Analysis & Commentary
Democracy
Campaign Cash Finds Its Way to the Courtroom
Outside the realm of presidential politics there is a looming — and very serious — threat to our justice system. Despite all the attention focused on money in politics, few Americans know how much campaign cash is pouring into courts of law, and how it threatens to undermine equal justice for all.
Authored by: Adam Skaggs and Bert Brandenburg
– 12/14/11
A Call to Abolish the FEC
The federal commission has failed at the task of enforcing campaign finance rules and should be replaced.
Authored by: Adam Skaggs
– 12/01/11
Poll Watchers Need to Respect Voters’ Rights
It has been a long time since voters were legally turned away from the polls in Texas because they were too poor to vote. Sadly, however, that hasn't stopped the King Street Patriots, a Houston-area political organization, from hosting a public discussion about whether existing laws make it too easy for poor people to participate in elections.
Authored by: Nic Riley and Tamara Marshall
– 11/28/11
Letter to NYS Senate Majority on Petitions for Hearings
The Brennan Center's Lawrence Norden and Eric Lane write New York State Senate Majority Counsel Diane Burman to explain how the majority has misinterpreted Senate rules, resulting in the suppression of legitimate petitions to have public hearings on legislation. Public hearings on legislation are a basic part of the lawmaking process in most states but have been suppressed in New York's dysfunctional legislature.
Authored by: Lawrence Norden and Eric Lane
– 11/28/11
Congressional Response to Wave of Voting Restrictions
As individual states have been introducing and passing new laws that restrict access to the ballot box, members of Congress are responding at the federal level. They have introduced legislation, announced Congressional hearings, drafted letters, and given passionate floor speeches to stand up for the right to vote. This page will be updated as new Congressional actions are initiated.
– 11/17/11
Letter to the Department of Justice on Texas’s Section 5 Submission
Texas's new law, which imposes a government-issued photo ID requirement for voting, will disproportionately burden minority voters and produce discriminatory effects.
– 11/16/11
On ‘Moneyball’ and Super PACs
Just like the executives and big-league scouts in “Moneyball” who misread the baseball market by focusing on outdated statistics, political pundits breaking down the latest presidential fundraising figures are looking at the wrong numbers.
Authored by: Adam Skaggs
– 10/14/11
N.C. Should Fight to Keep Publicly Funded Judicial Campaigns
Judicial elections are different than legislative races, which is why North Carolina should maintain and strengthen its judicial public financing program as a vital bulwark against improper influence.
Authored by: David Earley
– 10/12/11
More than Combating Corruption: The Other Benefits of Public Financing
This report summarizes some of the reasons beyond the anti-corruption interest that public financing is worth instituting.
Authored by: Mimi Marziani, Laura Moy, Adam Skaggs, and Marcus Williams
– 10/07/11
Department of Justice Letter Seeking Texas Preclearance Denial
The Brennan Center for Justice, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Texas State Conference of the NAACP submitted a joint letter to the Department of Justice, relying on extensive statistical evidence to show that Texas’ newly-passed voter ID restrictions will disproportionately harm minority voting rights in the state.
– 09/15/11