The latest news from Issue One as we unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system.
“Our politics increasingly are just us talking to people who we agree with. As believers, we ought to be talking to each other because we are bound together by a whole lot more. That’s really why we’re here.” – Weston Wamp Yesterday, Issue One leaders hosted “People of Faith: Engage 2020,” a virtual summit about the intersection of faith and
Read MoreNote: This piece first appeared on the Federalist Society’s “Modernization of Congress” blog Working in Congress both as a Senate staffer and Member from Indiana solidified my long-held belief that our first branch of government serves as the true reflection of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of the American people. There is simply no other way to ensure our mutual
Read MoreToday, President Trump explicitly stated that cuts to the United States Postal Service (USPS) were an effort to curb mail-in voting. In response, Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee released the following statement: “President Trump must end his war on the United States Postal Service and our democratic institutions. A vibrant and fully operational postal service is critical to our
Read MoreToday, Reps. Ben Cline (R-VA) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) introduced H.R. 8022, the Lobbying Disclosure Reform Act of 2020 (LDA). This is the first substantive update of the LDA in over a decade, and helps reflect what lobbying looks like in 2020. Significantly, it was crafted and introduced in a bipartisan manner. Since 2007, there has been a marked overall
Read MoreAs coronavirus stimulus negotiations appear to have reached an impasse in Congress, Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee released the following statement: “House Republicans have called for additional federal funding for safe and secure elections. Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt has called for additional emergency federal funding. Election officials across the country have called for additional federal funding. It’s
Read More“So the question for Republicans is whether we’re ready to take on political reform and look at these issues through the principled lens of conservatism instead of a partisan, political one… Because fixing our broken political system is the smart thing to do — and it’s the right thing to do.” The issue of fixing our political system isn’t a
Read MoreThe Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most significant and successful pieces of civil rights legislation ever passed in the United States, was signed into law 55 years ago today. In response, Issue One ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), who both served for many years with the late Rep. John Lewis (D-GA),
Read MoreOutside groups, especially super PACs and dark money organizations, frequently skirt anti-coordination rules designed to prevent wealthy donors and special interests from wielding undue influence in our elections– effectively violating contribution limits that protect against “corruption or the appearance of corruption.” Begun earlier this year, Coordination Watch identifies notable instances of coordination between outside groups and candidates. This project details
Read MoreIssue One has joined more than a dozen other organizations from across the political spectrum in urging senators to make appropriations mark-ups more accessible to the American people. Implementing a livestream of video and audio of all legislative mark-ups “would guarantee undiluted press and public access to the proceedings,” states the new letter, which was sent today to Sens. Richard
Read MoreToday, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress unanimously approved 12 key recommendations to improve continuity of government and congressional operations. Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee issued the following statement: “Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the modernization committee continues to churn out much-needed recommendations to improve the operations of Congress. This set of bipartisan reforms
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