With Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) breaking a tie vote, the Virginia state senate Monday passed a restrictive voting law. Although the law is not as harsh as those in some other states, the intention is the same: to reduce turnout among poor and minorities. Lost on no one is that Virginia is considered a swing state in the 2012 election. The Brennan Center’s Keesha Gaskins spoke to the Virginian-Pilot about the law. For a comprehensive look at voting law changes, read Voting Law Changes in 2012.
Obama’s Super PAC Flip-Flop
In an about-face, President Obama’s campaign announced it would urge donors to contribute to a Super PAC supporting his campaign. Four years ago, Obama declined support from “independent outside groups.” The simple reality is that today’s political landscape requires Obama to take advantage of outside support. Instead of condemning Obama’s pragmatism, writes the Brennan Center’s Adam Skaggs, campaign finance reform advocates should focus on a genuine outrage: Obama’s failure to nominate five (yes, five) new commissioners to the Federal Election Commission. Read Skaggs’ piece here.
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.
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.
- The Past is Not Past
(Boston Review, 02/07/12) - Foreclosure Dispatches: Views From Around the Country
(Huffington Post, 02/07/12) - Facts are Lacking as Lawmakers Tackle ‘Crisis’ Over Voter IDs
(The Virginian-Pilot, 02/07/12) - The NYPD’s Muslim Profiling Problem Gets Worse
(Mother Jones, 02/06/12) - Editorial: Keeping Virginians From Voting
(Washington Post, 02/05/12) - 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)
The president's campaign blessing contributions to the Super PAC supporting him is a distraction from the real questions about today’s campaign finance environment.
What We’re Reading Today: Lacking Facts
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.
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.
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: Lacking Facts
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.