Analysis & Commentary
Campaign Finance Reform
State Should Not Move Backward on Disclosure
Secretive political spending is on the rise in Wisconsin’s elections, but last week a legislative committee voted to roll back disclosure rules that will bring this spending to light.
Authored by: Mark Ladov
– 07/06/11
Try Public Financing on the State Level
Government corruption keeps making headlines. Such news makes the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision striking down part of Arizona's public financing law particularly troubling. Fortunately for New Yorkers, the Empire State still has plenty of weapons to fight corruption in government.
Authored by: Mark Ladov and Lawrence Norden
– 07/06/11
Michael Waldman on MSNBC Discussing McComish v. Bennett
The Brennan Center's Executive Director Michael Waldman appeared on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown to discuss McComish v. Bennett and the future of campaign finance law.
– 06/24/11
Money, Politics, and the Constitution: A Public Conversation
The Brennan Center and The Century Foundation examined what could be next for the First Amendment, how to advance a new jurisprudence that combats the rise of unfettered money in politics, and how to advance a vision of the Constitution as a charter for a vibrant, participatory democracy.
– 06/22/11
The People’s Business
Secret spending in elections is toxic. The Obama administration's draft executive order to increase transparency in political spending is a big step in the right direction. It is time for the president to sign it.
Authored by: Elizabeth Kennedy and Adam Skaggs
– 06/16/11
The People’s Business: Disclosure of Political Spending by Government Contractors
President Obama's draft executive order to require government contractors to disclose political spending will prevent corruption and save taxpayer dollars by bringing transparency to political spending.
Authored by: Elizabeth Kennedy and Adam Skaggs
– 06/16/11
Why is GOP Fighting Disclosure?
For years, campaign finance debaters all agreed on one thing: disclosure. Now President Barack Obama ponders an executive order to require federal contractors to make public their campaign spending.
Authored by: Michael Waldman
– 06/10/11
An Attack on Elections With Broad Implications
Reasonable people can debate the wisdom of voting to oust elected representatives before their terms are up – or the merits of rethinking the rules that govern public-sector unions. But there is no way to defend the one-two move to destroy a crucial safeguard of judicial integrity while burdening the right to vote.
Authored by: Mimi Marziani
– 06/04/11
In Wisconsin, Judges Are Elected—But Candidates Are Now Publicly Financed
Wisconsin’s 2011 Supreme Court election has been widely criticized, but there are also some silver linings. Most importantly, this election illustrates the importance of Wisconsin’s new judicial public financing system.
Authored by: Mark Ladov and Maria da Silva
– 05/06/11
Darkness or Disclosure?
Secret spending in our elections is a toxic problem. But last week, strong steps in the right direction were taken to fix it.
Authored by: Elizabeth Kennedy
– 04/27/11