Campaign Finance « Washington Hotlist

Another Case for Campaign Finance Reform

Last November, America said a resounding NO to Republican ideas and a full-throated YES to change, including a new and sensible health care system. By what tortured logic, then, is the committee drafting new health legislation composed of an EQUAL number of Democrats and Republicans?

What kind of dysfunctional democracy do we have [...]

So Much For Campaign Finance Reform

Has there ever been a less effective piece of legislation than McCain-Feingold?

Unions, political action committees and other special interests shelled out nearly $98 million in independent expenditures to influence the presidential election, according to a CQ MoneyLine analysis of campaign finance reports through Nov. 4.

While there was no “Swift Boat” ad that defined this [...]

Yet Another McCain Flip Flop

“We all know that a comprehensive solution is wind, tide, solar, all the other things all of us believe in. In the meantime, as we develop all of these alternate sources of energy, it will be vital that we continue oil production at a high level, including offshore drilling.”

Just last month, McCain reversed himself [...]

Remember When McCain Opposed Lobbyists?

…Mr. McCain, who has locked up the Republican presidential nomination, has received more than $181,600 from lobbyists and trade groups, while Mr. Obama has received just over $6,000…”We are 100 percent behind McCain,â€ said Kathryn Braden Huffard, a lobbyist at Fierce, Isakowitz, whose clients include Fannie Mae, the mortgage giant. â€œIn the wake of the [...]

Newsflash: Money Buys Access

There once was a time when political conventions served a purpose, a time before our modern primary system when the party bigwigs would convene and select a presidential candidate in smoke-filled rooms. Well, it turns out, the conventions still serve a purpose after all:

Committees raising money for California delegations to the national conventions are [...]

Campaign Finance Reform R.I.P.

No matter what happens in November, we all know who the real loser was in this election campaign (no it’s not Rudy Giuliani, I know what you are thinking). Anyone attempting to limit the corrupting effect that money has on our politicians and our political process can chalk one up in the loss column. [...]