U.S. News and World Report: on Government Reform
Elena Kagan:
Aggressive advocate for campaign finance reform
Kagan has already distinguished herself as an aggressive advocate for campaign finance reform. The first case Kagan argued as solicitor general was Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee. It was one of the cases Obama referenced when he
said, "In a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens." In one fell swoop, the Court upended decades of campaign finance laws that kept corporations and their unlimited financial resources out
of the political process. Kagan argued that if Roberts and the other conservative justices had their way, which they ultimately did, the voice of the ordinary American would simply be overpowered by the deep pockets of corporate America.
This issue is not going away anytime soon. In one way or another, it will be before the Court in the coming years and the next justice will play a critical role in the outcome.
Source: Josh Gottheimer in US News & World Report, "5 Reasons"
Apr 9, 2010
Gary Johnson:
Sues to attempt to participate in presidential debate
Johnson has filed a lawsuit to win a spot in the presidential debates, arguing that the private Commission on Presidential Debates, along with the Democratic and the Republican parties, are unfairly blocking him from participating. Only President Barack
Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney are being allowed to debate."Someone has to stand up and call this what it is--a rigged system designed entirely to protect and perpetuate the two-party duopoly," says Johnson's spokesman. "That someone will be the
Johnson campaign."
The commission has declared that the debates are limited to candidates who are constitutionally eligible to hold the presidency; have achieved ballot access in enough states to win a theoretical Electoral College majority in the
general election, and have the support of at least 15% of the national electorate. Johnson falls short in the polling category.
Johnson says this amounts to a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act because the collusion limits competition.
Source: US News and World Report, "Presidential Debates"
Sep 24, 2012
John Roberts:
Campaign finance reform should not limit political spending
Kagan has already distinguished herself as an aggressive advocate for campaign finance reform. The first case Kagan argued as solicitor general was Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee. It was one of the cases Obama referenced when he
said, "In a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens." In one fell swoop, the Court upended decades of campaign finance laws that kept corporations and their unlimited financial resources out
of the political process. Kagan argued that if Roberts and the other conservative justices had their way, which they ultimately did, the voice of the ordinary American would simply be overpowered by the deep pockets of corporate America.
This issue is not going away anytime soon. In one way or another, it will be before the Court in the coming years and the next justice will play a critical role in the outcome.
Source: Josh Gottheimer in US News & World Report, "5 Reasons"
Apr 9, 2010
Jon Husted:
States should police elections, not Feds
Ohio's elections chief said he would provide the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity looking into voter fraud with only the voter information that is public. "Confidential info won't be provided," Husted tweeted.Husted said he ordered
detailed reviews of credible allegations of voter fraud & voter suppression after the last 3 federal elections. The investigations were conducted by Ohio's 88 bipartisan county boards of elections. None found significant instances of voter fraud or abuse
Source: US News & World Report on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race
May 23, 2017
Page last updated: Aug 01, 2023