Democracy

Direct Democracy: Results of Ballot Propositions Across the Country

by Rebekah Wilce — November 7, 2012 - 10:58am

Topics: Campaign Finance, Democracy, Politics

Across the country in states that allow for citizen lawmaking through ballot propositions, yesterday voters in many states had a direct say in the laws that govern them. There were 188 measures on the ballot in 38 states. Below we review the official, unconfirmed election results of some of the key propositions. Join the conversation on Facebook and tell us about other important propositions in your state.

News

Why Don't We Know How Much "Dark Money" Groups Have Spent On the Election?

by Brendan Fischer — November 5, 2012 - 10:04am

Topics: Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy, Politics

"Dark money groups" that do not disclose their donors not only refuse to be transparent about where they get their money, in many cases they are not transparent about how they spend it. Dark money only accounts for about one-quarter of the over $1 billion in outside election spending reported to the Federal Election Commission, but because of gaps in reporting requirements, the actual percentages -- and the actual totals for outside spending -- are certainly much higher.

News

Koch's AFP Complains about Gas Prices, but Koch Speculation Helps Fuel High Prices at the Pump

by Will Dooling — November 3, 2012 - 10:38am

Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Energy, Politics

At the Mt. View gas station in Wausau, Wisconsin last week, some motorists were able to secure a gallon of gas for $1.84, thanks to a subsidy from David Koch's Americans for Prosperity. These astroturf publicity stunts have taken place at gas stations around the country in recent weeks as part of AFP's effort to mobilize votes for Mitt Romney by drawing attention to an alleged rise in gas prices since President Barack Obama took office. But since most experts attribute the rise in gas prices to long term trends and crude oil commodity speculation, AFP's hijinks only underscore the role of Wall Street speculators -- including the Kochs themselves -- in jacking up critical commodity prices on average Americans.

Op-Ed

Hurricane Sandy Endorses Obama: Storm Provides a Counter-Narrative to the Hundreds of Millions in Fossil Fuel Campaign Contributions

by Mary Bottari — November 2, 2012 - 11:33am

Topics: Democracy, Energy

-- Mary Bottari and Sara Jerving

The fossil fuel industry has paid a hefty price for the privilege of framing the political discourse about America's energy future. Hundreds of millions have flowed into campaign coffers from energy companies attempting to purchase complete freedom to drill, frack, and burn. Huge "dark money" groups, the Koch's, Karl Rove, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, join dozens of oil and gas industry associations in pouring money into television ad campaigns demanding "energy independence," while trashing wind and solar.

Press Release

"Money Out, Voters In" a New Joint Effort to Protect Democracy Is Launched

by PRW Staff — November 2, 2012 - 10:31am

Topics: Campaign Finance, Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy

Press Release: The Center for Media and Democracy is joining with more than fifty other organizations to address two critical threats to our democratic system: the distorting effect of money in U.S. elections and the wave of efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote. Under the banner "Money Out, Voters In" the organizations announced that they would be jointly working to mobilize after Election Day to challenge dark money in elections and restore Americans' voting rights.

News

Bradley Foundation Bankrolls Controversial Billboards, Treading onto Controversial New Ground

by Brendan Fischer — November 2, 2012 - 9:04am

Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Politics

Projects: ALEC Exposed, Wisconsin Protests

Although the Einhorn Family Foundation admitted to being the "private family foundation" behind the controversial "Voter Fraud is a Felony!" billboards that recently appeared in neighborhoods of color in Milwaukee and two Ohio cities, news broke Wednesday they secured the funds for similar billboards in 2010 from the Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation, a major funder of right-wing organizations that push the voter fraud myth.

News

Can Democrats Hold on to Hard Won Wisconsin State Senate?

by Rebekah Wilce — November 1, 2012 - 2:02pm

Topics: Campaign Finance, Election 2012, Democracy

Projects: Wisconsin Protests

Democrats have a one-seat majority in the Wisconsin Senate after three Republicans lost seats in historic recall elections, but 16 seats are up for grabs in November, and with them the balance of power. In recent weeks, many have focused on the race between Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and former governor Tommy Thompson, which may determine who holds the majority in the U.S. Senate, but the state Senate races are significant because many Wisconsinites are concerned about having a firewall against embattled Governor Scott Walker's 2013 legislative agenda.

News

Control of U.S. Senate May Depend on Close Wisconsin Race

by Brendan Fischer — November 1, 2012 - 8:16am

Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Politics

New polls show Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's vacant U.S. Senate seat, with a four-point lead over her Republican challenger, former governor Tommy Thompson, in a race which may determine control of the Senate and had previously been considered a lock for Republicans. If Baldwin is elected she would likely follow in the footsteps of Wisconsin's Russ Feingold and be one of the more independent and progressive members of the U.S. Senate.

News

Koch-Walker Fundraiser Sunk by Superstorm

by Rebekah Wilce — October 31, 2012 - 12:30pm

Topics: Campaign Finance, Democracy, Politics

A Scott Walker-David Koch fundraiser has been sunk by "Superstorm Sandy."

Walker was scheduled to headline a New York Republican State Committee fundraiser tomorrow in New York City hosted by Koch, among other well-heeled GOP bigwigs. A New York State Republican Party notice today informed participants that the event has been postponed.

News

Did Romney Shift Climate Change Stance to Appeal to Kochs?

by Brendan Fischer — October 31, 2012 - 9:09am

Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Environment, Politics

With millions of Americans feeling the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is comparing the massive recovery effort to cleaning up "rubbish and paper products" from a high school football field. But don't expect him to discuss how Sandy's severity is directly linked to climate change. Romney shifted his position on climate change in October 2011, around the same time he was seeking support from billionaire industrialist David Koch, a major funder of climate change denial groups and whose profits could be impacted by limits on carbon emissions.