Super PACs get so much attention these days because they are a novel and easy way for donors who can write large checks to influence elections. But there's another avenue for big money to enter politics that's ideal for donors who'd rather keep their identities cloaked and that, thanks to a recent court decision, may be about to get more popular.
So far in the 2012 election cycle, some $9 million has been spent to help elect or defeat candidates for federal office by entities that don't have to disclose where they got their money. About ...
Continue readingSunlight Foundation, non-profits, file brief in SCOTUS dark money case
The Campaign Legal Center filed this amicus brief on behalf of 14 nonprofit organizations (including the Sunlight Foundation) before the... View Article
Continue readingSuper PACs, other groups, fuel four-fold spending increase in 2012 presidential race
Outside groups, including super PACs and nonprofit organizations, have spent almost four times more on the 2012 presidential campaign than comparable organizations spent at the same point in the 2008 cycle, an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings show.
Four years ago in late March, when Republicans had already wrapped up a wide-open battle for their party's nomination and Democrats were still engaged in a battle that would go on for months, spending on the presidential campaign by independent groups stood just shy of $22 million. Today, outside spending on the race for the White House has already topped ...
Continue readingEshoo Disclosure Amendment to be Voted on Today.
The House is voting today on the H.R. 3309, the FCC Reform Act. Rep. Eshoo is offering an important amendment... View Article
Continue readingSenate Introduces Targeted DISCLOSE Act Today
Senate Democrats unveiled their version of the DISCLOSE Act today. (We wrote about the House bill, introduced last month, here.)... View Article
Continue readingCitizens United Decision Could Lead to Foreign Interests Influencing US Elections
It should come as no surprise that the trigger for foreign contributions possibly finding an inroad into US elections is none other than the Citizens United decision.
Continue readingDark money in the twilight of 2011
Dark money has haunted the psyche of good government reformers. Recent changes in campaign law raise the prospect of unlimited donations, routed to political action committees through 501(c)4 "social welfare" organizations that don't have to disclose contributors' names. That could allow innocuously named groups to shelter powerful individuals and corporations and the influence they're exercising to determine who wins a federal office.
So far, that scenario has been the dog that didn't bark, but that doesn't mean it has been defanged.
Sunlight looked at the super PAC filings in search of 501(c)4 ...
Continue readingSuper PACs and Secret Money Undermine Elections
The New York Times looked at this week’s Super PAC filings with the FEC and demonstrated—again—what we knew would be... View Article
Continue readingFCC Poised to Take the Lead on Political Advertising Transparency
Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to open a rulemaking calling for online disclosure of information that broadcasters collect about... View Article
Continue readingPreempting Sunlight
House Republicans, and more than a few Democrats, have taken a series of votes to kill a proposed executive order... View Article
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