Today’s badly broken campaign finance system benefits wealthy interests, and leaves hundreds of millions of ordinary Americans on the outside looking in at Washington’s rigged system.

Tag Archive for: Money In Politics

To end Washington corruption, officeholders and candidates must have a new way to finance their campaigns – Wertheimer op-ed in The Hill

Enclosed for your information is an opinion piece entitled, “To end Washington corruption, officeholders and candidates must have a new way to finance their campaigns,” which was published here in The Hill on January 30, 2019. According to the piece: If federal officeholders and candidates are not provided with an alternative way to finance their […]

A Chance To Enact Critical Reforms

President Trump is crashing in the polls. Two recent polls have a Democrats’ “blue wave” in the making, with 14– and 12-point leads in the generic vote for House races. And the stage is being set in Congress for a historic effort to begin early next year to fix our broken and corrupt political system, […]

Democracy 21 Files Complaint with Office of Congressional Ethics Against Rep. Duncan Hunter

In a complaint filed today with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer called on the OCE to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA). “Rep. Hunter and his wife were apparently ripping off their campaign donors by living off of their campaign contributions in gross […]

Federal Law Prohibits the “Solicitation” from a Foreign Source that Occurred with Regard to the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower Meeting

Federal law prohibits a person from soliciting contributions, including in-kind contributions, from foreign nationals in connection with a federal election. The prohibition on soliciting a contribution is violated regardless of whether the person receives the contribution being solicited. President Trump has admitted, in writing, that the June 9, 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between senior […]

Reform Groups Urge Members to Support New CLEAN Politics Act to Close Lobbying Disclosure Loopholes and Restrict Lobbyist Fundraising for Members

In a letter sent to Members of Congress today, reform organizations and experts called on Members to support and cosponsor the “Curtailing Lobbyists and Empowering Americans for a New Politics Act (CLEAN Politics Act).” This legislation was introduced today in the House by Representatives John Sarbanes (D-MD and in the Senate by Senator Michael Bennet […]

Nationwide Vigils Against Corruption Show Public Demands Lawmakers Take Action to Protect and Strengthen Our Democracy

Americans in nearly 200 cities and towns around the country held candlelight vigils on Wednesday night to confront government corruption and demand democracy, a signal to lawmakers that the public is ready for their leaders to take action to protect the rule of law and make sure every voice can be heard in the political […]

Nationwide Vigils Show That The American People Want To Repair Our Dysfunctional Political System

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | July 19, 2018 “The fight goes on.” Last night, nearly 200 candlelight vigils took place in 39 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico to “Confront Corruption and Demand Democracy.” The unprecedented nationwide vigils were held to demand that Congress enact sweeping democracy reforms to address the corrupt and broken political […]

Treasury Department Opens Massive Loophole That Makes It Easier To Launder Foreign Money Into Our Elections

Treasury Department Just Opened Massive Loophole that Will Make it Easier for Russia and other Foreign Interests to Launder Unlimited, Undisclosed Illegal Contributions into Federal Elections Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer Yesterday, the Treasury Department opened a massive loophole that will, as a practical matter, allow Russia, Russian oligarchs and other foreign interests […]

Opportunities For Historic Democracy Reforms Lie Ahead

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | MAY 24, 2018 “This the beginning of a multiyear campaign to respond to the deep concerns of the American people about Washington’s rigged system by passing real reforms that will empower everyday Americans and curb influence money in American politics.“ This week, Democratic reform leaders in Congress unveiled A Better […]

Democracy 21 Strongly Supports Effort Announced by Congressional Leaders Today to Enact Democracy Reforms

Democracy 21 Strongly Supports Effort Announced by Congressional Leaders Today to Enact Democracy Reforms Statement of Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer Democracy 21 strongly supports the democracy reforms announced today to repair our broken political system. The “A Better Deal for Our Democracy” proposals developed by reform leaders in Congress address fundamental problems that are […]