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.
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Tribune News Service/Inside Sources/MSN (Op-Ed): No American is above the law, not even former presidents
At the height of the Watergate crisis, the Department of Justice determined that the indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting president “would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions.” That policy has not changed, but that is not the policy for candidates for the nation’s highest office. Running for president cannot and must not serve as a shield to allow criminal conduct to go unpunished.
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New York Post: Gov. Kathy Hochul slammed for fundraising pitch amid tense budget talks
“Governor Hochul — and all lawmakers — should be focused on passing the state budget as soon as possible, not fundraising,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of NY Common Cause.
Lerner noted that part of the budget would help fund a new public campaign finance program aimed at reducing the role of fat cat donors in elections. Candidates who accept lower dollar donations would get public matching funds.
“If we had a successful and robust public financing program, lawmakers would be concentrated on...
Lerner noted that part of the budget would help fund a new public campaign finance program aimed at reducing the role of fat cat donors in elections. Candidates who accept lower dollar donations would get public matching funds.
“If we had a successful and robust public financing program, lawmakers would be concentrated on...
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The Record/Gannett: Some NJ officials will no longer have to disclose their addresses. This is why
There needs to be an effort to find a balance, said Heather Ferguson, director of New Jersey operations for Common Cause, a Washington, D.C.-based ethics advocacy group.
“There’s a good way to balance the transparency aspect and also help out elected officials as I think we have been entering some unprecedented times where they’re rightfully concerned about their safety and security,” she said.
“There’s a good way to balance the transparency aspect and also help out elected officials as I think we have been entering some unprecedented times where they’re rightfully concerned about their safety and security,” she said.
Press Release
Trump Indictment Comes 5 Years After Common Cause Filed Complaint with DOJ for Hush Money Payments
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Charlotte Observer: Boxed out by GOP gains, NC progressive groups seek to reignite resistance
Sailor Jones, associate director of Common Cause North Carolina, alluded to those setbacks in addressing the audience. “This time, my friends, the courts will not save us,” Jones said. “Who will?”
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Miami Herald (Op-Ed): Speak up, Floridians, before the Legislature takes away our right to speak freely
We are being silenced in Florida, with dangerous legislation making its way through the state Legislature that could stifle the ability of everyday Floridians to speak freely.
House Bill 991 and the companion bill Senate Bill 1220 would dramatically change our state’s defamation laws and allow for monetary judgments when elected officials or others think they’ve been slighted on social media or in critical press reports.
By doing away with the long-held standard of proving actual malice or ill intent in a...
House Bill 991 and the companion bill Senate Bill 1220 would dramatically change our state’s defamation laws and allow for monetary judgments when elected officials or others think they’ve been slighted on social media or in critical press reports.
By doing away with the long-held standard of proving actual malice or ill intent in a...
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Texas Tribune: Texas may be about to scrap a voting security system it can’t replace
“ERIC was somehow bad because some people here characterized Pew as this ultraliberal foundation funding all of this ultraliberal and crazy stuff," said Julia Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana. The organization was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the state in 2017.
“[IDEA] was a political stunt. And our voter rolls continue to need attention,” Vaughn said. “We gave up on trying to convince [Indiana state officials] to join ERIC a long time ago. They proactively said, ‘We don’t want anything to do...
“[IDEA] was a political stunt. And our voter rolls continue to need attention,” Vaughn said. “We gave up on trying to convince [Indiana state officials] to join ERIC a long time ago. They proactively said, ‘We don’t want anything to do...
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Colorado Politics: Proposal to cap candidate contributions in Colorado’s local elections advances
Elizabeth Steele with the nonprofit Colorado Common Cause said even if HB 1245 doesn’t apply to all cities, it will make a difference in leveling the playing field for voters and candidates alike. Steele said it will increase the value of support from everyday citizens, and make it easier for candidates who aren’t independently wealthy to run for office.
“HB 1245 might not address some of the issues we are reading about related to money in the mayoral races in Denver and Colorado Springs … but it will address other...
“HB 1245 might not address some of the issues we are reading about related to money in the mayoral races in Denver and Colorado Springs … but it will address other...
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The Oregonian: Port of Morrow commissioners, already under investigation, keep voting on Amazon’s data center tax deals
Kate Titus, of the good government organization Common Cause Oregon, said elected officials should consider more than just their minimum legal requirements when conducting the public’s business.
“There’s what the law mandates, but above and beyond that, there’s also what’s ethical. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical or in the best interest of the people,” Titus said.
“Public perception matters. Elected officials can’t just follow the letter of the law, they need to follow...
“There’s what the law mandates, but above and beyond that, there’s also what’s ethical. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical or in the best interest of the people,” Titus said.
“Public perception matters. Elected officials can’t just follow the letter of the law, they need to follow...
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Houston Chronicle: New Texas House committee debates gun-free zones, magazine sales
The bill received pushback from gun safety advocates like Katya Ehresman, the voting rights program manager at Common Cause Texas. She said the legislation would make some voters and poll workers feel unsafe.
“Texas has endured a period of increasing political violence and intimidation, especially against election workers,” Ehresman said. “HB 636 would create confusion amid existing state and federal laws and increase intimidation.”
“Texas has endured a period of increasing political violence and intimidation, especially against election workers,” Ehresman said. “HB 636 would create confusion amid existing state and federal laws and increase intimidation.”
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Ohio Capital Journal: Revived measure to require 60% for Ohio constitutional amendments gets first hearing
Catherine Turcer, of Common Cause Ohio, argued Huffman is attempting to “play games” with the Ohio Constitution.
“It is inappropriate to cherry-pick an election in August which is likely to have poor voter turnout,” Turcer argued. “For more than 100 years, Ohioans have had the right to come together, gather enough signatures, and place a proposal on the ballot.”
“Citizen-led ballot measures aren’t overused,” she added. “We haven’t had one on the ballot since 2018. It’s unnecessary to make...
“It is inappropriate to cherry-pick an election in August which is likely to have poor voter turnout,” Turcer argued. “For more than 100 years, Ohioans have had the right to come together, gather enough signatures, and place a proposal on the ballot.”
“Citizen-led ballot measures aren’t overused,” she added. “We haven’t had one on the ballot since 2018. It’s unnecessary to make...
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New York Times: Michael Cohen’s Long Arc From Trump Ally to Chief Antagonist
But one issue trailed him: a complaint had been filed with the Federal Election Commission by the good-government group Common Cause about his payment to Ms. Daniels, which was publicly revealed in January 2018 by The Wall Street Journal.
