Congressional Record—Senate S4671
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HARD, SOFT and DARK MONEY Introduction Early Political Scandals
HARD, SOFT AND DARK MONEY Introduction Early political scandals involved money used for bribery or buying votes. Modern day scandals involve the appearances of corruption depending where gifts and campaign money came from. The U.S. Supreme Court has made a number of controversial decisions expanding the amounts of money in politics by characterizing political donations and expenditures to be exercises of freedom of speech. Among other results, those decisions have created a large and growing category of election related donations and contributions called “dark money.” Important Terms Defined Terms relating to money in politics that are used in this paper have definitions more exactly set out by law. These terms are fully addressed in the MIP paper Definitions for Money in Politics, Disclosure Requirements for PACs The relationships of PACs to their disclosure requirements are shown in the chart below. May Funding Disclosure Donations coordinate Corporations Sources required limited with can donate candidate Political parties PAC’s Super Pac’s 527’s 501(c)’s Dark Money Twenty-nine types of corporations are listed in §501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as qualified for nonprofit status. Social Welfare Organizations under §501(c) (4), Labor Unions under §501(c)(5), and Trade Associations under §501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code are not required to report from whom they get their donations. Hence these donations are referred to as dark money. Since social welfare or business interests often intersect with political issues, these groups are allowed to use funds to influence elections, but there is otherwise no dollar limit on how much that can be, and they only need to report the majority of their expenditures in general terms. -
March 2, 2021 the Honorable Michael Khouri Chairman Federal Maritime
March 2, 2021 The Honorable Michael Khouri Chairman Federal Maritime Commission 800 North Capitol Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20573 Dear Chairman Khouri, We write to express concern with the reported practices of certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs) related to the denial of carriage for agricultural commodities. If the reports are true, such practices would be unreasonable and would hurt millions of producers across the nation by preventing them from competing in overseas markets. We support the Federal Maritime Commission’s current efforts to investigate these reports, and call on the Commission to quickly resolve this critical issue. As you know, ports across the United States are experiencing unprecedented congestion and record container volumes, which alone pose significant challenges for agricultural exporters seeking to deliver their products affordably and dependably to foreign markets. In the midst of this challenge, reports that certain VOCCs are returning to their origin with empty containers rather than accepting U.S. agriculture and forestry exports not only greatly exacerbates the problem, but potentially violates the Shipping Act as an unjust and unreasonable practice.1 We understand that the Commission in March 2020 initiated Fact Finding No. 29 – led by Commissioner Rebecca Dye – which was expanded in November 2020 to investigate reports of potentially unjust and unreasonable practices by certain VOCCs discussed above. We support this investigative effort, and – in the event that unjust or unreasonable practices by certain VOCCs are discovered – urge the Commission to take appropriate enforcement actions under the Shipping Act to put an end to such practices. The need is urgent, especially with record container volumes at the nation’s major ports. -
If It's Broke, Fix It: Restoring Federal Government Ethics and Rule Of
If it’s Broke, Fix it Restoring Federal Government Ethics and Rule of Law Edited by Norman Eisen The editor and authors of this report are deeply grateful to several indi- viduals who were indispensable in its research and production. Colby Galliher is a Project and Research Assistant in the Governance Studies program of the Brookings Institution. Maya Gros and Kate Tandberg both worked as Interns in the Governance Studies program at Brookings. All three of them conducted essential fact-checking and proofreading of the text, standardized the citations, and managed the report’s production by coordinating with the authors and editor. IF IT’S BROKE, FIX IT 1 Table of Contents Editor’s Note: A New Day Dawns ................................................................................. 3 By Norman Eisen Introduction ........................................................................................................ 7 President Trump’s Profiteering .................................................................................. 10 By Virginia Canter Conflicts of Interest ............................................................................................... 12 By Walter Shaub Mandatory Divestitures ...................................................................................... 12 Blind-Managed Accounts .................................................................................... 12 Notification of Divestitures .................................................................................. 13 Discretionary Trusts -
Presidential Results on November 7, 2020, Several Media Organizations
Presidential Results On November 7, 2020, several media organizations declared that Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris won the election for the President and Vice President of the United States. Biden and Harris will take office on January 20, 2021. Currently, President-elect Biden is leading in the electoral college and popular vote. Votes are still being counted so final electoral college and popular vote counts are not available. NASTAD will provide transition documents to the incoming Administration, highlighting agency-specific recommendations that pertain to health department HIV and hepatitis programs. Additionally, the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) and the Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership (HAP), two coalitions that NASTAD leads, will also submit transition documents stressing actions the next Administration can take relating to the HIV and hepatitis epidemics, respectively. House and Senate Results Several House races are still undecided, but Democrats have kept control of the chamber. Republicans picked up several House districts but did not net the 17 seats they needed to gain the majority. Control of the Senate is still unknown with two uncalled seats (Alaska and North Carolina) and two runoffs in Georgia. The runoff races in Georgia will take place on January 5, 2021, so the Senate make up will not be final until then. While it remains likely that Republicans will remain in control of the Senate, if Democrats win both run off races, they will gain control of the Senate with Vice- President-elect Harris serving as tiebreaker. Pre- Post- Party election election Democrats 45 46 Senate*** Republicans 53 50 Independent 2* 2** Democrats 232 219 House**** Republicans 197 203 Independent 0 0 * Angus King (ME) and Bernie Sanders (VT) caucused with the Democrats. -
ECU HR1 Analysis Deck F02.25
For the People Act Support and Messaging Research Findings Prepared for End Citizens United Lay of the Land Battleground voters are deadlocked on a generic vote for Congress, but independents are largely up for grabs Generic Vote for Congress Democratic candidate Undecided Republican candidate Overall 44% 12% 44% White 39% 12% 49% Black 83% 12% 5% Hispanic 60% 5% 35% Asian American 68% 5% 27% Democrats 94% 4% 2% Independents 22% 57% 21% Republicans 4% 5% 91% 3 Biden remains more popular than Trump, and Congressional Democrats have a small edge over Republicans; McConnell remains extremely unpopular Favorability of Public Figures and Groups Favorable Don’t know Unfavorable Black Hispanic Asian Am. Joe Biden 48% 4% 48% 88 | 10 64 | 35 72 | 24 Donald Trump 45% 2% 53% 09 | 86 36 | 62 21 | 75 Democrats in Congress 41% 6% 53% 75 | 14 52 | 43 67 | 32 Republicans in Congress 38% 6% 56% 12 | 77 32 | 62 21 | 76 Mitch McConnell 21% 16% 63% 11 | 66 20 | 67 15 | 65 4 Democrats have advantages on health care and the economy, but start off with double digit deficits on corruption and money in politics How much do you trust Democrats to handle that issue? Trust Do not trust QualBoard – Concerns on corruption Health care 58% 42% Corruption exists everywhere. There has to be a way to stop political corruption, but that is one thing Jobs and the economy 52% 48% we have to figure out together. It’s not something that will magically change overnight. This will take time. – Base Voter Immigration 49% 51% Most of this political corruption is inherent and engrained. -
Untitled Spreadsheet
Advertising Information Member State Ad 1 Ad 2 Ad 3 Ad 4 Ad 5 Ad 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=9WcNndBISw4&ab_channel=EndCitizen v=2moiC05yntw&ab_channel=EndCitizens S.1 Bob Casey Pennsylvania sUnited United https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jpR1QsUjtuw&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=_fuqLjm- Digital Raphael Warnock Georgia United _KA&ab_channel=EndCitizensUnited https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JIbTcvCj5u4&ab_channel=EndCitizensU v=1bdD47oTM9E&ab_channel=EndCitizen Running March 18-April 30 Jon Ossoff Georgia nited sUnited https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=mn2md4LGTAs&ab_channel=EndCitizen v=zcYK4bW2- $1.2 million Angus King Maine sUnited v4&ab_channel=EndCitizensUnited https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=XW5TtsTGcCg&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=Gwac2mhKA0g&ab_channel=EndCitizen Mark Kelly Arizona United sUnited https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=R_O8ObieJmY&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=BrlzXDUzVYQ&ab_channel=EndCitizens Kyrsten Sinema Arizona United United https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? 5LU352MEz8&ab_channel=EndCitizensU v=srOQEyaBTnI&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=02Szc2pZ7Ng&feature=youtu. v=3LBV4PdGZj8&ab_channel=EndCitizensUni Susan Collins Maine nited United be&ab_channel=EndCitizensUnited ted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? 5LU352MEz8&ab_channel=EndCitizensU v=srOQEyaBTnI&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=02Szc2pZ7Ng&feature=youtu. v=3LBV4PdGZj8&ab_channel=EndCitizensUni Pat Toomey Pennsylvania nited United be&ab_channel=EndCitizensUnited ted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? https://www.youtube.com/watch? 5LU352MEz8&ab_channel=EndCitizensU v=srOQEyaBTnI&ab_channel=EndCitizens v=02Szc2pZ7Ng&feature=youtu. -
Senator Whitehouse Re-Introduces DISCLOSE Act With
Senator Whitehouse Re-introduces DISCLOSE Act with 49 Cosponsors, Reform Groups Urge Senate to Enact Bill to Close Gaping Disclosure Loopholes Used to Hide Donors from Voters Our organizations strongly support the DISCLOSE Act of 2014 introduced today by Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) with 49 cosponsors. Our organizations include Americans for Campaign Reform, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Democracy 21, Demos, the League of Women Voters, People For the American Way, Public Citizen and Sunlight Foundation. The legislation would ensure that voters know the identity of donors who have been secretly financing campaign expenditures in federal elections. Voters have a fundamental right to know this information. Donors funneled more than $300 million in secret contributions into the 2012 national elections through outside spending groups. National polls have shown that citizens overwhelmingly favor disclosure by outside groups of the donors financing their campaign expenditures. The basic right of citizens to know whose money is being spent to influence their votes has long been recognized by Congress in enacting campaign finance disclosure laws and by the Supreme Court in upholding these laws. The Supreme Court in the Citizens United case, by an overwhelming 8 to 1 vote, upheld the constitutionality of and need for disclosure requirements for outside groups making expenditures to influence federal elections. The Court stated: The First Amendment protects political speech; and disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages. -
Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 No. 107 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m., and was U.S. SENATE, THE DISCLOSE ACT called to order by the Honorable CHRIS- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Mr. President, the corrosive effect of TOPHER A. COONS, a Senator from the Washington, DC, July 17, 2012. money on American politics isn’t a State of Delaware. To the Senate: product of the 21st century. More than Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, 100 years ago, moneyed special inter- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby PRAYER appoint the Honorable CHRISTOPHER A. ests had already tested the integrity of The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- COONS, a Senator from the State of Dela- this country’s political system. fered the following prayer: ware, to perform the duties of the Chair. In 1899, copper billionaire William Let us pray. DANIEL K. INOUYE, Clark was elected to the U.S. Senate by God of grace and glory, You have al- President pro tempore. the Montana State legislature. The ready blessed us this day. We pause Mr. COONS thereupon assumed the contest was considered so blatantly now to acknowledge that we borrow chair as Acting President pro tempore. swayed by bribery the Senate refused to seat him. Here is how Clark fa- our heartbeats from You and that be- f cause of You we live and breathe and mously responded: RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY move and have our being. -
Civic Organizations and Investor Groups Call Upon Congress to Approve the DISCLOSE Act
April 23, 2012 Civic Organizations and Investor Groups Call Upon Congress to Approve the DISCLOSE Act Dear Representative, The undersigned organizations support H.R. 4010, the DISCLOSE 2012 Act, sponsored by Representative Chris Van Hollen. H.R. 4010 would provide the public with basic information about campaign expenditures made by outside groups to influence federal elections and the donors financing these expenditures. The legislation would also provide for timely disclosure by Super PACs, would require outside groups which make campaign expenditures to take responsibility for their campaign ads and would require corporations to inform their shareholders about their campaign expenditures. It is a cardinal rule of campaign finance laws that citizens are entitled to know the donors financing campaign expenditures to influence their votes, and the amounts they gave. This basic right to know has long been recognized by disclosure laws enacted by Congress and by Supreme Court decisions which upheld the constitutionality of these laws. In the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court by an 8 to 1 vote upheld the constitutionality of disclosure requirements for outside groups making campaign expenditures. The Court stated: The First Amendment protects political speech; and disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages. Polls show citizens strongly support disclosure by outside spenders. According to a New York Times article on a New York Times/CBS News poll released on October 28, 2010, Americans overwhelmingly, "favor full disclosure of spending by both campaigns and outside groups." The DISCLOSE 2012 Act contains only disclosure requirements and does not contain special exceptions for any groups. -
Letter to Senate Leadership on Voting Rights
Officers Chair Judith L. Lichtman National Partnership for Women & Families Vice Chairs Derrick Johnson NAACP June 8, 2021 Farhana Khera Muslim Advocates Thomas A. Saenz Mexican American Legal The Honorable Charles Schumer Defense and Educational Fund Secretary Majority Leader Fatima Goss Graves National Women's Law Center United States Senate Treasurer Lee A. Saunders American Federation of State, Washington, DC 20510 County & Municipal Employees Board of Directors Kimberly Churches The Honorable Mitch McConnell AAUW Alphonso B. David Minority Leader Human Rights Campaign Rory Gamble United States Senate International Union, UAW Jonathan Greenblatt Washington, DC 20510 Anti-Defamation League Mary Kay Henry Service Employees International Union Damon Hewitt Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Sherrilyn Ifill NAACP Legal Defense and Our organizations write to you in support of two critical pieces of legislation Educational Fund, Inc. David H. Inoue needed to protect the freedom to vote: For the People Act (FTPA) and the John Japanese American Citizens League Benjamin Jealous Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA). Passage of both bills is essential to People for the American Way Derrick Johnson counter the unprecedented wave of voter suppression laws advancing in the states NAACP Virginia Kase and to protect Americans from further encroachments on their rights. Passing one League of Women Voters of the United States Samer E. Khalaf without the other simply will not be sufficient to ensure that all Americans—and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee particularly Americans of color—have meaningful and equal access to the ballot. Marc Morial National Urban League Janet Murguía UnidosUS A. -
Testimony of Sherrilyn Ifill President and Director-Counsel NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc
Testimony of Sherrilyn Ifill President and Director-Counsel NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2019” Rayburn House Office Building Room 2141 January 29, 2019 I. INTRODUCTION Good morning, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Collins and members of the Committee. My name is Sherrilyn Ifill, and I am the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF). Thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning concerning HR 1, For the People Act. Since its founding in 1940 by Thurgood Marshall, LDF has been a leader in the struggle to secure, protect, and advance voting rights for Black voters and other communities of color. Beginning with Smith v. Allwright,1 our successful Supreme Court case challenging the use of whites-only primary elections in 1944, LDF has been fighting to overcome myriad obstacles to ensure the full, equal, and active participation of Black voters. HR 1 is the first major bill of the 116th Congress that contains critical reforms that promise to strengthen our democracy, including restoring voting rights in federal elections to individuals with a criminal background, impacting upwards of five million Americans (notably, LDF has been instrumental in challenging such laws across the country), and prohibiting the use of deceptive practices and preventing voter intimidation which I will be discussing today. The introduction of HR 1 also begins a larger legislative effort to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) to its full strength following a disastrous 2013 Supreme Court decision, Shelby County, Alabama v. -
Voting Legislation for the People Act Compromise 1
VOTING LEGISLATION The right to vote is fundamental to our American democracy and protecting that right should not be about party or politics. Congressional action on federal voting rights legislation must be the result of both Democrats and Republicans coming together to find a pathway forward or we risk further dividing and destroying the republic we swore to protect and defend as elected officials. Below are areas of support and additions for Federal Voting Legislation and updates to the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Voting Legislation For the People Act Compromise 1. Make election day a public holiday (New) 2. Mandate at least 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections (include 2 weekends) 3. Ban partisan gerrymandering and use computer models (New) 4. Require voter ID with allowable alternatives (utility bill, etc.) to prove identity to vote (New) 5. Automatic registration through DMV, with option to opt out. 6. Require states to promote access to voter registration and voting for persons with disabilities and older individuals. 7. Prohibit providing false information about elections to hinder or discourage voting and increases penalties for voter intimidation. 8. Require states to send absentee by mail ballots to eligible voters before an election if voter is not able to vote in person during early voting or election day due to eligible circumstance and allow civil penalty for failure. (New) 9. Require the Election Assistance Commission to develop model training programs and award grants for training. 10. Require states to notify an individual, not later than 7 seven days before election, if his/her polling place has changed.