News

New Polling Information on the Citizens United Decision

A new Quinnipiac Poll released today shows overwhelming public opposition to the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case. According to the Quinnipiac Poll: Voters disapprove 79 – 14 percent of the Supreme Court’s January ruling removing limits on the amount corporations and unions could spend attacking or boosting political candidates, with consistently strong […]

The Washington Post: Both national party committees spend big chunks on fancy meals, hotels, travel

The Washington PostBoth national party committees spend big chunks on fancy meals, hotels, travelBy R. Jeffrey SmithApril 21, 2010 Both the national Democratic and Republican party committees spend about two-thirds of the money they take in on the care and comfort of committee staffs and on efforts to raise more funds, with lavish spending on […]

Democrats Claim At Least One Vote for Campaign Finance Bill

An article that appeared in CQ Politics entitled "Democrats Claim At Least One Vote for Campaign Finance Bill." CQ PoliticsDemocrats Claim At Least One Vote for Campaign Finance BillBy Matthew MurrayApril 19, 2010 House Democrats have locked down at least one Republican vote for a new campaign finance bill that is expected to debut this […]

The Washington Post: Citizens United challenges the strident side of Supreme Court ruling

The Washington Post Citizens United challenges the strident side of Supreme Court rulingBy Dan EggenApril 1, 2010 Fresh off a landmark victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, the conservative advocacy group Citizens United is trying to get around one part of the ruling it didn’t like. The group’s attorney, former solicitor general Theodore B. Olson, […]

Houston Chronicle: The first trickle In Texas, a campaign ad precedes a coming flood of corporate cash

Houston Chronicle The first trickleIn Texas, a campaign ad precedes a coming flood of corporate cashEditorialMarch 27, 2010 The U.S. Supreme Court shook American politics to the core with a 5-4 ruling in January freeing up corporations and other groups to independently spend as much cash as their directors wish in support of chosen candidates. […]

The Washington Post: Ruling allows contributions to activist groups for campaigns

The Washington PostRuling allows contributions to activist groups for campaignsBy Dan EggenMarch 27, 2010 A federal appeals court on Friday handed another victory to conservative opponents of campaign-finance restrictions, striking down limits on individual contributions to advocacy groups that want to use the money for or against candidates in federal elections. But in a unanimous […]

Corruption Standard for Upholding Constitutionality of Contribution Limits Established in Landmark Buckley Decision Remains Unchanged Notwithstanding Dicta in Citizens United

 By Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court recently issued a radical decision that overturned two decades of Court precedents and a national policy that had its origins more than a century ago. The Court in a 5 to 4 decision declared unconstitutional a longstanding ban on […]

Politico: Elite donors dodge the DNC

PoliticoElite donors dodge the DNCBy Jeanne CummingsMarch 16, 2010 Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers took plenty of blame for the gate crashers at President Barack Obama’s first state dinner and for posing for fashion shoots in glossy magazines. But a previously undisclosed gripe about her provides another explanation for her abrupt departure last […]

National Journal: Brave New World Of Political Spending For Nonprofits

National JournalBrave New World Of Political Spending For NonprofitsCharities And Other 501(c) Groups Could Find Themselves In An Uncomfortable SpotBy Eliza Newlin CarneyMarch 15, 2010 In the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to deregulate corporate political spending, public attention has focused squarely on whether businesses and for-profit companies will now lavish big money […]

The Hill: Chamber: Unions to gain from campaign finance decision

The HillChamber: Unions to gain from campaign finance decisionBy Kevin BogardusMarch 14, 2010 The senior attorney at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the Supreme Court’s loosening of campaign finance restrictions will have little effect on the group’s politicking. Steven Law, chief legal officer and general counsel for the Chamber, said the biggest beneficiary of […]