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Reform in the States: A Roundup
This is part of a series examining ethics, transparency and campaign finance proposals in the states. Washington, D.C. is the only place in the country where money-in-politics reform is a tough sell.…
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Flickr / Pictures of Money
It’s good to be in Congress. According to a new report released today, more than 240 organizations spent nearly $20 million honoring federal officials and the organizations close to them last year.
The Hill analyzed Senate disclosure records and looked at gifts by unions, universities, corporations and other groups. Beyond the money, they also highlighted loopholes in the Congressional gift ban and limits on campaign contributions.
A few highlights from the investigation:
Perhaps most interesting in the report are the number of sources and compliance lawyers that said “confusion does exist” about which expenses should be disclosed, and also that there is “no real enforcement” to ensure proper reporting.
In short: this is only part of the picture.
Troubling news like this is why we support holding everyone accountable, including candidates, public officials and organizations across the political and ideological spectrum. It’s also why we support full transparency and real-time disclosure of contributions, and putting in place common-sense rules to combat conflicts of interest.
Read the report in full in The Hill.
Issue: Ethics &
Accountability
Archived
This is part of a series examining ethics, transparency and campaign finance proposals in the states. Washington, D.C. is the only place in the country where money-in-politics reform is a tough sell.…
Archived
It’s no secret that campaigns are big money-makers. The 2012 election, the most expensive in history, cost over $7 billion — that’s a lot of buttons and yard signs. Through…
Archived
According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about the influence of money in politics. 85% of respondents, including 81% of Republicans,…