Press Release
Government Watchdog Supports New Bill to Ban Members of Congress from Trading Stock
Majority of Americans support a stock trading ban
Press
Media Contacts
Katie Scally
Communications Director
kscally@commoncause.org
202-736-5713
Ariana Marmolejo
Communications Strategist
amarmolejo@commoncause.org
Kenny Colston
Regional Communications Strategist (Midwest)
kcolston@commoncause.org
Maya Majikas
Communications Strategist
mmajikas@commoncause.org
Common Cause’s network of national and state democracy reform experts are frequent media commentators. To talk with one of our experts, please reach out to any member of the press team above.
News Clip
The Mercury News: Court upholds California’s anti-pay-to-play law barring votes benefiting campaign contributors
The law was backed by the good governance organization California Common Cause, which described it as “a common sense and long overdue pro-democracy reform” that already exists in other states and in certain California cities.
Striking down the law would go against the “will of the people,” said Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause.
“This law protects Californians from the pay-to-play corruption and the appearance of corruption that plagues our cities and counties, and...
Striking down the law would go against the “will of the people,” said Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause.
“This law protects Californians from the pay-to-play corruption and the appearance of corruption that plagues our cities and counties, and...
News Clip
Oregon Capital Chronicle (Op-Ed): Oregon legislative proposal would expand voter rolls
If we want Oregon elections to fully reflect the will of the people, then every eligible Oregonian who wants to participate should have easy access to register and vote.
Registering to vote shouldn’t be a chore – for you, me, or anyone else.
Registering to vote shouldn’t be a chore – for you, me, or anyone else.
Press Release
Common Cause Files Amicus Brief Defending Independent Redistricting in High-Stakes Anti-Gerrymandering Case
Common Cause has filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the State of Utah to protect the 2018 voter-approved citizens redistricting commission in League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature. In the brief, the national, anti-gerrymandering group underscores how the state has ignored the will of the people by passing legislation that imposes impartial voting maps and abandons the key principles of fair redistricting.
News Clip
Times Union (Op-Ed): To boost voter participation, simplify wording on ballots
In 2024, voters will again be faced with a slew of statewide ballot proposals on important topics. If we don’t pass the plain language bill before then, we run the risk that voters will be confused and discouraged and opt out of the process. Voters of all languages and literacy levels deserve equal access at the ballot box.
News Clip
Indianapolis Star: Voting rights advocates worry new Indiana law will disenfranchise vulnerable voters
It's likely the law will be challenged in court. Common Cause Indiana Executive Director Julia Vaughn said "it creates serious questions about violations of the United States Constitution and the Civil Rights Act."
Several organizations including Common Cause say the legislation would disproportionately affect the elderly, minorities who already facing barriers to voting and voters who use alternate voting methods like travel boards or the military post card application. Voting rights groups are especially worried those who are...
Several organizations including Common Cause say the legislation would disproportionately affect the elderly, minorities who already facing barriers to voting and voters who use alternate voting methods like travel boards or the military post card application. Voting rights groups are especially worried those who are...
News Clip
Mother Jones: Republicans Are Trying to Seize Control Over Voting In Texas’ Largest Democratic County
Harris County has become the epicenter for what Common Cause Texas calls the “Texas Edition of the Big Lie.”
“It’s a really intentional form of partisan takeovers of local election offices,” says Katya Ehresman, voting rights program manager for Common Cause Texas.
“It’s a really intentional form of partisan takeovers of local election offices,” says Katya Ehresman, voting rights program manager for Common Cause Texas.
News Clip
Texas Tribune: Harris County must remove its elections chief under new legislation headed to Gov. Greg Abbott
“All of these changes together are forcing Harris County voters to live in a different set of circumstances than the rest of the state. This is creating a disparate scenario for those voters and barriers to well run elections,” said Katya Ehresman, voting rights program director at Common Cause Texas. “There’s a clear partisan element to that with Harris County growing in its Democratic stronghold. But there’s also definitely a disparate racial impact element to these bills continuing to pass as the county is home to the largest...
Press Release
Unions, public interest advocates thwart hedge fund’s attempted takeover of local news and set groundbreaking FCC precedent
“Today’s developments are a resounding win – we say YES to long term investment in local newsrooms that make America’s democracy stronger,” said Kathay Feng, Vice President for Programs at Common Cause.
News Clip
Arizona Republic: After vowing to back LGBTQ Arizonans, Hobbs vetoes bill on transgender student names
"The Voter Privacy Violation Act was pushed under the false guise of transparency when in reality, it was based on conspiracies and would have only served to further facilitate the rampant spread of election misinformation," Common Cause Arizona Program Director
Jenny Guzman said in a statement.
Jenny Guzman said in a statement.
News Clip
PolitiFact: Fact-checking ‘Succession’: What happens if a fire destroys 100,000 absentee ballots in Milwaukee?
A similar case would go through the court system in Wisconsin and eventually find its way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin. Republicans may also appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Unfortunately, I think politics would play a role in both state Supreme Court and in the U.S. Supreme Court," Heck said, "which is why this hypothetical scenario I hope never happens, because it would be awful."
"Unfortunately, I think politics would play a role in both state Supreme Court and in the U.S. Supreme Court," Heck said, "which is why this hypothetical scenario I hope never happens, because it would be awful."
News Clip
Houston Chronicle: Texas lawmakers decline online voter registration bills, despite 40-plus states having the option
"We've had 130-something days and no hearings on online voter registration, but multiple hearings on criminal penalty bills or firing elections administrator bills or state takeover bills," said Katya Ehresman, the voting rights program manager for Common Cause Texas. "That is a clear priority of lawmakers, as opposed to making it easier for people to vote, and instead just kind of spread these conspiracy theories of unfounded voter fraud."
News Clip
Broadcasting & Cable (Op-Ed): Why Standard General’s Proposed Tegna Merger Hurts Our Democracy
Local news is facing a stiff headwind as it fights to remain viable in an environment where media consolidation is gutting newsrooms across the country. That is why Common Cause is opposed to gigantic hedge funds and investment groups taking over media outlets — because inevitably, they are in it to extract profits.
