The Moreland Commission has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the corrupting nature of New York’s broken campaign finance system and the crisis of public trust it engenders. It must take bold action and push transformative polices.
When big money holds so much power over Albany, members of the public turn away in disgust, and democracy loses its lifeblood. Only comprehensive campaign finance reform, with public financing at its core, can restore public trust in government.
Reflecting a shift in attitudes towards the flawed mass incarceration system, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a recent hearing titled “Reevaluating the Effectiveness of Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentences.”
Wealthy interests have undue influence over Albany's policy choices, eroding public trust in government. Comprehensive campaign finance reform, with a small donor matching system like New York City's at its core, can help restore that trust.
The Brennan Center submitted testimony in support of the Federal Judgeship Act of 2013, legislation that would create much needed judgeships in the federal courts.
The Presidential Commission on Election Administration held its fourth public meeting Thursday, hearing testimony from election officials, political scientists, and voting experts on best practices for running elections.
The Brennan Center submitted comments to the SEC in support of a pending petition that, if approved, would require corporations to disclose political spending.
Unless Congress acts, there is a real risk that a significant number of discriminatory voting changes could be put in effect in jurisdictions previously covered by the law.
In response to the U.S. Sentencing Commission's call for comments on sentencing priorities, the Brennan Center suggests several reforms that could greatly reduce the size and severity of the federal justice system.
