News

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to Federal Contribution Limit

Statement by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a new campaign finance case with enormous consequences for the country. McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission involves the limit on total contributions from an individual to all federal candidates, party committees and PACs in a two-year election cycle. The aggregate contribution limit […]

Reform Groups Urge Office of Congressional Ethics to Steer Clear of Procedural Minefield

Washington, D.C.– Reform groups sent a letter today to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) urging the agency to avoid the procedural minefield of rules changes proposed recently by several private attorneys. The reform groups include the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women […]

Watchdogs File in Defense of Disclosure Laws in 10th Circuit in Free Speech v. FEC

Today, Democracy 21 joined the Campaign Legal Center in filing an amici brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in the latest of a long line of challenges to federal disclosure laws.  Free Speech v. FEC is a challenge to the “subpart (b)” definition of “expressly advocating” (11 C.F.R. § 100.22(b)), […]

Supreme Court to Decide Next Week Whether to Hear Two Cases Challenging the Constitutionality of Key Contribution Limits

By: Fred Wertheimer The Supreme Court is scheduled next week to decide whether to review two lower federal court decisions in which the constitutionality of key campaign contribution limits are being challenged. At its conference on Friday, February 15, 2013, the Court is expected to act on a petition for certiorari in a case that […]

Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer Challenges President Obama’s 501(c)(4) Group, Organizing for Action

At the beginning of his first term, President Obama issued a sweeping executive order to establish unprecedented new ethics rules for his Administration. His second term is beginning in the polar opposite way. Through his political agents, the President has created a section 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization, Organizing for Action, that will raise and spend money […]

Washington Post: For top donors, inauguration means access, influence and angling for next big job

The Washington Post For top donors, inauguration means access, influence and angling for next big job By Marc Fisher and Tom Hamburger January 20, 2013 The voters have spoken, but even after a $2 billion presidential campaign, the quest for dollars in Washington continues. This weekend, the high rollers are paying for inauguration parties that […]

Statement by Fred Wertheimer: President Obama Opts for “The Ends Justify the Means”

President Obama Opts for “The Ends Justify the Means,” Where “Means” Creates Potential for Government Corruption Statement by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer President Obama has set out on a dangerous and unprecedented path as he begins his second term in office. The President and his political allies are creating a section 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization, […]

Washington Post Editorial: “Did tax-exempt groups mislead the IRS on political spending?”

The Washington Post Did tax-exempt groups mislead the IRS on political spending? By Editorial Board January 18, 2013 OF ALL THE groups that pumped hidden money into politics in recent years, the most notable and peculiar included those that claim a “social welfare” purpose and have applied to the Internal Revenue Service for designation as nonprofit […]

Reform Groups Urge Senators to Oppose Efforts to Restore Party Soft Money or Increase Party Contribution Limits

The enclosed letter was sent today to Senators and Representatives urging them to oppose efforts to restore the party soft money system or increase party contribution limits. The reform groups include Americans for Campaign Reform, Brennan Center for Justice, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Democracy 21,  Demos, League of Women Voters, […]

Watchdog Groups Call on IRS to Investigate American Tradition Partnership; Cite Its Reported Submission of Apparent False Information to the IRS Regarding Its Application for Tax-exempt Status

  In a letter sent today to the IRS, Democracy 21, joined by the Campaign Legal Center, called on the agency to investigate whether American Tradition Partnership (ATP), formerly known as Western Tradition Partnership (WTP), obtained its section 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status based on false information submitted to the IRS. According to the letter from the […]