Disclosure & Transparency

California prides itself on being an incubator for democracy reform, so perhaps there’s reason to hope that the state’s attack this week on the scourge of “dark money” in our elections will spread across the country.

California Common Cause and its 155,000 members applaud Gov. Brown for putting the people first by signing the California DISCLOSE Act (AB 249 - Mullin) yesterday.

It turns out that liberal and conservative non-profit groups got pretty much the same treatment – slow - from the tax man during the Obama years, the Treasury Department Inspector General has concluded.

Americans deserve to know more about the Russian attack to sway the 2016 presidential race and Congress owes them some answers. Without undermining the investigation or any intelligence assets, Congress needs to share more of its findings with the American people. To date most of what citizens know about the attacks comes from media reports.

Today’s New York Times opens a window into the return big energy is getting on its investments in the 2016 presidential race.

At a time when too many Americans do not think they have a meaningful voice in their democracy, when confidence in our institutions is at historic lows, and cynicism at record highs, this democracy reform package is needed more than ever. These reforms are working at the state level, empowering citizens and breaking down barriers to participation for all Americans, irrespective of political party.