Amending Maine’s ‘Clean’ Election Act Will Still Produce More Broken Promises for Mainers

September 21, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  ,

Due to the efforts of proponents of tax-financed campaign schemes – sometimes euphemistically referred to as “clean elections” programs by their advocates – Maine ...

Is Corporate Political Activity Controversial? New Polling Emphatically Says No.

September 16, 2015   •  By Luke Wachob   •  , ,

If the government is considering a law that would damage your business, how would you respond? According to a new poll from the Public Affairs ...

Is the media waking up to the myths of “money in politics”?

September 9, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  ,

It has become a hallmark of election season chatter to read stories about money “flooding into politics” in various media outlets. Usually, these discussions ...

“Reformers” are Trading their Heroes for Ghosts

September 1, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  ,

Ladies and gentlemen: it’s election season. If you happen to get past the vertigo-inducing amount of candidates and polling data, you will also notice ...

Attention Members of Congress: Super PACs Disclose Their Donors

August 23, 2015   •  By Scott Blackburn   •  ,

We often read articles and letters to the editor from individuals demanding the full disclosure of donors to Super PACs. It is an understandable ...

The False Heroics of False Statement Laws

August 14, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  ,

When someone suggests prohibiting ‘false statements’ in campaigns, your gut reaction might be to nod your head in agreement. This might come from a ...

Political Spending Isn’t Choking Out Competition. Campaign Finance Regulations Are.

August 3, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  ,

Inequality is the word of the moment. You can’t go anywhere without hearing it thrown around. Usually, this word evokes images of the discrepancy ...

Wisconsin’s "John Doe" Decision: More than "Reformers" Can Handle

July 30, 2015   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

Two weeks ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sent a shock wave through campaign finance watchers with its decision in Two Unnamed Petitioners v. Peterson. ...

In the Dark about “Dark Money”

July 30, 2015   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

A short while back, on Professor Rick Hasen’s invaluable listserv, there was a spirited discussion about the meaning of “dark money” as used in ...

The Campaign Finance ‘Zombies’ Have Spoken. Their Answer? Reform. Again.

July 28, 2015   •  By Brian Walsh   •  , ,

Crazy. Ravenous. Damnable. Taken together, this assortment of words would be best used to describe the undead or what are better known as ‘zombies.’ ...

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