Remember to check our Facebook page daily for news articles throughout the week! ~ Campaigns on California ballot measures raise $150 million from the LA Times Influence Industry: Scotts Miracle-Gro goes out on a limb with political donation from the […]
It’s In The Air
Have you noticed how many people are talking about money in politics? Just yesterday, I heard Diane Rehm discussing the issue with her guests. They framed money in politics as a central facet in a widespread loss of confidence in […]
Meet Our Summer 2012 Interns
My name is Nelson Turk, and I’m a junior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. I’m an American citizen who has lived overseas (primarily) in Asia most of my life. My mother is Thai, so I am fluent in Thai, […]
What Montana Means For Us
On Monday, June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to overturn a long-standing Montana law banning independent corporate expenditures for or against electoral candidates. The case is called American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock. Now, corporations and unions can spend […]
Why We Need a Constitutional Amendment
The Gilded Age was the post-Civil War period of American economic growth, fueled by corporate wealth accumulation. The notion of limiting or banning corporate campaign contributions arose during that era. Many states passed such laws, fearing that the electoral process […]
Let’s Have Publicly Funded Elections
Susan Cantrell Holloway writes: Kudos to Willa in Garland for her astute letter to the editor this week: “A Tax on Politics– President Barack Obama proposes a 28 percent corporate tax rate. I’ll support a reduction in corporate taxes if […]
A Democracy in Name Only
A headline caught my eye this morning: “Gay Marriage, Passed, Awaits Christie’s Veto”. Yes, this is happening in New Jersey, not Texas. But the same scenario repeats itself daily all over the country. New Jersey state legislators’ votes reflect the […]
An Appearance of Impropriety
I am a lawyer, licensed in Texas in 1977. When in law school, I first learned of the concept of “appearance of impropriety.” My professors indicated that attorneys are held to a higher standard of ethics than the general public. […]
When Talking About Campaign Finance Reform
When talking about campaign finance reform, some people get concerned when the phrase, “public funding” gets brought up. After all, they say, we need to be about saving, not spending. The current political climate is fraught with federal or state […]
Colbert and Campaign Finance
At the end of June, the Federal Election Commission voted 5-1 to allow Stephen Colbert to move forward with the creation of his Super PAC. Through this PAC, Colbert will be able to raise and spend unlimited funds on the […]