Super PACs finally disclosed their donors this week, at a time when outside spending on political ads is up more than 1600 percent. “With the huge amounts of cash being funneled with a wink and a nod to groups that claim to be independent, scandal and corruption on the scale of Watergate is virtually certain,” writes Adam Skaggs in Salon. “There are countless ways the existing system of campaign finance should be reformed, but cleaning up Super PACs is an obvious first step. Congress should adopt common-sense rules that make terms like independence and coordination mean something.”
Over 100 Groups Call for NY Public Financing
The Brennan Center joined more than 100 reform advocates to praise New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for supporting fair elections and public financing in the state. “We applaud your leadership in pursuing this vital goal,” reads the letter. “Public financing is the single most important next step to upend the perception of ‘pay-to-play’ culture in Albany and promote greater transparency, competition, and accountability.” A recent poll shows broad bipartisan support, with 74 percent of New Yorkers approving Cuomo’s ambitious campaign finance reform proposal.
Protecting the Right to Vote in the Sunshine State
A Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee held a hearing in Tampa Bay on Florida’s new election law. The Brennan Center submitted testimony stating that the law’s onerous restrictions on community-based voter registration drives are unconstitutional, and offered solutions for modernizing the state’s system. “By implementing common-sense reforms, Florida can ensure that more citizens are registered to vote while reducing burdens on election officials. These steps would not only boost Florida’s dismal voter registration rates, they would save the state money in the long run.”
NYPD Documents Show Need for Oversight
According to documents uncovered by the Brennan Center, the NYPD showed a virulently anti-Muslim film to nearly 1,500 officers during its training curriculum. When the story first broke in January 2011 the NYPD said the film, "The Third Jihad," was shown only a "couple of times." "The NYPD plays a vital role in protecting all New Yorkers from terrorism. These documents raise important questions. They show the need for oversight of these activities," said the Brennan Center. Read the Center's oversight proposal in The New York Times. Read all the documents here.
- Ethics Proposals Would Require Law Firms to Report Lawyers’ Judicial Campaign Contributions
(ABA Journal, 02/03/12) - Corporations are Sending More Contributions to Super PACs
(Washington Post, 02/03/12) - Voter Registration Rules
(CBC The Current, 02/03/12) - Will Voter ID Laws Make Voting More Secure — or More Selective?
(Current TV, 02/02/12) - Why Millions of Americans Have No Government ID
(NPR, 02/01/12) - Congress Can Fix the Super PAC Problem
(Salon, 01/31/12) - South Dakota Sioux Tribe File Voting Discrimination Case
(The Takeaway, 01/31/12) - Rights Groups Slam New U.S. Vote Restrictions
(Al Jazeera, 01/30/12) - It’s Time to Police the NYPD
(The New York Times, 01/30/12) - Gingrich and Romney Want to Say Adios to Bilingual Ballots
(Mother Jones, 01/30/12)
Iguanas and the Rule of Law at Guantánamo
It appears iguanas have more rights than detainees at Guantanamo Bay. I traveled to the prison recently to observe the hearing of accused U.S.S. Cole bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.
What We’re Reading Today: It’s Their Money
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.
A roundup with the latest news highlighting the corrosive nature of money in New York State politics — and the need for public financing and robust campaign finance reform.
Illustrations by Risko
Fighting Foreclosure
In this multi-part video series, homeowners speak about the devastating consequences of facing the loss of a home without an attorney. Based on interviews conducted around the country, the videos feature homeowners, legal aid lawyers, housing counselors, and community leaders.
Fighting Foreclosure: Why Legal Assistance Matters is a project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and the National Coalition for the Civil Right to Counsel. The series was produced by Sarah P. Reynolds.
What We’re Reading Today: It’s Their Money
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.