[EL] New Brennan Center money in politics newsletter

Thu Feb 20 06:15:48 PST 2014

Hi folks,

I wanted to share the Brennan Center’s inaugural money in politics newsletter, which went out this morning. If you didn’t get it already and would like to sign up, go here and click to receive updates on money in politics.

http://www.brennancenter.org/signup

Thanks!

Erik Opsal
Senior Communications Coordinator
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, NY  10013
646.292.8356 | erik.opsal at nyu.edu<mailto:erik.opsal at nyu.edu>
brennancenter.org<http://www.brennancenter.org/> | @BrennanCenter<http://twitter.com/BrennanCenter>

[http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/newsletter/images/masthead_small.png]<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10900&qid=442368>

Welcome to the Brennan Center’s inaugural Money in Politics<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10901&qid=442368> newsletter. Each month, we will highlight the latest news on the role of big money in politics, its potential impact on the 2014 election, and reform efforts nationwide. For more updates, visit our website<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10349&qid=303950> and check us out on Facebook<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10400&qid=303950> and Twitter<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10401&qid=303950>.
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Money in Politics News
New York Edges Closer to Public Financing
[http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/newsletter/images/Gov.%20Cuomo.jpg]New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo included<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10902&qid=442368> funding for public financing of elections in his 2014 budget. The proposed system, modeled on New York City’s successful program, would match<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10903&qid=442368> small donations of up to $175 with six times that amount in public funds for candidates who agree to lower contribution limits and other restrictions. It would cost each New Yorker less than a penny a day. Polls<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10904&qid=442368> show broad support for public financing, a proven<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10964&qid=442368> method of magnifying the voices of small donors.
By putting this proposal in his budget, where he has significant leverage over the legislature, Cuomo has shown his commitment to enacting real reform. But that is just the first step — passing a public financing bill will require continued constituent pressure. The Brennan Center and a coalition of advocacy groups rallied in Albany<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10965&qid=442368> Tuesday, urging the governor and legislators to change the state’s antiquated campaign finance system. “Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposed changes to campaign laws offer the best chance at fixing a broken system in about a century,” wrote Brennan Center President Michael Waldman and Hofstra Law School Dean Eric Lane in Newsday<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10906&qid=442368>. “It’s an opportunity Cuomo and state lawmakers can’t afford to miss.”
Donors on Both Sides Plan Super PAC Push
[http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/newsletter/images/101113%20Newsletter%202.JPG]Big donors on both the left and right are gearing up ahead of the midterm elections. Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer plans to spend $100 million<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10955&qid=442368> on key races nationwide, focusing on climate change issues. And Republican Paul Singer is leading a group of major donors<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10956&qid=442368> to support GOP candidates in 2014. Outside spending from Super PACs and nonprofit groups played a key role in the 2012 election, and appears poised to impact Senate and House races<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10912&qid=442368> this year as well.
“A small number of the richest individuals in America are attempting to use their enormous wealth to purchase government decisions to advance their own personal interests,” Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, told The New York Times. “This is about as far away as we can get from ‘representative government.’”
Federal Public Financing Bills an Important Step Toward National Reform
[http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/newsletter/images/1%20houseofreps.png]Earlier this month, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) introduced<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10908&qid=442368> the second bill this Congress to establish a small-donor matching system for congressional races. The Government By the People Act<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10909&qid=442368> would match small contributions at a 6:1 ratio, and provide a refundable tax credit for small donors. Candidates who choose to rely solely on small donations would receive further incentives, including a 9:1 federal match and additional funds if the final days of a race see unrestricted outsized spending. The Brennan Center praised<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10910&qid=442368> its introduction, noting its enactment would be “a big stride for democracy.”
The Center also reiterated its strong support for the Empowering Citizens Act<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10911&qid=442368>, introduced last year, which provides comprehensive solutions to the problem of big money in politics. The measure would repair the presidential public financing system, create a small-donor system for congressional races, and shut down the kind of candidate-specific Super PACs that are becoming ubiquitous at the federal level. Hailed this week by The New York Times<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10954&qid=442368>, the bill draws on the lessons learned from New York City’s successful program, as well as a proposal<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10966&qid=442368> published by the Brennan Center and Democracy 21.
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National & State Roundup

 *   A new poll<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10957&qid=442368> from the Fund for the Republic says 90 percent of Americans “think it’s very or somewhat important” to curb money in politics. The group is part of a growing number of philanthropic organizations<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10958&qid=442368> joining the fight against big money and exploring new legal theories to overturn Citizens United.

 *   A campaign group is changing its misleading fundraising websites after numerous complaints from donors, candidates, and legal experts. “At least 15 websites that appear to be official campaign sites for Democratic candidates are actually run by the National Republican Congressional Committee,” wrote CNN<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10959&qid=442368>.

 *   Some unions and trade associations are worried<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10977&qid=442368> they could get caught up in new IRS rules policing nonprofit political spending. The Brennan Center and many other watchdog groups<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10961&qid=442368> generally support the rules<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10967&qid=442368> with some improvements. Similarly, The New York Times<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10968&qid=442368> called on the IRS to move quickly and strengthen the proposal.

 *   Bill Moyers spoke to Harvard Law Prof. Lawrence Lessig about his two-week, 185-mile march<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10963&qid=442368> through New Hampshire “to raise awareness of the crippling problem of corruption in American politics.”

 *   GOP insurgents are raising more money<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10913&qid=442368> than the party’s establishment.

 *   Montgomery County, Md., the state’s most populous, is considering a bill<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10914&qid=442368> for public financing of local races.

 *   A Louisiana Super PAC formed to support U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R) is challenging<http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10915&qid=442368> the state’s contribution limits.

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