Campaign finance

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 »

Legislation by Senators Feingold, Collins and Representatives Price, Shays Would Protect Integrity of Electoral Process and Reduce Role of Big Contributors

December 5, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) have introduced legislation to repair and strengthen the presidential public financing system.    » read more »

December 5, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) joined Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) in introducing the Presidential Funding Act of 2007, to strengthen the existing presidential public financing system funded by voluntary taxpayer contributions. Shortly after his election to the Senate in 1972, Sen. Biden called for public financing for campaigns in testimony before the Senate Rules Committee. He has since been one of the Senate’s most ardent and steadfast advocates for overhauling campaign funding laws in favor of public financing.    » read more »

In Comments to Agency, Public Citizen Documents the Rise of ‘Bundling for Dollars’ by Campaigns

Nov. 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Election Commission (FEC), which is devising rules for handling fundraisers who bundle large sums of money for candidates, should use the opportunity to create a full and well-developed disclosure system for all bundling activity, Public Citizen said in comments submitted today to the agency.    » read more »

November 30, 2007 -- Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today called a special session of the Wisconsin Legislature for December 11, 2007 at 11 a.m. to take action on comprehensive, bipartisan campaign finance reform. The legislation will modernize Wisconsin’s public financing system by increasing candidates’ spending limits and maximum public grant amounts, ban fundraising during the budget process, and establish a separate fully-funded campaign finance system for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates.    » read more »

Commissioner Weintraub Leads Agency Away from Gutting the Provision Altogether

Nov. 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Citizen applauds Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chairman Robert Lenhard and Commissioner Ellen Weintraub for significantly reining in a potentially aberrant FEC rulemaking today on “sham issue ads.” The new rule at least partially preserves the ban on soft money funding for campaign ads in general. However, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision in FEC v.    » read more »