Voter Blog
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Feb08
Clips Round-up for 2/8/13
Organizing for Action, the 501(c)4 group the Obama campaign is now transitioning into, yesterday posted a statement of purpose on its website. Laying out gun reform, climate change, and immigration as three priority issues this coming year, the organization also made statements (or non-statements) related to elections and campaign finance law.
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Feb07
Penny Pritzker, Not Just an Obama Donor
Bloomberg broke the story last night that Penny Pritzker, part of the Hyatt Hotel dynasty and a successful businesswoman in Chicago, was close to being nominated by President Obama to be secretary of commerce. Her pick reflects the desire of the president to add more private sector experience to his cabinet and might also be a response to complaints that his cabinet was too male-dominated.
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Feb07
Clips Round-up for 2/7/13
Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
USA Today: Ex-House members spend campaign money after they depart
File this under legal but questionable: “Former House members are spending their leftover money to pay for everything from luxury cars to foundations that bear their names, a USA TODAY review of new campaign-finance reports shows.”
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Feb06
Clips Round-up for 2/6/13
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee was out yesterday with a TV spot in Kentucky featuring a Kentucky veteran criticizing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for opposing gun reform, while taking nearly $200,000 in campaign contributions from gun interests.
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Feb05
Clips Round-up for 2/5/13
On Friday, Mitch McConnell and 42 of his colleagues sent a letter to President Obama pledging to block Rich Cordray's CFPB appointment unless the agency agreed to several concessions to weaken it. Our analysis out this morning: "The 43 U.S.
Feb05Senators Pledging to Block Wall Street Watchdog Have Received $143 Million in Financial Industry Cash
The 43 U.S. Senators who signed a letter to President Barack Obama pledging to block Richard Cordray’s re-appointment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have received nearly $143 million in campaign contributions from the finance, insurance, and real estate sector—those who’d benefit the most from a weakened CFPB.
Feb01Texas Approves Text Message Campaign Contributions
Yesterday afternoon, the Texas Ethics Commission approved a request to allow campaign contributions via text message. Public Campaign supports political text message donations as a way to enhance the voices of everyday Americans and to help get more people engaged in the democratic process.
Jan31Texas to Allow Text Message Campaign Contributions?
The Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) will likely vote today on an advisory opinion request to allow text message campaign contributions. If the TEC approves the request, candidate committees, party committees, and PACs in Texas would be able to receive campaign contributions via text message. Instead of relying primarily on larger donors, campaigns would be able to connect with many more small donors.
Jan30Sen. John Kerry: We Must Address "Corrupting Force" of Money in Politics
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who was approved by the Senate yesterday to be the next U.S. Secretary of State, gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor today. In talking about ways to improve our democracy, Kerry, who has been a long-time support of efforts to raise the voices of everyday people in our political process, spoke eloquently about our corrupting campaign finance system and need to ensure voting rights for all.
Jan30House Administration Chair Candice Miller Should Hold Hearings on Money in Politics
The chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), should “hold hearings early in the 113th Congress on the Citizens United decision to examine potential legislative solutions to a system out of control, including consideration of disclosure reforms,” according to a letter sent by Public Campaign and 10 good government organizations today.