Democracy
Baltimore County Grassroots Groups Look To Continue a Public Financing Wave
Voters in Baltimore County will soon have their say on a ballot measure that would join several other large Maryland counties, as well as the city of Baltimore, in adopting a voluntary public financing program for elections.
Top Stories
Arizona Judge Reinstates GOP Law Shielding ‘Dark Money’
By Donald Shaw Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
Billionaire Oligarchs and Anonymous Megadonors Behind Amy Coney Barrett Ads
By David Moore Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
In Heavily Gerrymandered Wisconsin, a Bipartisan Grassroots Movement Fights for Fair Maps
By David Moore Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
STOCK Act 2.0: New Bill Would Shed Light on Congress’ Stock Trades
By Donald Shaw Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
Oregon Voters To Decide on Limitless Corporate Political Donations
In one of only five states with no limits on corporate contributions to candidates, a coalition of grassroots groups seeks to enshrine the ability for voters to pass campaign finance laws.
New Bill Seeks to Bring Lobbying Out of the Shadows
The Lobbying Disclosure Reform Act of 2020 would add “strategic lobbying services” to the influence-seeking activities that would have to be publicly reported, among other provisions aimed at strengthening disclosure.
New Ohio Speaker Has His Own Ethics Issues Involving FirstEnergy
Bob Cupp, who replaced indicted former speaker Larry Householder, was the subject of a judicial ethics complaint involving campaign contributions from the PAC of FirstEnergy, one of his top donors and the company that allegedly bribed Householder.
How To Make Campaign Ads Less Terrible
A permanent, publicly-accessible archive of all campaign ads would make it easier to hold politicians accountable for what they say
Opinion
Here Are the Billionaires Funding Trump’s Voter Suppression Lawsuits
Dozens of billionaires have donated to the RNC's legal fund that is being used to fight against expanded access to mail voting.
‘It’s a Secret, a (c)(4) Is a Secret’: Dark Money Powers $60 Million Bribery Scheme in Ohio
Last week, the FBI arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four associates in a bribery investigation over a law that sends $1 billion from ratepayers to bail out two nuclear power plants.
City Councils With Publicly-Funded Elections Lead Way in Cutting Police Budgets
While politicians in many cities resist activists, in some cities with councils elected largely through publicly financed elections significant cuts to police budgets are advancing.
Dark Money Floods in to State Elections, Revealing Cracks in Disclosure Laws
Political spending in state elections by LLC's and nonprofit groups has surged in the decade since Citizens United, but some states are leading the way in strengthening disclosure laws around who’s buying and funding campaign ads.
Big Donors and PACs Dominate Campaign Funding in Nearly Every State, Report Finds
Nearly three-quarters of contributions in state elections come from large donors and PACs, but small-dollar donations could make up that share if states move to adopt public financing for campaigns.
