Common Cause
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Blagojevich indictment: "All of us in politics do [it]"
January 29, 2009: Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closing argument today to the Illinois Senate in his impeachment trial may have fallen flat, but his indictment of the current state of politics in America was heard around the world. In explaining his pay-to-play statements caught by an FBI wiretap, Blagojevich said, "Those are conversations relating to the things all of us in politics do in order to run campaigns and try to win elections."
Read the press release...
Murtha pay-to-play: No change on Capitol Hill
January 27, 2009: A report today in Roll Call lays out in some detail how Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), faced with a tough re-election battle, called on government contractors to fund his campaign -- and they responded. This is only the latest in Murtha’s long career as Capitol Hill’s champion of pay-to-play and points to the crying need for reform on Capitol Hill.
Learn more about pay-to-play...Read more about Rep. Murtha on CommonBlog...
Support Rep. Frank's bailout reform bill
January 15, 2009: Common Cause is calling on Congress to pass Rep. Barney Frank's bill to provide more accountability, increase transparency and give more direct relief to communities with the second half of the economic bailout.
Read a summary of the bill...Take action...
Common Cause proposes “Clean Government for Change”
January 9, 2009: As the Illinois House today impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich for allegedly trying to sell a US Senate seat to the highest bidder, Common Cause announced a comprehensive reform package to address the pervasive pay-to-play political environment that threatens to further undermine public confidence in government.
Read the press release...
DC voting rights on the move
January 7, 2008: On the day the 111th Congress opened for business, bills were introduced to give the District of Columbia a seat in the US House. HR 157 and S 160 are identical to bills that had majority support in both houses last year and their early passage would give President Obama and the new Congress a victory on a key voting rights issue.
Learn more about DC voting rights...
Corporate Democracy: Potential fallout from a Supreme Court decision on Citizens United
October 2009
The impending Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which could be announced as early as November, is expected to significantly expand the role of the most powerful special interests in financing American elections. The Court appears poised to turn its back on more than 100 years of law and pave the way for corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on direct campaigns to elect or defeat federal candidates.
Boeing and Lockheed Fly High as Senate Considers More Fighter Jets
July 2009
Boeing and Lockheed Martin will be watching the Senate closely this week as it considers the defense authorization bill, which includes $1.75 billion for seven new F-22 Raptors that Defense Secretary Robert Gates says are not needed. Combined, these two companies have given nearly $1.4 million in campaign contributions so far this year to 50 senators as the companies have fought to continue funding for the much-criticized fighter jet.
Legislating Under the Influence
June 2009
As the debate over reforming the health care system heats up in Congress, a new report by Common Cause finds that major health care interests are spending more than $1.4 million a day to lobby Capitol Hill so far this year, and that those same health care interests have significantly ramped up campaign contributions, donating about $373 million to Members of Congress since 2000.
