State organizations hold broadcasters accountable for inadequate election coverage - Common Cause Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan have joined an alliance of Midwestern reform groups in calling on the FCC to impose stronger public interest obligations on local television broadcasters.  Studies by the alliance show that coverage of government and elections gets much less air time than crime, sports, and weather, and that during election season political ads outweigh election coverage by nearly three to one.  The group offered specific recommendations on what public interest obligations should be imposed on broadcasters in order to increase the public's access to government affairs and election coverage.

Clean Elections on table in Madison, winning early support - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz of Madison, WI, created a committee to explore clean elections for the state's capital city.  Committee members include local and state officials and two Common Causers: former mayor Tony Earl and National Governing Board member Bill Kraus."I am concerned that increasingly expensive campaigns will keep average citizens from trying for public office," Cieslewicz said. "If you're not personally wealthy or capable of raising thousands of dollars, will you simply decide to stay on the sidelines?"  The Capital Times of Madison followed the announcement with a strong endorsement of clean elections for city races.

Common Cause Maine to hold training workshop for FCC hearing - Common Cause Maine is joining with Maine Media and Democracy Coalition to hold training workshops in preparation for the FCC's June 29th hearing on localism and media.  The workshops will be held on June 26th and June 27th to help prepare individuals to testify and answer questions about localism and media ownership.

One step closer to voting rights in D.C. - On June 13th, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 9-1 in favor of the DC Voting Rights bill, with all the Democrats and three of the four Republicans voting yes.  You rarely use "inspiring" to describe a committee vote, but as Ed Davis chronicled on our blog, the vote drew applause from the crowd.Common Cause has worked hard to enfranchise District voters as part of the DC Vote coalition, and that movement continues to gain momentum with this vote.

Impeach Gonzales! - On June 15th, Common Cause president Bob Edgar called upon the House of Representatives to impeach Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.  Common Cause sent a letter to the members of the House Judiciary Committee asking them to initiate impeachment proceedings.  If you haven't seen the video yet, watch it here and don't forget to sign the petition.