Last Thursday, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced a bill, the Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2009, that would rein in the use of presidential signing statements. This legislation instructs federal and state courts to not treat presidential signing statements as authoritative in interpreting laws passed by Congress. It further enables Congress to file an amicus brief and present an oral argument in any case in which the interpretation or constitutionality of a law passed by Congress is in question. Courts would be additionally required to enter into the case record any joint resolution expressing the correct interpretation of the law in the eyes of Congress, as well as to expedite any such cases. 

Recent efforts have renewed focus on voting reform efforts. Voter registration reform, a major issue highlighted in the 2008 election, is receiving attention from key legislators. According to the National Journal, Sen. Charles Schumer ( D-NY), chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, will introduce a bill later this year that addresses concerns with the voter registration system.

In March the Federal Election Commission (FEC) decided against moving forward with an investigation into the 501(c)(6) organization Americans for Job Security (AJS) because of a deadlocked 3-3 vote by the six commissioners. Public Citizen filed a complaint in 2007 charging that the group should be considered a political action committee. According to Public Citizen, the group's ads were meant to influence an election, and therefore were a violation of their tax-exempt status.