The Sunlight Foundation, along with the Institute for Policy Innovation, OpenTheGovernment.org, Public Citizen and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups sent... View Article
Continue readingStates Take On Citizens United
Frustrated by the inability of Congress to address the Citizens United decision, voters in Montana, Colorado and Massachusetts took the... View Article
Continue readingCourt Decision Should Embolden More Action on Transparency
Last week, the US Court for the District of Columbia rejected a challenge to a longstanding federal law that bans... View Article
Continue readingThe IRS Should Stop Ignoring Dark Money
For voters disgusted by nasty campaign ads and frustrated that they don’t know who is paying for them, there is plenty of blame to go around. The Supreme Court for allowing the dark money takeover of our elections, Congress for failing to enact the DISCLOSE Act, the Federal Election Commission for its failure to enforce laws already on the books. Add to that list the IRS, for its apparent willingness to look the other way while millions of dollars are laundered through fake nonprofit organizations whose only purpose is to influence elections.
Continue readingSTOCK Act Sausage Making
If ever there were an example of knee-jerk legislating, the STOCK Act may be it. A thoughtful and comprehensive bill, introduced by Rep. Slaughter, languished for years until some bad publicity made Members of Congress decide to “take action.” But in their haste to demonstrate they were responsive to the public’s outcry over allegations of congressional insider trading, Congress passed a watered down version of the bill. Furthermore, since passing the STOCK Act, Congress has twice acted to delay implementation of the bill, citing the risk of unintended consequences of the transparency measures they enacted. The hurry up and wait method of legislating leaves one to wonder what will be disclosed when the sausage making is complete.
Continue readingMontana Elections for Sale to Highest Bidder
A U.S. District Court judge in Montana, just weeks before Election Day, tossed the state’s campaign contribution limits saying only... View Article
Continue readingOne Step Forward Two Steps Back
Transparency advocates suffered a setback today, when the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Van Hollen v.... View Article
Continue readingIn Terms of Transparency, the First Step is Admitting There is a Problem
In its platform, released yesterday, the Democratic Party decrees that, “We are committed to the most open, efficient, and accountable... View Article
Continue readingGOP Platform Moves from Light to Dark
As the Republican nominating convention gets into full swing, there has been much discussion about the rightward shift by the... View Article
Continue readingThere Oughta Be a Law
As the pundits debate what the addition of Paul Ryan to the GOP presidential ticket means for the race, one... View Article
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