Campaign finance

Nov. 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - While Congress has debated legislation to reform Wall Street, the financial services industry has showered members of the Senate and House banking committees with about two and a half times as much money, on average, as other members of Congress, according to a new Public Citizen report.

The industry - including banks, investment firms, insurance companies and real estate companies - has given $42 million in campaign contributions to lawmakers and their leadership political action committees since the current election cycle began in November 2008. The industry has concentrated its contributions on members of the House and Senate banking and the congressional leadership, the report showed.    » read more »

Law builds on recommendations of Governor's Public Integrity Task Force, answers calls to renew confidence in government

BOSTON – July 1, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, joined by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, today signed sweeping ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform legislation that institutes a strong ban on gifts to public officials, increases penalties for civil and criminal violations of ethics laws and expands the investigative and enforcement powers of a number of state authorities.

Coming directly on the heels of landmark changes to the state's pension and transportation systems, the law delivers on promises made by the Governor to restore public trust in government by bringing real reform to Beacon Hill.    » read more »

New Transparency & Disclosure Policy Among Strongest in the Country; Bans Campaign Contributions from any Parties Seeking Investment

May 26, 2009 -- (Santa Fe) – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the State Investment Council voted unanimously today to ban any future investments with money managers who employ third-party placement agents, as well as requiring sweeping disclosure of any and all payments made in relation to Permanent Fund investments.

“The ban is the strongest in the nation and appropriately so,” Governor Bill Richardson said.

“With this ban, and the more stringent transparency and disclosure policies in place, I want the public to be confident that we are acting as responsible managers of the state’s Permanent Funds."    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- NEW YORK -- Lev L. Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Norman Hsu was found guilty today on all four counts in the superseding indictment charging him with violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by making contributions to various political campaigns in the names of others. Hsu was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan federal court.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- This week, as John McCain continues on the Low Road Express, launching false attacks and airing desperate ads, donations from oil and gas companies are fueling his campaign - and driving his policies.    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of State seeking information about possible violations of the Hatch Act in connection to John McCain's events in Ottawa today. The FOIA request follows reports that McCain campaign officials requested assistance in arranging a $100-a-plate luncheon speech from U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- John McCain claims he is following campaign finance laws. But the reality is when it's inconvenient to his campaign, Senator McCain thinks the rules don't apply to him--even going as far as breaking the law. Senator McCain is violating campaign laws by using a corporate jet for campaign events but not reimbursing the corporation for the cost of the trips.

John McCain protesters, Pennsylvania: Photo by Bernard Pollack (CC)    » read more »

Holding McCain Responsible For His Do As I Say, Not As I Do Campaign

June 17, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today announced that it will file a suit with the U.S. District Court in D.C. next week to compel the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate John McCain's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the FEC's matching funds program despite using the program to financially benefit his campaign, which is clearly against the law.

John McCain's "Straight Talk Express": Photo by Rich McGervey (CC)    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- RIVERSIDE -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Riverside District Attorney Rod Pacheco today announced a 37-count indictment against Mark Anthony Leggio, James Lloyd Deremiah, and father-son team Nicola Cacucciolo, and Nick Vito Cacucciolo, for exceeding $3,300 Senate and Assembly campaign contribution limits by laundering money through various friends and associates.

“Leggio contributed $50,000 in excess of campaign contribution limits to six candidates for Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization by filtering money through friends and associates,” Attorney General Brown said. “Today’s charges send a strong message that the state will crack down on those who try to exceed California’s campaign finance limits.”    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- On the Today Show this morning, Cindy McCain defended the McCain campaign's decision to withhold her tax returns, saying they would never make her tax returns public--not even if she becomes First Lady. [See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXDV2kZX_MU]

John and Cindy McCain: Photo by Chris Dunn (CC)

Despite the accountability Americans expect from their elected officials and McCain's own calls for openness and transparency in government, John McCain has only released two years of his tax returns. No nominee from either party since Ronald Reagan in 1980 has disclosed that little information.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today said his campaign committee has taken out a $200,000 loan to repay campaign expenses that were incorrectly paid out of his inaugural committee's account.

The incorrect payments were discovered in February 2008 as the inaugural committee's accountant began trying to prepare a federal Form 990.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter: Photo by DemConvention (CC)

A comprehensive financial review was then conducted at Gov. Ritter's request in March and April 2008 by the outside accounting firm Patten, MacPhee and Associates.    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- John McCain has staked his maverick image in part on his alleged support for campaign finance reform. But when it comes to his own campaign, he has repeatedly tried to buck campaign finance laws for his own political gain.

In fact, McCain has violated campaign finance laws on multiple occasions during his presidential run.

John McCain: Photo by dbking (CC)    » read more »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Concerned that a bill to increase campaign contribution limits in Wyoming would enhance the influence of wealthy contributors, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal today vetoed original House Bill 9, House Enrolled Act 42.

The measure had “evolved well beyond its original purpose,” the Governor said. The bill was originally aimed at addressing the use of Political Action Committees to circumvent individual contribution limits.    » read more »

New Public Citizen Study Finds John McCain, Rudy Giuliani Lead the Field With Number of Lobbyist-Bundlers in Their Campaigns

Jan. 29, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The number of lobbyists raising money for the 2008 presidential candidates already has eclipsed the total for the entire 2004 campaign, according to a Public Citizen study released Tuesday.

So far, candidates still in the race have recruited 142 federal lobbyists to raise money for their campaigns, compared to 136 lobbyist fundraisers in 2004.    » read more »

$1 Billion Projected to Be Spent in 2008 Race to Buy the Presidency; Bills Introduced Today in House and Senate Would Curtail Influence of Wealthy Interests

Dec. 5, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Citizen today heartily endorsed new legislation introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives that would overhaul the faltering presidential public financing program. The bills are by Sens. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.); and Reps.    » read more »