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Podcast episodes
Swamp Stories Episode 28: Conversations: Former Rep. Donna Edwards
In the latest episode of our Swamp Stories podcast, Weston chats with former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) about what it was like being a member of Congress, how she…
Podcast episodes
“That sounds like a loophole.”
Five words from former California Congressman Henry Waxman (D) summarizes episode three of Issue One’s podcast “Swamp Stories” about secret slush funds in Congress (also known as leadership PACs).
And Waxman should know: He originally helped create leadership PACs back in 1978, not to allow for lavish living as they are used today, but to exclusively support his fellow candidates running for office.
But that’s not how many members of Congress view leadership PACs today: They’re a ticket to living lavishly: Steak dinners, Super Bowl or concert tickets, and five-star weekend getaways, all under the guise of “fundraising.”
Listen to episode 3 and find out what happens when a common-sense prohibition about using campaign funds for personal use meets the “Swamp” and how fixing it is as easy as adding a comma, and three words to existing rules.
Learn more about the leadership PAC loophole by reading Issue One’s major reports. Waxman is also a member of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus of more than 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials, all assembled to advocate for solutions to fix the broken political system.
Issues: Leadership PACs, Swamp Stories Podcast
Podcast episodes
In the latest episode of our Swamp Stories podcast, Weston chats with former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) about what it was like being a member of Congress, how she…
Podcast episodes
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) was created to play the critical role of enforcing our federal campaign finance laws and preventing political corruption or the appearance of corruption. Its job…
Podcast episodes
Episode 26 of Swamp Stories is the third episode in our periodic series of longform conversations between host Weston Wamp and leaders in the political reform movement. In this episode,…