Disclosure is the foundation of campaign finance regulation. Being able to follow the money in our elections allows the public to hold those who give it and spend it responsible. Money matters – and society should be able to see where it goes. Essentially, disclosure requirements are in place to show who is giving money in politics, whether that money
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The presumed frontrunner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination had raised millions of dollars, traveled around the country, and given speech after speech about the future of the nation, all before declaring himself a candidate. If you want to cut Jeb Bush’s newly-minted campaign a check, you’ll be bound by current campaign contribution limits to $2,700. Until he formally announced his
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Some good news out of Alabama, where state legislators have recognized that without well-defined regulations and clear enforcement mechanisms, it is impossible to monitor the flow of money into and out of elections. Alabama’s newly amended campaign finance laws prioritize making regulations clearer and more effective. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), fills a major oversight gap by authorizing
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This is part of a series examining ethics, transparency and campaign finance proposals in the states. Washington, D.C. is the only place in the country where money-in-politics reform is a tough sell. Outside the Beltway, America’s cities and states are taking the lead in implementing innovative policy solutions that get to the heart of the problem. Here’s a run-down on what’s happening right
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It’s no secret that campaigns are big money-makers. The 2012 election, the most expensive in history, cost over $7 billion — that’s a lot of buttons and yard signs. Through October 29, 2012, President Obama and Governor Romney spent $265 million on campaign advertisements alone as they battled for the national audience’s attention. It sounds glib, but when candidates spend,
Read MoreAccording to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about the influence of money in politics. 85% of respondents, including 81% of Republicans, said our current campaign finance system should be fundamentally changed or completely overhauled. Numbers like that are hard to ignore, and presidential hopefuls from both parties are already weighing in
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