COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, has dominated the headlines for the past few weeks. People across the country are practicing social distancing as doctors, nurses, grocery store employees, and countless others have put themselves on the front lines to combat this novel pandemic. The way we practice democracy is also adjusting. Candidates for offices… Read more
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The For The People Act: One Year in Purgatory
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This week marks one year since the House of Representatives passed H.R.1, the landmark For The People Act. What’s happened to the bill since? It’s sat in Mitch McConnell’s legislative purgatory in the Senate. The For The People Act sought to combat some of the greatest challenges facing our democracy. To name a few: It… Read more
Buying Candidates is a Symptom of Oligarchy
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It was a Freudian slip of epic proportions. Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, describing the House’s partisan flip in 2018, bragged that he “bought” the new Democratic majority for $100 million. He quickly corrected himself, but the damage was done. Bloomberg is one of two self-funding billionaires in the Democratic primary. After his… Read more
Public Campaign Financing in New York State: Explained
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Last month, New York became the second state to institute a system of public campaign financing. It follows an eight-month development process by an independent Public Campaign Finance Commission. While the new system might serve as a model for other states wishing to combat the role of big money in politics and amplify the voices… Read more
THE DEMOCRACY REBELLION: Coming to PBS in January
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Americans may be divided over impeachment and the next election but they are united on one thing – strong majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans want political reforms that will restore a government that works for average Americans and not wealthy special interests. Polls confirm that, but what many Americans don’t know is that citizen… Read more
Danny Goldberg Reps the Stampede!
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Legendary Stamper Danny Goldberg recently sent us this selfie with the Stamp Stampede sweatshirt! Goldberg, who serves on the boards of People Power Initiatives (the Stampede’s parent non-profit) and Public Citizen, is the former manager of the band Nirvana and the former president of Atlantic Records. His latest book, Serving The Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain, is available now wherever you… Read more
Berkeley’s Fair Elections Act is a Success!
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In 2016, Berkeley residents chose to establish a system of public campaign financing by passing the Fair Elections Act. The city’s 2018 elections served as the system’s first test, and it appears to have worked exceedingly well. Under the city’s new public financing system, candidates for city council and mayor who opt into the program… Read more
Dark Money Fuels State Supreme Court Races
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Are state Supreme Courts really nonpartisan? With dark money in the mix, it’s questionable. A study conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice and the National Institute on Money in Politics found that special interest spending accounted for 27 percent of all Supreme Court election spending last year, down from 40 percent in 2016. In… Read more
A Voting Rights Victory in the House
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Back in June, we reflected on how the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder rolled back key parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and led to rampant voter suppression. Now the House of Representatives has taken a major step towards restoring voting rights protections. On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 228-187 to… Read more
Doug Hughes Flies Again!
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On April 15, 2015, U.S. postal worker Doug Hughes landed a gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn, whereafter Capitol Police shortly arrested him. His bizarre but courageous flight made headlines across the country. More importantly, Doug took flight for a reason: to bring attention to the movement for campaign finance reform. Doug carried with… Read more