The influence of big money is everywhere in politics. Whether it’s in the primary elections, general elections, Super PAC spending, industry lobbyists, or donations from Wall Street, this is how our political decisions get made, regardless … [Read more...]
Let’s Pass A Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United
This week, President Trump and congressional Republicans unveiled a “tax reform” proposal that finances a massive tax cut for multinational corporations, Wall Street, and the very wealthiest Americans by gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and the … [Read more...]
Hoosiers, Razorbacks, Loons and Anti-Gay Laws
The hounds are not going to stop yelping, snarling and nipping. What we've seen in milder versions elsewhere and recently in extreme ones Indiana and Arkansas will continue. They are in the end expressions of the same anti-gay craziness … [Read more...]
Corporations Are Not People
Jeff Clements – former Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts and co-founder of Free Speech for People – will be at the Concord Bookshop, 65 Main St., Concord, MA at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 to discuss the impact of the Citizens United … [Read more...]
All’s Not Lost After McCutcheon
The Roberts version of the SCOTUS slammed good-government types hard, first with Citizens United and now with McCutcheon v. FEC. Today theSunlight Foundation’s Lisa Rosenberg (government-affairs consultant) gave me some perspective…and … [Read more...]
Sen. Eldridge Talks Dark Money
One of Left Ahead's favorite guests, MA Sen. James (Jamie) Eldridge joined us to talk campaign-finance reform, specifically disclosure of contributions. He’s as appalled as we about the Citizens United decision. He is a leader in nibbling … [Read more...]
Pass Mass Amendment – Corporations are not People
There have been posts here about the various petitions going around, but here is a very important one that hasn't been mentioned. There is a ballot initiative to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth based on "Corporations are not … [Read more...]
Where do MA5 Congressional candidates stand on campaign finance, voting rights, and more?
Common Cause Massachusetts asked the ten candidates in the race to fill Ed Markey’s vacated seat for Massachusetts’ fifth Congressional district seven questions covering issues of voting rights, campaign finance, and ethics. Would you … [Read more...]
The Globe is right to call for more disclosure of political spending
The Boston Globe editorial board rightly called on the Massachusetts State Legislature to “alter campaign finance laws to thwart outside spending” in elections. As the editorial board correctly notes, “spending by outside groups has … [Read more...]
A Plea for A Pledge
A new report by Common Cause Massachusetts shows that limiting outside spending in last year's U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts helped to increased electoral transparency, accountability, and fairness, and calls on the current Senate … [Read more...]