Your one-stop destination for political reform, government ethics and accountability news and updates from a nonpartisan perspective.
This week, Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX) and Jim Cooper (D-TN) joined in sponsoring the bipartisan Honest Ads Act, the best first step to protect U.S. elections from foreign interference. They join Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) who also signed on to the bill this week, bringing the total number of sponsors to 33 members in the House
Read MoreThis week, Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) joined in sponsoring the bipartisan Honest Ads Act, the best first step to protect U.S. elections from foreign interference. This brings the number of bipartisan sponsors of the bill to 31 members in the House and Senate. “It is encouraging that bipartisan support for this commonsense bill to protect our
Read MoreA new report from the Office of Inspector General at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) provides new information about how the agency’s internal watchdog has been hamstrung for months — a concerning state of affairs that was also detailed in Issue One’s recent report “Busted and Broke: Why the Federal Election Commission doesn’t work.” In short: The FEC’s Office of
Read MoreIn response to special counsel Robert Mueller’s public remarks today that Russia’s multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our elections “deserve the attention of every American,” Issue One CEO Nick Penniman released the following statement: “Special counsel Mueller repeatedly stressed that there was widespread, organized interference in our elections by a foreign power, and that all Americans need to be
Read MoreIn response to Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) citing fundraising demands as a primary reason he’s leaving the Senate, Issue One CEO Nick Penniman released the following statement: “This is further proof that our political system is broken and must be fixed. Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate continue to be repelled from public service by the 20-plus hours
Read MoreAt today’s Federal Election Commission (FEC) meeting, Chair Ellen Weintraub announced that the commission has issued a final advisory opinion approving the proposal of Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC), a bipartisan group (led by former campaign managers of Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns) that plans to offer cybersecurity services to political candidates and party committees at free or reduced rates. Weintraub
Read MoreAs the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress voted out its first series of reforms today, Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee released the following statement: “At a time when politics is so divisive, it is refreshing to see bipartisanship in action. It is also heartening that the modernizing committee is already moving to increase transparency and help make
Read MorePrivate jets, luxury hotels, and expensive meals are par for the course as a majority of leadership PAC spending strays further from its intended purposes. A new report today released by Issue One and Campaign Legal Center (CLC) shows that instead of doling out funds to political allies, members of Congress routinely use leadership PAC funds to pay for expensive meals, rounds of golf,
Read MoreOn Friday, the Justice Department indicted Prakazrel “Pras” Michel and Low Taek Jho for conspiring to make and conceal foreign and conduit campaign contributions during the 2012 presidential election. Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee issued the following statement: “This indictment highlights the tiniest sliver of money coming from secret and foreign sources that is influencing our elections. Our broken
Read MoreIssue One mourns the loss of two ReFormers Caucus members, former Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) and former Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) who contributed their leadership and service to the work of Issue One’s bipartisan ReFormers Caucus. Sen. Lugar, age 87, and Rep. Tauscher, age 67, passed away in late April. As a leader on foreign policy, Sen. Lugar represented Indiana
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