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Your one-stop destination for political reform, government ethics and accountability news and updates from a nonpartisan perspective.

“Why We Left Congress”: Excerpts of Our Conversation with Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)

Congress

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in October 2007. In August 2017, she announced that she would not be running for another term, saying she wanted to enjoy more time with her “wonderful and growing family.” Tsongas first represented Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District. She has represented Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District

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“Why We Left Congress”: Excerpts of Our Conversation with Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)

Congress

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) has represented Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District since January 2009. A former accountant who served six years as the treasurer of Kansas, Jenkins announced her decision to retire at the end of the 115th Congress in January 2017, citing plans to “explore opportunities to return to the private sector, allowing a new citizen legislator to step up

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Why We Left Congress: How the Legislative Branch is Broken and What We Can Do About It

Congress, Federal, Projects

Systemic institutional dysfunction was a leading cause for more than 50 Republican and Democratic members of Congress who voluntarily did not seek re-election this year, according to a new joint report by Issue One and the R Street Institute. Interviews with a select group of over half a dozen outgoing and recently-retired lawmakers who were vocal about why they chose

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Issue One launches 116th Congress with Capitol Hill event

Congress, ReFormers Caucus

Wednesday evening, Issue One brought together nearly two dozen Republican and Democratic champions for democracy to ring in the 116th Congress and capture this unique moment for political reform. Attendees included former, sitting, and incoming members of Congress who campaigned on and support fixing America’s broken political system. Three Congressional Reformers Caucus Co-chairs (CRC), Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO), Mike Gallagher

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More than 50 former members of Congress urge the FEC to close personal use loophole for leadership PACs

ReFormers Caucus

Today a bipartisan group of 58 members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus signed on to comments submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) calling on the agency to open a rulemaking to close the personal use loophole for leadership PACs. “We have a unique perspective on America’s campaign finance system and the need for regulations that are both effective and

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Issue One Honors the Life of ReFormer Elizabeth “Liz” Patterson

ReFormers Caucus

Issue One offers its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of former Congresswoman Elizabeth J. Patterson (D-SC). Rep. Patterson was a member of our ReFormers Caucus, a bipartisan coalition composed of more than 200 former members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and governors advocating for solutions to fix the broken political system. She passed away Saturday after an extended

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Event: Dark Money 2020

Events

The 2018 midterms are wrapping up, and political players have already begun gearing up for the 2020 presidential election. President Trump has already raised $100 million in preparation.  But there are still dozens of questions about the top dark money groups in 2018 — groups who will continue to be active in elections to come. In 2020, dark money spending

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Issue One honors the life of ReFormer Joseph D. Tydings

ReFormers Caucus

Issue One offers its most sincere condolences to the friends and family of former Senator Joseph D. Tydings (D-MD). Sen. Tydings was a member of our Reformers Caucus, a bipartisan coalition composed of 200 former Cabinet officials, governors and members of Congress advocating for solutions to fix the broken political system. He passed away Monday after a battle with cancer

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Then what, Bezos?

Philanthropy

The world’s richest man just made a significant foray into both political giving and philanthropy. In the span of a few weeks, Jeff Bezos has committed $10 million to a cross-partisan political action committee working to elect military veterans who have pledged to put “principles before politics,” and $2 billion to create his Day One Fund to combat homelessness and

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Read “Why We Left Congress: How the Legislative Branch Is Broken and What We Can Do About It”

Issue One’s new joint report with the R Street Institute examines the legislative branch’s dysfunction through conversations with members who have voluntarily departed in the 2018 cycle. Read the full report and proposed solutions in “Why We Left Congress: How the Legislative Branch is Broken and What We Can Do About It” here.