This is the part seven in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process.
Role in the Landscape
Common Cause is a membership-based organizing group that operates in 36 states. Campaign finance reform is one of their key issues. They have worked on presidential public financing, banning soft money, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, and establishing an independent Office of Congressional Ethics.
Contact Information
1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.commoncause.org/
(202) 833-1200
Resources they Provide
Common Blog, Take Action, and Research Center: all contain information about money in politics, government accountability, election reform, and media reform.
Money in Politics: contains information about Fair Elections, the DISCLOSE Act (to require disclosure in political ads by outside groups), presidential public financing, clean elections in states, and more; http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4764307
Activist Kit: contains information on how and when to lobby, an overview of the legislative process, and contacting elected officials; http://www.commoncause.org/activistkit.
Research Center: contains reports on various issues including money in politics, election reform, and media and democracy; http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4773601.
Earmarks for Campaign Cash?
Common Cause took a close look at the earmarks inserted by members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and released a public report of their findings titled “Earmarks for Campaign Cash?” They discovered that in the 2008 defense spending bill, these earmarks totaled more than $355 million dollars. Digging a little deeper, Common Cause found that those who benefited most from these earmarks just happened to be the same companies who had contributed $1.3 million to the Subcommittee members’ election campaigns. A terrific return on these political investments made by corporations!
Money in Politics series
- Money in Politics (introduction)
- Looking Beyond Campaign Contributions
- National Institute On Money In State Politics
- Center For Responsive Politics
- MOOSE: Monied Out-of-State Executives (case study)
- Public Campaign
- Common Cause
- MapLight.org
- Sunlight Foundation
- Good Jobs First
- Disinfecting Banker’s Day on the Hill (case study)
- Project Vote Smart
- Hitting the Jackpot (case study)
- Democracy North Carolina (case study)
- Connecticut Citizen Action Group (case study)