Media

The American public must have confidence in the leadership of Census Bureau to ensure everyone is counted accurately. Public outrage met reports that Thomas Brunell would be named deputy director, a slot that does not require Senate confirmation, but that he would in fact lead the Census. The controversy was well founded. Brunell’s controversial background as an academic who regular testified in support Republican gerrymanders would have politicized the national headcount.

Today, the California Local Redistricting Project – a joint project of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law’s Capital Center for Law & Policy and California Common Cause – announced the release of a new tool to enable local governments to fight redistricting abuse at the local level. The Project’s ordinance generator, hosted at www.localredistricting.org/generator, enables any user to easily draft a sample ordinance for establishing a local, independent redistricting commission, which is considered a vital redistricting best practice by good government watchdogs.

Common Cause is pleased to announce that Yosef Getachew has joined Common Cause as the Director of the Media and Democracy Program. Getachew will work hand-in-glove with former FCC Commissioner & Common Cause Special Advisor Michael Copps and lead campaigns to engage the public and policy makers on key initiatives including promoting an open internet, fostering competition in the media marketplace, and ensuring broadband access for all Americans.

The American people must have the truth about the Russia-Trump investigation. The DOJ must work with Intelligence Committee staff of both parties to make any legitimate redactions to the minority memo as soon as possible and then release it. Americans deserve the truth, not a cover-up.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Cris Dush is calling for the impeachment of the justices on the state Supreme Court who ruled in favor of a redrawing of the state's congressional map ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. Rep. Dush circulated a letter addressed to the state House on Monday arguing that the five Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices behind the decision violated the state constitution by usurping authority from the state constitution.

Following weeks of negotiations among Common Cause Ohio and other members of the Fair Districts=Fair Elections coalition and leaders of the state legislature, a congressional redistricting reform measure will be on the ballot in May.