Press Release
Press
Media Contacts
Kenny Colston
Midwest Communications Strategist
kcolston@commoncause.org
David Vance
National Media Strategist
dvance@commoncause.org
240-605-8600
Press Release
Nebraska Lobbyist Earnings Reach an All-Time High
Lobbyists seeking to influence Nebraska state lawmakers are pulling in more money than ever before, according to a new analysis of public records by Common Cause Nebraska.
Last year, 573 groups or entities called “principals” paid 391 lobbyists $17.8 million, up $400,000 over the previous year -- an increase that stayed well ahead of inflation and left government salaries in the dust, the report states.
Last year, 573 groups or entities called “principals” paid 391 lobbyists $17.8 million, up $400,000 over the previous year -- an increase that stayed well ahead of inflation and left government salaries in the dust, the report states.
News Clip
Midlands Voices: Legislature dropping the ball on redistricting
Voters need to be confident that legislators believe that everyone they represent is important and that all votes have equal value. In prior gerrymandering cases, the federal courts have said that voting maps should be proportionate and not based in any way on race. Electoral maps should also be drawn to protect and not dilute the vote of the underrepresented. A favored catchphrase of the political wonks is: Voters should pick their representatives. Representatives should not pick their voters.
News Clip
Midlands Voices: We can slay the gerrymander
If there is one thing Americans can agree on, it’s that our vote is sacred. We vote to shape a better future for our family, community and nation at every level of government, from school board to president.
News Clip
Editorial, 3/2: Clear Nebraska’s slate on constitutional conventions
State legislatures, including in Nebraska, have called hundreds of times to convene a constitutional convention to address topics ranging from reining in federal spending to banning polygamy.
News Clip
Nonprofits back bill for census committee to promote participation and accuracy
A complete count committee can help to “engage with those communities directly to assure them it’s not harmful and it does benefit them,” said Gavin Geis of Common Cause Nebraska.
News Clip
Expanded reporting sought for certain political advertisements
Electioneering communications would be subject to increased regulation under a bill considered March 13 by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.
Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska testified in favor of the bill. A group called Trees of Liberty produced ads opposing three Nebraska legislative candidates that aired days before the 2016 election, he said. The ads were filled with “half-truths,” he said, and the targeted candidates had no time to react.
Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska testified in favor of the bill. A group called Trees of Liberty produced ads opposing three Nebraska legislative candidates that aired days before the 2016 election, he said. The ads were filled with “half-truths,” he said, and the targeted candidates had no time to react.
News Clip
Push to End Campaign Cash Shuffle Underway
Have you ever given money to one political candidate only to have the money go to an entirely different candidate?
You may not think so but it happens. And it happens a lot.
Now there’s a push in the state legislature to stop this political double dealing.
A public hearing on a bill to end campaign cash shuffling is scheduled for Friday.
You may not think so but it happens. And it happens a lot.
Now there’s a push in the state legislature to stop this political double dealing.
A public hearing on a bill to end campaign cash shuffling is scheduled for Friday.
News Clip
Why corporations are pouring millions into sure-bet governor races
“That is a lot of money and pretty unprecedented for Nebraska fundraising,” said Gavin Geis, executive director of Common Cause Nebraska, a nonpartisan government accountability group. “That’s D.C.-level fundraising… It goes to show what a deep-pocketed candidate can do to buy influence.”