“Voter ID Bill Passes NC House on Party Lines”
AP reports. [corrected link]
Monthly Archives: April 2013
Political Polarization: In Congress or in Us?
A new Washington Post-Pew Research Center Poll, here, on the recent failure of gun legislation, casts broader light on the political polarization that began in the 1980s and has increasingly characterized American democracy ever since. In sorting out the… Continue reading
“Low Turnout, High Cost: Time to Rethink Special Elections?”
“Graham’s campaign collects bundle from lobbyists”
“The Filibuster and Reconciliation: The Future of Majoritarian Lawmaking in the U.S. Senate”
Tonja Jacobi and Jeff Van Dam have posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
The filibuster has effectively become a supermajority requirement for all lawmaking in the Senate, an effect worsened by ill-conceived attempts at its reform. Once… Continue reading
“S.E.C. Gets Plea: Force Companies to Disclose Donations”
NYT: “A loose coalition of Democratic elected officials, shareholder activists and pension funds has flooded the Securities and Exchange Commission with calls to require publicly traded corporations to disclose to shareholders all of their political donations, a move that… Continue reading
Politifact Rates Statements about Proposed Florida Voting Changes “Half True”
Politifact:
Florida lawmakers are poised to pass voting law changes after being mocked for long lines and delayed results during the 2012 presidential election.
But in the waning days of the legislative session, Senate Democrats are criticizing the plan… Continue reading
“Taking on American Political Dysfunction without Changing the Constitution”
FairVote: “In his draft paper on Political Dysfunction and Constitutional Change, University of California-Irvine professor Rick Hasen makes a powerful case for the need for out-of-the-box thinking on American political reform. But he also makes a curious omission. Fair… Continue reading
“Ron Wyden, Lisa Murkowski Unveil Bipartisan Campaign Finance Bill”
“On Filibuster, It’s Past Time to End ‘False Equivalence’”
“Dark-money bill progress reflects legislative corruption”
The latest from Montana.
Sad News: Bob Edgar Passes
Common Cause is deeply saddened to announce that Bob Edgar, its president and CEO, died suddenly this morning at his home. Bob was 69.
“We are deeply saddened and shaken today by the passing of Bob Edgar,” said Common… Continue reading
“Industry PACs give heavily to new GOP House chairmen”
“Rangel lawsuit airs ethics’ panel laundry”
Al Kamen: “Talk about not letting sleeping dogs lie. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court seeking to have his 2010 House censure overturned….But some of the addendums to the lawsuit make for interesting reading.… Continue reading