Press Releases
Campaign Finance Reform
Joint Statement on Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
In yesterday's State of the State Address, Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to lead the push for what could become the most important reform in the nation in 2012: reducing the massive influence of big money in our political system through public financing of elections for New York State.
– 01/05/12
Brennan Center Praises Cuomo’s Support of Public Financing
Following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address, the Brennan Center released this statement from Executive Director Michael Waldman.
– 01/04/12
Karl Rove Coordination Request: Another FEC Failure
After the FEC deadlock today on an advisory opinion request submitted on behalf of Karl Rove, the Brennan Center released the following statement from Senior Counsel Adam Skaggs.
– 12/01/11
Shareholders Deserve To Know How Corporations Spend Their Money in Elections
The Shareholder Protection Act, introduced today in both the U.S. House and Senate, is a commonsense bill that would help mitigate the effects of the Supreme Court’s damaging decision last year in Citizens United, which gave corporations the First Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections.
– 07/13/11
Supreme Court Strikes Down “Trigger” Funds, But Public Financing Remains Constitutional
The Brennan Center for Justice defended Arizona's campaign finance law before the Supreme Court with its pro bono counsel Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. The Center released the following statement from Executive Director Michael Waldman on the Supreme Court’s decision in McComish v. Bennett.
– 06/27/11
Victory for New York State: Comptroller Public Financing Bill Passes Assembly
After the New York State Assembly passed a bill to create a voluntary public financing system for New York State’s Comptroller’s race, the Brennan Center released a statement praising the vote and urging the Senate to pass the bill.
– 06/21/11
Citing Unique Role of Judges, Groups Urge Court to Uphold Public Finance Law
Declaring that judges play a unique role in our governmental system, two nonpartisan national reform groups urged a federal appeals court today to uphold Wisconsin’s Impartial Justice Act, which provides for public financing of state Supreme Court elections.
– 06/17/11
Comptroller Public Financing Bill: A Good Start for New York State
The Brennan Center released a statement in support of the proposed bill to create a voluntary public financing system for New York State's Comptroller's race, saying it is a good start and should be extended to New York's other statewide and legislative elections.
– 06/15/11
Reform Groups Support Letter in Favor of President Obama’s Proposed Transparency Executive Order
Yesterday a group of 25 Representatives wrote a letter to President Obama expressing support for his draft executive order to require disclosure of campaign spending by government contractors. The Brennan Center, and five other reform groups, support this important effort and join in urging the president to sign the order promptly.
– 06/03/11
Broad Bipartisan Support of Arizona’s Public Financing System
Arizona's public campaign financing system — at issue in a high-profile case before the U.S. Supreme Court — drew support yesterday from a prominent group of bipartisan political leaders, business executives, constitutional law experts, and political scientists.
– 02/23/11