Campaign Finance Reform/Money in Politics / Public News Service

Critics of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission say it gave greater political influence to wealthy donors and corporations by allowing them to spend unlimited funds on elections. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Consider Changes to Maine’s Clean Election Law

Lawmakers in Maine are considering legislation to allow candidates seeking county level offices to receive taxpayer funds under the Maine Clean Electi…

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows Massachusetts has four counties in the top 20 list of most expensive places for child care, including Middlesex and Norfolk counties, where families pay more than $26,000 annually in child care expenses. (Adobe Stock)

MA Bill Would Let Candidates Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to allow candidates seeking state or local office to use campaign funds for child care. Child care is …

The Whooping Crane -- the tallest bird in North America -- is known to make stopovers on the Platte River in Nebraska. Conservation efforts have increased the Whooping Crane population from a low of about 20 birds in the 1940s to an estimated 600 today. (Adobe Stock)

Recovering America's Wildlife Act Helps Wildlife, Farmers and Ranchers

CORRECTION: The number of species at risk in Nebraska is nearly 800. A previous version of the story listed only those the state currently considers …

Campaign contributions for this year's Wisconsin Supreme Court race have more than doubled the previous record for a state-level judicial election. (Towfiqu Barbhuiya/Pexels)

WI Supreme Court Race: Record Spending Leads to Reform Calls

Leading up to this week's election, Wisconsin voters have been inundated with campaign ads for the high-profile state Supreme Court race, and …

According to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice, the financial power of small donors could increase sevenfold, from 6% to 41% of all campaign funds through the Public Campaign Finance Program. (Adobe Stock)

Campaign Finance Program Facing Delays From NY Legislators

New York's Public Campaign Finance Program is facing delays from the very people who approved it - New York legislators. The program was approved by …

The 163 billion cubic feet of lost methane on public lands represents enough wasted natural gas to meet the needs of 2.2 million households; nearly as many households as New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming combined, studies show. (Adobe Stock)

Report: $500 Million Gas Lost at Oil and Gas Fields on Public Lands

Oil and gas operators waste a half billion dollars worth of natural gas on public lands every year, according to a new report. Chad Franke, …

While mortality rates for pregnant women have decreased globally, they continue to rise in the United States, with Black women three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. (Inez/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Women’s Rights a Canary in Coal Mine for Democracy

By Jennifer Weiss-Wolf for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

Senate File 40 aims to hold federal and state political action committees to the same standards. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Legislature Tackles Election Integrity

Election integrity has emerged as a top concern for Wyoming lawmakers gathered in Cheyenne, but it remains unclear what priorities will emerge from …

According to OpenSecrets, the 2021 Georgia contests that decided party control of the Senate were the top two most expensive congressional elections in the country. (Pixabay)

Runoff Continues Record Spending in Georgia's U.S. Senate Race

Control of the U.S. Senate could once again be decided in Georgia as a tight race between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican …

Medicare provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act are projected to reduce the federal deficit by $237 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Biden’s Medicare Move Projected to Lower Drug Prices, Federal Deficit

Over the next 10 years, some 64 million people on Medicare, and American taxpayers, will save $100 billion, thanks to provisions in President Joe …

One in five Ohioans surveyed said threats to democracy are a top concern before the 2022 midterms.(Adobe Stock)

Ohio SOS Launches New Election Investigation Unit

Instances of voter fraud are few and far between, but Ohio election officials want to ensure voters have confidence in the integrity of the system…

Families hike in the mountains near Riverside, Calif. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

For Hispanic Heritage Month, People Reconnect with Public Lands

Hispanic Heritage Month begins this week and runs through mid-October, and conservation groups are encouraging people to celebrate by getting the …

A handful of large corporations, including AT&T, Chevron, ExxonMobil, FedEx, GM, Merck and UPS, together gave almost $1.5 million to candidates that denied the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to an Americans for Tax Fairness Report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wealthiest Americans Pumped Millions into 2022 Midterm Campaigns

Most West Virginians pay taxes on every dollar they earn, while large corporations and billionaires use tax loopholes to pay as little as zero in …

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

During the U.S. Senate primary, Pennsylvania saw $99 million spent with a large portion of that coming from Super PACs, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Dark Money in PA Senate Race Distracts from Issues that Matter

Pennsylvania's Senate race is garnering national attention, with Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz running to replace retiring …

The Supreme Court, following in the footsteps of the Citizen's United decision, has weakened campaign finance laws in the name of free speech. (Lost in the Midwest/Adobestock)

Clean Elections Groups Slam Supreme Court Ruling on Campaign Finance

Good-government groups are criticizing the Supreme Court's decision Monday eliminating rules on how much a candidate can spend to pay back loans he or…

While some national party leaders might no longer view Iowa as a battleground state, political experts say it still has

Caucus Shakeup Prompts Concern about Candidate Vetting

When the 2024 presidential primary season kicks off, there's a good chance Iowa's caucuses won't be in the spotlight as much. Last week, the …

California has set a goal to make the state's electricity system carbon-free by 2045. (ULP/Adobestock)

CA Gets a “D” on the 2022 Environmental Scorecard

California only got a "D" grade on this year's Environmental Scorecard, a report card put out each year since 1973 by the nonprofit California …

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has previously opposed other measures to alter the U.S. Tax Code, including the expanded Child Tax Credit, which he referred to as

Groups Push for Greater Accountability for WI Senator

Members of social-justice organizations gathered outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday in an effort to draw attention to allegations of uneth…

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering found that revenues from drug companies' top 20 medications pay for all their annual research and development, and still result in a profit of some $40 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Older Coloradans Press Congress to Lower Drug Prices

It's been two months since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which includes reforms that aim to bring down …

MLK "Marade" Spotlights Drive to Protect Voting Rights

As Democrats in Congress struggle to get enough votes to pass new federal voter protections, Denver's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day "Marade" - a …

Construction companies, law firms and health-care companies are among the top contributors to sheriffs' political races, according to a new report from Common Cause. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Report: Keep Special Interests Out of Sheriffs' Elections

A new report recommends changes to the way political campaigns are paid for, analyzing contributions to local sheriffs' races in 11 states, including …

Groups looking to rein in money in politics hope to pass campaign-finance limits before the 2024 election. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Campaign Donation Limits Could Be Coming to OR in 2022

Oregon is among a handful of states without limits on how much people or entities can contribute to election campaigns, but it could change this year…

A national ranking gives South Dakota a failing grade for things like public access to information and accountability, both at the legislative and executive level. (Adobe Stock)

Impeachment Meetings in SD Underscore Transparency Concerns

A legislative panel has been discussing the possibility of impeachment proceedings against South Dakota's attorney general. A statewide government …

Wyoming's new voter districts are expected to impact how the state addresses falling fossil-fuel revenues, Medicaid expansion, and how local school boards shape public education. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Voters Urged to Give Feedback on New Voter District Maps

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- As Wyoming lawmakers sort through new 2020 census numbers to update voting districts, watchdog groups are encouraging all residents …

Lobbying firms have enjoyed few limits after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, where the high court confirmed that money was a form of protected speech. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lobbyist Spending in Nebraska Thrived During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new Common Cause Nebraska report showed last year, more than $18 million was invested in lobbying efforts in Nebraska. By …

The 2020 election cycle saw more than $1 billion in

West Virginians Want "Dark Money" Out of Politics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the last two months, two polls have found West Virginia voters have concerns about so-called "dark money" in politics…

Women of color are much less likely to enter contests for statewide executive offices than white women, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (8385/Pixabay)

Women Face Money Crunch on Road to Political Office

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Women have voted at higher rates than men in every presidential election since 1984, but a new study shows when they run for a …

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 15 states have term limits for legislators. (Adobe Stock)

ND Term-Limits Plan Could Give More Power to Lobbyists

BISMARCK, N.D. - Next year, North Dakota voters could be asked to consider a plan often floated as a way to shake up traditional politics. Term …

A 2012 investigation by ProPublica found some tax-exempt groups underreported their political activities to the Internal Revenue Service. (Wikimedia Commons)

AR Bill Tightens Rules on Nonprofits' Donor Disclosure

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A new bill signed into law in Arkansas strengthens privacy rules for people who donate to charitable causes. Critics of so-…

If lawmakers pass a ban on corporate contributions going directly to candidates or their committees, they join 22 other states plus federal elections for president and Congress with similar laws. (Adobe Stock)

Good-Government Groups: Bill Could Help Reduce Corporate Influence in Elections

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Good-government groups in Maine support a bill which would ban corporate contributions from going directly to state legislators or …

A case involving donor disclosure requirements will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this spring. (Adobe Stock)<br />

TN Bill Puts Spotlight on Nonprofit Donors and Public “Right to Know”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Lawmakers in at least three states, including Tennessee, have introduced bills that would bar public agencies from publicly …

Good-government reformers want Illinois to follow the example of states that have used citizen initiatives to establish independent commissions for redistricting in recent years. (bizoo_n/Adobe Stock)

Good-Government Groups Wary of Citizen-Initiative Proposal

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Republican lawmakers will propose a series of constitutional amendments they say would give residents a more direct voice in …

The For the People Act, if passed, will include campaign finance reforms and mandate independent commissions to draw voting district maps. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Good-Government Groups Say MO Needs Democracy Reform

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Good-government groups in Missouri say that a major democracy reform package, HR1 - or the For the People Act - would bring the …

The Kalama, WA, facility along the Columbia River would export methanol to China. (Image'in/Adobe Stock)

Political Muscle, Money Driving Forces for WA Methanol Project

KALAMA, Wash. -- High-level politicians are entangled in the push for a massive fossil fuel facility in Washington state. Eric de Place, director …

Massachusetts voters added five women to the Legislature in November, after another five were elected the previous cycle. (jpellgen/Flickr)

Race, Gender, Party Imbalances Remain in MA State Legislature

BOSTON -- This year's elections didn't change the racial or political imbalances in the Massachusetts state Legislature, and electoral …

This fall, nearly 70% of St. Louis voters backed the idea of switching to

St. Louis Helps Pave Way for Nonpartisan Election Reform

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- City elections in St. Louis will change next year after residents approved a nonpartisan primary system in what's known as …

The USDA says requiring a letter from the president be included with food given to needy families during an election campaign does not violate the Federal Hatch Act. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Hunger-Fighting Groups Raise Concerns about Trump Letter

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Anti-hunger advocates are expressing alarm at a new US Department of Agriculture requirement that millions of boxes of surplus …

The Citizens' Elections Program was launched more than a decade ago in Connecticut, following multiple corruption scandals in the state. (HappyLenses/Adobe Stock)

Report: Citizens' Election Program Sets Standard for Clean Elections

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut is setting the standard for publicly funded elections fueled by small donors, according to a new report from Common …

Reforms to make voting easier and more accessible passed the U.S. House last year, but have gotten no traction in the U.S. Senate. (Roibu/iStockphoto)

Democracy Scorecard: Mixed Results for OR Congressional Delegation

SALEM, Ore. - The 2020 Democracy Scorecard from Common Cause is out - and Oregon's congressional delegation does very well, with one exception…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is battling Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon. The latter has raised $23 million, making it the most expensive political race in Maine history. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Experts See Maine Sen. Collins' Race with Gideon as Toss-up

AUGUSTA, Maine - Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is facing her toughest reelection campaign yet. She's running against Maine House …

Under the current system, Oregon politicians can often shape voting districts to increase their power. (iQoncept/Adobe Stock)

Potential OR Initiative Could Cut Down on Gerrymandering

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon stands out on the West Coast for the way its voting districts are drawn. Unlike neighbors California, Idaho and Washington…

A recent survey found that 79% of Democratic voters and 65% of Republicans want the option of voting remotely during the COVID-19 health emergency. (Paul Sableman Flickr)

Colorado's Mail-In Voting System in National Spotlight

DENVER -- A majority of voters across party lines say they want the option to mail in their ballots during the pandemic, according to a recent …

A current initiative gathering signatures for the November ballot would ban lobbyists, elected officials, party leaders, current and former political candidates or their family members from serving on independent citizens commission charged with redrawing voting district maps. (Pixabay)

Voter Map Initiative Going Forward During Health Emergency

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The COVID-19 health emergency has created new challenges for proponents of a ballot initiative that aims to put an independent …

Former national security advisor Michael Flynn admitted that he lied to the FBI during Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

More than 1,000 DOJ Alumni Urge Flynn Prosecution to Go On

SEATTLE - Former federal prosecutors are asking a judge to reject the Justice Department's request to drop its years-long case against former national…

Wyoming is joining Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas and Nevada in using a process called ranked-choice voting to determine delegates in the upcoming Democratic presidential primary. (Erik Hersman/Flickr)

Wyoming Dems to Debut Ranked-Choice Voting

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- The Wyoming Democratic Party has canceled in-person caucuses because of the COVID-19 crisis, but voters still can cast ballots by …

Dark money groups emerged in force after the U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United case in 2010. (Adobe Stock)

Dark Money Dominated Ohio's Nuclear Subsidy Saga

Print version by By Kathiann M. Kowalski Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann Kuhlman Reporting for the Eye on Ohio, The Ohio Center for …

Oregon has the most expensive elections in the country, according to one campaign finance expert. (Helistockter/Adobe Stock)

Struggle Continues to Set OR Campaign Contribution Limits

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon is among a handful of states with no limits on campaign contributions in elections. The 2020 session offers lawmakers another …

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