Common Cause New York report triggers lively media discussion about pay-to-play - CC/NY's latest "Connect the Dots" report showed that the four largest bidders competing for the contract to run New York's racetracks have spent have spent $2.2 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in the past four years, including $329,000 to Governor Eliot Spitzer's campaign. Spitzer recommended in early September that the contract would remain with the New York Racing Association (NYRA), which has operated the tracks since 1955. NYRA ranked third among the top spenders. As Christina Bottego of CC/NY remarked, "this [spending by the bidders] translates into special interests attempting to gain power and access." Spitzer, meanwhile, reiterated his intention to pass a long-fought campaign finance reform package for New York.

Newly-created Connecticut "Clean Elections" system kicks off with special election next month - Common Cause led the huge campaign that passed full public financing in Connecticut in 2005, and the system will go into effect fully in 2008.  But it's starting now. The untimely death of state senator Richard Belden last month meant that a special election had to be scheduled for October 9; the uplifting news is that both the Democratic and Republican candidates have already qualified and are running as publicly-funded candidates in the race.  One of the primary goals in 2008 will be high participation from candidates and raised awareness of the voting public, so this is an encouraging start.  As Jason Perillo, the Republican candidate, said, "Quite honestly, I don't think this election should be about raising money.  My time as a candidate is best spent talking to the voters so they know where I'm coming from."  Democrat James Orazietti echoed those sentiments.  It's a good sign that the candidates themselves are already spreading the right message!

Milwaukee Rep. joins Common Cause Wisconsin's call for hold on campaign contributions - With the state budget long overdue, CC/WI has backed Rep. Gottlieb and Sen. Harsdorf's bill, AB 61, which bars all state elected officials from receiving campaign contributions during the budget negotiations.  Rep. Sheldon Wasserman recently came on as a supporter of the bill, but also introduced his own weaker version.  His support is nonetheless encouraging as CC/WI fights for a more timely budget and against the perception that wealthy campaign contributors are trying to sway lawmakers during the budget process.

Media consolidation hearing in Chicago this week; Common Cause on the scene - Wherever the fight to stop media consolidation goes, Common Cause helps turn out citizens to let the FCC know what people think.  The next FCC hearing on media issues is this Thursday, Sept 20, in Chicago, and CC is working to activate thousands of members in the Chicago area to attend. The coalition includes Free Press, IL PIRG, Consumers Union and many local organizations, and the goal is to let the FCC know that consolidated media is a threat to democracy and hurts communities. Unfortunately, the FCC has proposed rules that would allow further consolidation in the media sector. As Jon Bartholomew remarks, "The FCC needs to back off its proposed rules and should tighten the rules so as to reduce the existing consolidation."

Voting and election bills on the cusp in Congress - Common Cause has been fighting for two years to Get it Straight in 2008 by passing the Holt Bill (HR 811). The bill, which would mandate a paper record for every vote cast and require random audits of voting equipment, may reach the House floor this week--the big question is whether the bill's well-organized opposition will block any compromises or throw a major wrench into the works by adding so-called "poison pill" amendments to kill the bill.  Meanwhile, the DC Voting Rights Act (S.1257) has had an even longer wait--over 200 years, and still citizens of DC have no representation in Congress.  Sadly and wrongly, that didn't change today.  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trent Lott led a Senate filibuster of the bill; supporters came three votes short of ending the filibuster, failing after a 57-42 vote.  This is the first filibuster of a voting rights bill since the shameful opposition to the Voting Rights Act over 40 years ago.  The fight for DC voting rights isn't over in the Senate, even if McConnell insists on demeaning the 580,000 citizens who live in the nation's capital.  Stay tuned....