New Tools to Help Advocates with Campaign Finance Data
Apr 9, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
A new site, TransparencyData.com, is acclaimed as "a central source for all federal and state campaign contributions made in the last twenty years." The Sunlight Foundation teamed up with the National Institute on Money in State Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics, and by merging data from these groups, produced a new development in the availability of campaign finance data.
read in fullGroups Continue to Look For Ways Around Campaign Finance Disclosure
Apr 7, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Rick Hasen has an interesting column at Slate, discussing efforts to chip away at campaign finance regulations. Hasen suggests it will only get worse. "Opponents of reasonable regulation have a new target: trying to keep the flow of campaign money secret." For example, Citizens United submitted an advisory opinion request to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), asking if it qualifies for the "media exemption" under the Federal Campaign Finance Act.
read in fullAU Asks IRS to Investigate Florida Church for Electioneering Against Gay Mayoral Candidate
Mar 26, 2010 by Lateefah Williams*
Americans United for Separation of Church and State asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate a Florida church for improper electioneering. Americans United filed the complaint against Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, as a result of the church posting a sign on its property that read, "No Homo Mayor," in an apparent attempt to deter people from voting for Craig Lowe, an openly gay Gainesville mayoral candidate.
read in fullDisclosure Requirements Endure After SpeechNow.org Case Decided
Mar 26, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
In SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission, a federal appeals court unanimously struck down limits on contributions to independent political groups that want to spend money in support or opposition to candidates. The court ruled as unconstitutional the $5,000 annual limit on donations from individuals to groups like SpeechNow.org.
read in fullBill Seeks to Ban Secrecy in State Redistricting
Mar 24, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Reps. John Tanner (D-TN) and Michael Castle (R-DE) have introduced HR 4918, the Redistricting Transparency Act of 2010. The bill would require states to put together redistricting plans for U.S. House district boundaries in a public process. This includes having an Internet site to inform the public of the planning. The site would have to provide advance notice of any meetings on the subject of redrawing the boundaries of the districts.
read in fullMore Congressional Hearings to Address Citizens United
Mar 11, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
The Senate Judiciary committee held a hearing tilted, "We the People? Corporate Spending in American Elections after Citizens United." During the hearing opponents of the ruling argued that the case exemplified that the Roberts Court has abandoned judicial restraint.
read in fullOutspent: An influx of Money to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Mar 9, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
The LA Times reports on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's growing grassroots initiative, Friends of the U.S. Chamber, which "has begun to rival those of the major political parties, funded by record-setting amounts of money raised from corporations and wealthy individuals."
read in fullThe Problem Remains Money in Politics
Feb 23, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Global Integrity, an international nonprofit organization that tracks global corruption trends, released the Global Integrity Index: 2009. The report analyzed 35 countries' ability to counter corruption, and the tools available to citizens to hold the government accountable.
read in fullSchumer/Van Hollen Response to Citizens United
Feb 12, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced a summary, presented as a "framework," of the legislation they plan to introduce to curtail the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Their extensive response includes a ban on expenditures by foreign interests, as well as corporations that have federal contracts and those that received funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
read in fullSpeechNow.org Seeks Unlimited Individual Contributions for 527 Groups
Jan 29, 2010 by Amanda Adams*
Almost two years ago, a 527 organization called SpeechNow.org, asked for a court ruling that would have blocked the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from enforcing limits on contributions to the group. On Jan. 27, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments in the case. The court must consider whether the group should be subject to an annual limit on donations from individuals and comply with disclosure requirements.
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