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Government Accountability Groups Urge House to Strengthen the Office of Congressional Ethics and Make It Permanent

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Government Accountability Groups Urge House to Strengthen the Office of Congressional Ethics and Make It Permanent

Today, Common Cause and other government accountability groups urged every member of the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen the independent Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and make the office permanent. Even if Congress does not codify the OCE into law at this time, the groups stress the importance of maintaining the office’s continued existence and the importance of not weakening it in the 119th Congress. The letter emphasizes overwhelming public support for increased ethics and accountability measures and touts the success of...

Media Contacts

David Vance

National Media Strategist
dvance@commoncause.org
240-605-8600

Katie Scally

Communications Director
kscally@commoncause.org
202-736-5713

Ariana Marmolejo

Regional Communications Strategist (West)
amarmolejo@commoncause.org

Jennifer Garcia

Regional Communications Strategist (South)
jgarcia@commoncause.org

Kenny Colston

Regional Communications Strategist (Midwest)
kcolston@commoncause.org

Common Cause’s network of national and state democracy reform experts are frequent media commentators. To talk with one of our experts, please reach out to any member of the press team above.

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Public News Service: Bill aims to restore voting rights for those incarcerated in Alabama, US

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Public News Service: Bill aims to restore voting rights for those incarcerated in Alabama, US

Keisha Morris Desir, justice and mass incarceration project manager for Common Cause, said the Inclusive Democracy Act is the first of its kind to include voting rights for people even if they are still behind bars.

"This is the first really expansive bill that would allow everyone -- including those who are currently incarcerated, on parole and probation -- to vote in a federal election," Desir explained.

Washington Times: Share of unelected legislators target of reform movement

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Washington Times: Share of unelected legislators target of reform movement

Nearly half of the state lawmakers from Montgomery County and a quarter statewide were not elected before they were first seated, according to Common Cause Maryland, a watchdog group that advocates for voting rights and fair elections.

Common Cause and some lawmakers aim to change the process during the three-month General Assembly session that opens on Jan. 10.

A survey released in October by Common Cause Maryland found that 85% of the state’s residents favor a switch to a special elections system.

Honolulu Civil Beat: Dark Clouds And A Little Sunshine: Here’s The Forecast For Legislative Reform in ’24

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Honolulu Civil Beat: Dark Clouds And A Little Sunshine: Here’s The Forecast For Legislative Reform in ’24

“We’re going guns blazing for (public) campaign financing,” said Camron Hurt, program director for Common Cause Hawaii, calling it the organization’s top legislative priority.

Common Cause won’t be alone. The State Campaign Spending Commission also plans to seek expansion of public financing of campaigns.

Providence Journal: What RI’s state officers want in 2024

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Providence Journal: What RI’s state officers want in 2024

Same-day registration, which is currently allowed only for presidential/vice presidential elections, is also a priority of the citizens advocacy group Common Cause.

"We want Rhode Island to join the 22 states, including four of the six New England states, that give voters the option to register up to and on Election Day," says Common Cause executive director John Marion.

New York Times: How to Boost Voter Turnout With Just One Signature

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New York Times: How to Boost Voter Turnout With Just One Signature

“It makes for more efficient elections and is less confusing to voters, too,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a nonpartisan good government group.

Daily Beast: NAACP Says Racist Redistricting Aims to Silence Black Voters in North Carolina

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Daily Beast: NAACP Says Racist Redistricting Aims to Silence Black Voters in North Carolina

The North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Common Cause North Carolina—an organization to protect voting rights, and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, filed the lawsuit accusing North Carolina’s state Senate, House, and board of elections of discriminatory gerrymandering.

“In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly redrew its state legislative and congressional plans to severely diminish the voting power of North Carolina’s Black voters,” the lawsuit stated. “The General Assembly achieved this by...

Detroit News: Redistricting commission will ‘consider its options’ after federal judges ordered a redraw

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Detroit News: Redistricting commission will ‘consider its options’ after federal judges ordered a redraw

Common Cause Michigan welcomed the judges' decision, but urged that the commissioners be allowed to redraw the maps.

"We're glad to see all voices protected in our democratic process, especially Black Michiganders who have often been intentionally left out," Common Cause Michigan Executive Director Quentin Turner said in a Friday statement. "Despite the redraw, we believe independent commissions, and not legislators, are the best way to achieve fair maps. The voters should always be able to choose their elected leaders — not...

Yahoo! News/The Hill: Lobbying World

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Yahoo! News/The Hill: Lobbying World

Virginia Kase Solomón will be the next president and CEO of Common Cause. Currently CEO of the League of Women Voters, she will start her new role in February and will be the first Hispanic person to lead the democratic watchdog. She succeeds Karen Hobert Flynn, who died this spring after three decades with the organization.

Associated Press/PBS: North Carolina’s election maps for 2024 are racially biased, advocates say in lawsuit

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Associated Press/PBS: North Carolina’s election maps for 2024 are racially biased, advocates say in lawsuit

North Carolina voting-rights advocates sued Tuesday to overturn all of the redistricting plans drawn by Republicans and being used starting with the 2024 elections, saying legislative leaders unlawfully weakened the electoral influence of Black voters.

The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, Common Cause and eight Black residents filed a lawsuit in federal court. They accuse GOP legislative leaders of intentionally moving this fall boundary lines for General Assembly and congressional districts in part so that many Black voters...

Georgia Public Broadcasting: Voting rights decision may curb push to diversify Georgia, Alabama utility commissions

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Georgia Public Broadcasting: Voting rights decision may curb push to diversify Georgia, Alabama utility commissions

Aunna Dennis, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, said even if marginalized groups of people don’t exactly know what the Public Service Commission is or does, they do see the impact on their bills and on their health.

“They may not directly know the jargon, but they do know what’s impacting them,” she said.

Los Angeles Times/Tribune News: Environmentalists investing in Big Oil? Inside the surprising stock portfolios of California lawmakers

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Los Angeles Times/Tribune News: Environmentalists investing in Big Oil? Inside the surprising stock portfolios of California lawmakers

“A lot of these people tell their constituents what they think they want to hear even if they don’t necessarily believe in it or they’re not doing necessarily what’s in the best interest of the public, but themselves,” said Sean McMorris, who focuses on transparency, ethics and accountability at California Common Cause, a government watchdog group.

Politico: Influence

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Politico: Influence

Common Cause named Virginia Kase Solomón as its next president and CEO. She’s currently CEO of the League of Women Voters and will start her new role in February.

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