Commentary

The IRS will no longer require certain nonprofits to report the names of their donors. This rule change will make it easier for secret and foreign money to flood our political system. States and localities will need to push back with forceful transparency measures.

In 2018, Colorado’s gubernatorial primary candidates fundraised and spent record amounts. This was a big point of contention for candidates in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, where Rep. Jared Polis, the race’s biggest spender, secured a win. Seth Masket explores the various roles of money in this election and presents campaign donations as a form of public service.

According to a new statistical study, consumers of color and those who earn low incomes stand to lose, while lenders stand to gain, when their home-state U.S. senator rises through the ranks. Lenders protected by powerful politicians appear able to reduce compliance with fair-lending rules without expecting to be penalized[CL1] . Reductions in fair lending are most pronounced in areas where banks have a record of giving campaign donations to these politicians. These findings, coupled with recent deregulatory moves by the Trump Treasury Department, have broad implications for the future of laws that serve to combat discriminatory lending practices.