CommonBlog

This legislation is a shameful attempt to suppress the votes of senior citizens, the disabled, minorities, and college students, all of whom deserve fair representation in Pennsylvania.

Common Cause Pennsylvania Executive Director Barry Kauffman says, “The biggest political power-play of the decade is unfolding right now in Harrisburg — and it is, perhaps, the most self-serving and least transparent process of state government. It is known as reapportionment or redistricting.” Kauffman writes in an op ed published by the Philadelphia Jewish Voice [...]

Following up on our new report, Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets, about the mountain of money the fracking industry is building around legislators making decisions about the controversial drilling method, our James Browning talked to MSNBC about the stakes for our environment as well as the enormous amount of cash in question: $726 million at the [...]

Two Supreme Court justices are again treading dangerously near and perhaps crossing an ethical boundary that sensibly restricts off-the-bench activity by other federal judges. “The scheduled keynote speeches tonight by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas at what appears to be a fundraising dinner for the Federalist Society highlight the need for higher ethical standards [...]

The natural gas “gold rush” has intensified debates around the world over how government regulates the oil and gas industry and protects the health and well being of its residents. The debate pits those who see the industry as an engine for economic growth against those who fear that lax standards create a potential for [...]