Democracy Wire

Campaigning over the weekend in Iowa for the Republican presidential nomination, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio announced his support for a dangerous idea: a national convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose constitutional amendments on term limits and a balanced federal budget.

Last week, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to end the manipulation of congressional districts and state legislative districts for political advantage.

As if Americans need one more reminder of the dysfunction in congress, last night Congressional leaders announced a 2,000 page omnibus budget, demonstrating again their inability to pass a budget through normal procedure. Omnibus spending bills released in the middle of the night are often filled with special interest handouts (called “riders”). Much like last year’s “cromnibus” bill, this year’s budget deal includes a number of good and bad things.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last Tuesday in Evenwel v. Abbott, a case that has huge implications for who has a voice in our democracy.

NRA’s political spending has tripled since Citizens United. The NRA has always been a big political spender, but since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and special interests groups in the 2010 Citizens United decision, the NRA’s spending on federal elections increased dramatically.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Fair Districts Now Coalition and selected its preferred map to replace existing congressional districts.