Overview of our campaign finance mess

https://wapo.st/3Ts3gUE

Using the example of the $1.6 billion donation to a right-wing 501(c)(4), this editorial by the Washington Post itemizes what can be fixed by Congress and the IRS and what requires a constitutional amendment or a U-turn by the Supreme Court.

Charlie Cooper

Electoral Count Reform Act -- popular election for President

https://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-the-electoral-count-acts-poison-pill/600198867/

The authors parse a phrase in the 14th Amendment,:

"Section 2 specified a substantial penalty if 'the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States … [was] denied ... or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime.' Any state that abridges this fundamental right to vote is to have its political representation in the House and in the Electoral College reduced."

Charlie Cooper

Largest single political donation in U.S. history

https://www.propublica.org/article/dark-money-leonard-leo-barre-seid

This is not campaign money, nor is it dark money. It is merely an example of how the concentration of wealth gives conservative causes a boost.

Charlie Cooper

Nonwhite Voters Face High Risk of Being Dropped From Arizona's Mail Ballot List

https://truthout.org/articles/nonwhite-voters-face-high-risk-of-being-dropped-from-arizonas-mail-ballot-list/ 

Charlie Cooper

ISLT trick could thwart Electoral Count Reform Act

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/08/congress-fix-electoral-count-reform-flaw-january-six.html

The proposed Electoral Count Reform Act would require that states would have to obey state laws in effect prior to the federally-mandated presidential election day. Constitutional scholars argue that there is critical loophole in the bill language.

Charlie Cooper

GOP voters nominate election deniers for secretary of state

https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-arizona-donald-trump-presidential-biden-cabinet-35d05e90209ccfab5b616d5cf498aac2

KS GOP voters defeated an election denier, but those in AZ, IN, MI, NM, and NV favored deniers. PA GOP candidate for Governor is a denier who would be able to appoint a secretary of state.

Charlie

Beware of this fake pro-climate group - by Emily Atkin

https://heated.world/p/beware-of-this-fake-pro-climate-group?utm_source=email 

GOP dark money group trying to defeat climate legislation in the US setup is running deceptive ads.

Sheila Ruth

Representatives urge Biden to order federal contractors to disclose political spending

https://fcw.com/acquisition/2022/08/lawmakers-push-biden-order-root-out-dark-money-federal-contractors/375360/

63 members of Congress asked President Biden to sign an executive order as it appears that Congress will not pass the DISCLOSE Act.

Charlie Cooper

Leading Democrat election lawyer questions compromise ECA bill

https://www.democracydocket.com/news/reforms-to-the-electoral-count-act-miss-the-mark/?emci=cfbd9e24-3509-ed11-b47a-281878b83d8a&emdi=6f79d9cc-b509-ed11-b47a-281878b83d8a&ceid=6010517

The author points out vagueness, unrealistic time frames for court action, and what he views as excessive power given to state governors. He questions the provision that requires that federal courts review disputed state elections rather than letting state courts apply state law. (He worries that federal courts are currently stacked with Republican appointees.)

super-wealthy Illinoiians spent 7- and 8-figure sums to defeat progressive tax

https://www.propublica.org/article/ken-griffin-illinois-graduated-income-tax

This article shows why one super-wealthy taxpayer was willing to spend more than $50 million to defeat a ballot measure for a progressive income tax in Illinois. He was not alone.

Charlie Cooper with thanks to Angad Singh