Tomgram: Thomas Frank, Worshipping Money in D.C. | TomDispatch

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176159/tomgram%3A_thomas_frank%2C_worshipping_money_in_d.c./#more

Robert Reich says the corrosive effect of money in politics is the number one issue

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/robert-reich-on-whats-next-for-bernie-and-his-supporters-20160628?page=6

 

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

C: 410-624-6095

www.getmoneyoutmd.org 

 

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

Supreme Court overturns McDonnell bribery conviction

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/us/politics/supreme-court-bob-mcdonnell-virginia.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 

McDonnell and his wife accepted $175,000 worth of luxury goods/services from a vendor seeking to do business with Virginia government. He and wife were convicted in federal court. McDonnell relied in part on Citizens United opinion stating  that “ingratiation and access” are not corruption. SCOTUS ruled that the instructions to the jury were incorrect; however, pundits are already saying that the federal law is so vague that McDonnell’s acceptance of the goods will eventually be deemed legal.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

C: 410-624-6095

www.getmoneyoutmd.org 

 

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

Hugely important article on dark $ and local elections

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/opinion/sunday/the-secret-power-behind-local-elections.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region

 

Across the nation, firms with financial interests in specific policies are secretly influencing local elections.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

C: 410-624-6095

www.getmoneyoutmd.org 

 

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

Overturn Citizens United ballot measure in California

http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-brown-allows-advisory-ballot-measure-on-citizens-united-decision-20140716-story.html

 

Gov. Jerry Brown refused to sign or veto this bill passed by the California legislature. The State Supreme Court approved it. Thus it will go on the November 2016 ballot.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

C: 410-624-6095

www.getmoneyoutmd.org 

 

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

U. S. Senate candidates spar over campaign finance

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-senate-candidates-kathy-szeliga-chris-van-hollen-spar-over-campaign-finance-20160602-story.html

Szeliga held a fundraiser with president of Citizens United, Inc.