sitting commissioners at the Federal Election Commission are now serving expired terms, while the sixth seat remains unfilled since a commissioner retired on Feb. 1, 2013. FEC Commissioner Caroline Hunter’s term expired on Tuesday. Until their replacements are […]
In a letter sent to President Obama yesterday, reform groups expressed their “deep concern about the nation’s corrupt campaign finance system and about your failure, to date, as President to provide meaningful leadership or take effective action to solve this fundamental problem facing our democracy.” The reform groups included: Americans for Campaign Reform, the Campaign […]
The introduction of campaign finance disclosure legislation yesterday by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is an important step forward. The bill represents a breakthrough as the first bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate to address the problem of secret money being spent by outside groups to influence federal elections. Democracy 21 commends […]
The New York Times New York Reform = Public Financing By: the Editorial Board The recent arrests of a state senator and an assemblyman appear to have reminded Gov. Andrew Cuomo of his overdue promise to begin cleaning up Albany’s swamp of corruption. This week he announced several important proposals to end the political lawlessness, […]
POLITICO Op-ed The Right Kind of Reform Fred Wertheimer The indictments last week of a New York state senator and five other New York politicians in an alleged bribery scandal once again focused the public spotlight on the dangers of influence money in the political system. And as the late Sen. Russell Long of Louisiana […]
The Washington Post Fighting big money with big money By E.J. Dionne Jr. If you are tired of seeing the debate on guns dominated by the National Rifle Association and yearn for sensible weapons laws, you have to love New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. When most politicians were caving in or falling silent, there was […]
In a letter sent today to President Obama, Democracy 21, joined by the Campaign Legal Center, wrote that “your involvement with Organizing for Action (OFA) raises serious questions about whether you are complying with the Ethics in Government Act ban on the solicitation of gifts by executive branch officials, including the President.” According to the […]
Roll Call Rules of the Game: Obama’s Nonprofit Carries on Dubious Tradition By Eliza Newlin Carney A Democratic rising star who campaigned on a platform of sweeping ethics changes draws fire once in power, after his top campaign donors bankroll a secretive nonprofit promoting his agenda. Sound familiar? It’s a story that should ring a […]
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