The effort to restore voting rights in New York is gaining momentum. Today, over 100 New Yorkers sent postcards to their legislators and Governor Paterson urging them to restore the right to vote to people in New York who are on parole and probation.
With special interests spending ever-increasing dollars to capture state judiciaries, disclosure rules are needed to protect fair and impartial courts. Legislators in the 39 states that elect judges should pass laws that require disclosure of who’s paying for judicial campaign ads.
The Brennan Center's Susan Liss talks to New York's ABC Eyewitness news about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, and whether her nomination will be difficult to pass in Congress. Liss also explains what the current political climate is for Kagan's possible confirmation, based on Kagan's own career history.
In April, Maryland took a bold step that corrects at least one democratic abuse of its prison population. Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law the No Representation Without Population Act. This Act counts individuals who are in prison in their home districts rather than the districts where they are currently incarcerated when redistricting the state.
The goal of all senators, regardless of whether or not they support a bill, should be to discuss and debate the issue in order to reach a compromise that serves the needs of the people. It shouldn’t take constant threats and strategic maneuvering for the Senate to stop playing games and start legislating.
Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) and Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE) introduced the "Redistricting Transparency Act of 2010" this week. What is it, and why is it necessary? If passed, what would it fix?
Karl Rove has lately been broadcasting the importance of downballot elections in places with names like Brushy Creek. In 2010, a few smaller races will have an outsized impact on the national political stage. So he’s right....
There is little question that routine use of the filibuster, a de facto 60-vote requirement that inevitably leads to stalemate, defies the intent of those men in powdered wigs who carefully crafted our Constitution. This is not what the Framers had in mind.
