The latest news from Issue One as we unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system.
Issue One offers our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of former Congressman Amo Houghton as we remember his remarkable life. Congressman Houghton was a vital and active member of our ReFormers Caucus, a bipartisan coalition composed of 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials advocating for solutions to fix our broken political system. He passed
Read MoreIn response to the news that Senate Republicans will hold a confirmation hearing next week for Federal Election Commission (FEC) nominee Trey Trainor, Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee released the following statement: “It is unacceptable that the watchdog for our federal elections has been without a quorum to conduct even the most basic business for more than six months.
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Today, Issue One’s podcast “Swamp Stories” is proud to announce that it has joined a new network of podcasts called “The Democracy Group.” “Swamp Stories” is one of eight initial podcasts joining the network that each cover civil discourse, civic engagement, and issues of democracy. The others shows include: The Science of Politics by Michigan State University & the Niskanen
Read MoreTestimony from: Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Issue One Before the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the House Committee on Appropriations March 4, 2020 (Download.) Chairman Ryan, Ranking Member Herrera Beutler, and Subcommittee members—thank you for inviting me to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to address the capacity of the legislative branch. My name is Meredith McGehee, and I have
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Today marks the start of the seventh month since the Federal Election Commission (FEC) lost its ability to do its job due to the resignation of one commissioner in August. With three seats on the six-member FEC vacant, the agency that oversees all federal campaign finance issues is one person short of a quorum. Without a quorum, the FEC cannot
Read MoreOutside groups, like super PACs and dark money organizations, frequently skirt anti-coordination rules designed to prevent wealthy donors and special interests from garnering undue influence in our elections. Issue One published a groundbreaking report last month called “Coordination Watch,” designed to help the public and the press identify coordination between outside groups and candidates. This project detailed six questions to
Read More“Politicians shouldn’t pick their voters. Voters should pick their politicians.” No reform issue has gained more momentum across the country in recent years than banning partisan gerrymandering. It’s united Republicans, Democrats, and independents at the state and local level who want better representation and more say in how district lines are drawn. But it’s also brought the fight over political
Read MoreEven as the loss of a quorum prevents the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from performing most of its duties, the agency continues to make the campaign finance reports filed by candidates and groups available on its website. Here are some of the most critical numbers to know from the latest reports, which were filed by presidential candidates on Thursday. How
Read More“We have a system in which the candidates can’t even control their own campaign. And when others can control the campaigns, and it’s being driven not by principle, but profit, you know, you’re going to end up with a system that is badly @#$%&* up.” That’s what Mark McKinnon, former political advisor to George W. Bush and John McCain, said
Read MoreToday, Issue One joins a group of political reform organizations in filing an amicus brief at the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Michigan in support of the voter-approved independent redistricting commission that passed overwhelmingly in 2018. “We know that you cannot take the politics out of redistricting, but you can and should take the politicians
Read MoreWe just launched a social media campaign in states around the country about the need for Congress to include funding in the Phase III stimulus bill to give every voter the choice of voting early and voting by mail.
Watch the ad and read our statement.
