2017 Articles

The Citizen’s United v FEC decision by the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to campaign spending by deep-pocket anonymous donors. The following articles and reports portray the aftermath of this decision:

December 20, 2017: The GOP Tax Bill and the Crisis of American Democracy The Nation

December 16, 2017: The Tax Bill That Inequality Created NY Times

December 14, 2017: In small win for Democrats, the final tax bill will not include a provision allowing churches to endorse political candidates Washington Post

December 11, 2017: A smorgasbord for the swamp creatures: GOP tax plan is a gift for lobbyists Salon

December 8, 2017: GOP Angles for more campaign cash, less disclosure Center for Media and Democracy

December 8, 2017: Tax bill could make ‘dark money’ political contributions tax deductible CNN

December 7, 2017: Elections vs. auctions: Yet another way in which there’s too much money in politics Washington Post

December 7, 2017: Is Citizens United to Blame for the Disastrous GOP Tax Bill? Mother Jones

December 6, 2017: La Crosse residents may get chance to be heard on Citizens United decision La Crosse Tribune

December 5, 2017: La Crosse committee approves sending Constitutional amendment resolution to voters WIZM La Crosse Radio

December 5, 2017: Petitions to get corporate money out of politics submitted tonight, pushing for April vote WIZM La Crosse Radio

December 4, 2017: The Tax Overhaul is Proof that Money in Politics Affects All of Us Brennan Center for Justice

December 4, 2017: Foreign Lobbyists Contributed More Than $4.5 Million to Candidates in 2016 Elections Maplight

November 27, 2017: Two alders to propose political money referendum Sun Prairie Star

November 27, 2017: La Crosse city council to vote on petition to get big money out of politics Featured WIZM La Crosse Radio

November 22, 2017: Blowing Up Democracy and Charities in One Fell Swoop The American Prospect

November 21, 2017: ‘United to Amend’: Campaign finance resolution to appear on April ballot River Falls Journal

November 19, 2017: The most dangerous idea in American politics Pittsburgh Post Gazette

November 18, 2017: The House tax bill unleashes a dangerous avalanche of campaign cash Washington Post

November 15, 2017: Audit shows NRA spending surged $100 million amidst pro-Trump push in 2016 OpenSecrets.org

November 15, 2017: Kochs key among small group quietly funding legal assault on campaign finance regulation Center for Public Integrity

November 13, 2017: Why We Need to Confront the Billionaires’ Paradise
OurFuture.org

November 13, 2017: Not in a Million Years: The House’s Proposed Windfall for Donors Center for American Progress

November 13, 2017: Democracy — Fall Bulletin Rethink Media

November 12, 2017: Why do republicans vote the way they do? Follow the money Newsweek

November 9, 2017: Republicans Admit That CEOs And Donors Really Need The Tax Cut Bill To Pass — Or Else Huffington Post

November 8, 2017: With Senate vote, Wisconsin joins call for unprecedented convention to amend U.S. Constitution Wisconsin State Journal

November 8, 2017: US campaign finance laws resemble legalized bribery. We must reform them Russ Feingold via The Guardian

November 3, 2017: Political-Spending Voucher Program Upheld in Seattle Court House News

November 2, 2017: View from the Pier: A case against United to Amend The Herald Independent

November 2, 2017: The US Constitution Is Over 2 Centuries Old and Showing Its Age The Nation

October 26, 2017: World’s witnessing a new Gilded Age as billionaires’ wealth swells to $6tn The Guardian

October 22, 2017: Marshfield residents petition against unlimited campaign spending WSAW TV

October 20, 2017: Citizens United Has Been a Disaster for the Country Fred Wertheimer via Huffington Post

October 20, 2017: What Americans are afraid of in the age of Trump Washington Post

October 20, 2017: DNR Caves to Big Dairy Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

October 19, 2017: Urge Legislature to give citizens say on money in politics Jim Crist via The Cap Times

October 18, 2017: Republican lawmakers’ posh hideaway bankrolled by secret corporate cash Center for Public Integrity

October 15, 2017: Want to deepen our democracy? Get ready. E.J. Dionne Jr. via Washington Post

October 13, 2017: There is a feeding frenzy going down in Trump’s swamp Salon

October 11, 2017: America needs a constitutional check on money in politics The Hill

October 6, 2017: Grant to Trump: How court cases influenced campaign finance Open Secrets

October 5, 2017: St. Pete votes to get big money out of local politics ABC Tampa Bay

October 5, 2017: Millennial Action Project: Reform Congress and then maybe Americans – especially young people – will trust government again FOX News

October 3, 2017: Column ‘Thoughts and prayers’ — and fistfuls of NRA money: Why America can’t control guns LA Times

September 29, 2017: The GOP’s Big Problem Is Big Money The American Prospect

September 27, 2017: Political Reformers Have a New Asset: Trump Bloomberg View

September 26, 2017: Why Banning Russian Facebook Ads Might Be Impossible Politico

September 26, 2017: Some Conservatives See PAC’s Tax Reform Ads As Potential Warning Shot Politico

September 20, 2017: American Democracy Is Drowning in Money NY Times Opinion

September 19, 2017: Democrats and Plutocrats National Review

September 15, 2017: Citizens must take back their government The Sacramento Bee

September 11, 2017: Denver City Council approves new rules requiring reports of dark-money spending in elections The Denver Post

September 7, 2017: Special interests hide behind vets on Independence Day The Hill

September 7, 2017: Renewing our republic: Putting the priorities of everyday people ahead of special interests The Hill

September 6, 2017: Bribery trial prosecutor: Menendez acted as ‘personal senator’ for rich doctor Washington Post

September 3, 2017: Bipartisan effort in Congress to drain ‘The Swamp’ Steve Hilton – The Next Revolution

August 31, 2017: Democrats say ‘Citizens United’ should die. Here’s why that won’t happen Center for Public Integrity

August 20, 2017: Swamp Watch: Tax breaks The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton

August 15, 2017: They snubbed Trump. But the Koch network has still exerted a surprising influence over the White House LA Times

August 15, 2017: Oregon judge to decide if political spending limits are legal The Oregonian

August 11, 2017: Feingold slams Citizens United decision APG Media

August 9, 2017: Why I’m leaving the N.Y. Senate NY Daily News

August 8, 2017: The politics behind your college and how you pay for it Open Secrets

August 2, 2017: Republicans Want To Defund The Commission That Fights Voting Machine Hacking Huffington Post

August 2, 2017: Corporate Cash Could Help Republicans Keep Control Of State Governments, Influence Redistricting International Business Times

July 28, 2017: Koch brothers step up campaign to pass Trump tax plan USA Today

July 7, 2017: ‘Democracy vouchers’ aim to amplify low-income voices, to conservative ire The Guardian

June 30, 2017: House Bill Would Ax Election Panel, Bar Limits on Money in Politics Bloomberg BNA

June 26, 2017: Could This Put an End to Gerrymandering? The Nation

June 26, 2017: Donors to GOP: No cash until action on health care, taxes AP News

June 20, 2017: Defend Our Democracy ordinance means limiting big money and foreign influence in elections can start right in St. Petersburg Ellen L. Weintraub via the Tampa Bay Times

June 20, 2017: Defend Our Democracy ordinance means limiting big money and foreign influence in elections can start right in St. Petersburg Ellen L. Weintraub via the Tampa Bay Times

June 18, 2017: Tell legislators you want hearing on statewide vote on dark money Kathy Williams via The Cap Times

June 15, 2017: State Assembly backs U.S. constitutional convention, passes bill limiting agency rules Wisconsin State Journal

June 15, 2017: Collecting Campaign Cash from the Homeless The American Prospect

June 8, 2017: Wisconsin Democrats Propose Tougher Campaign Finance Laws Wisconsin Public Radio

June 8, 2017: House GOP To Pass Bill Benefiting Their Wall Street Donors Every Voice

June 7, 2017: Wisconsin Democrats Propose Tougher Campaign Finance Laws Wisconsin Public Radio

June 3, 2017: How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science New York Times

June 2, 2017: Why Walker Signed High-Cap Well Bill Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

June 1, 2017: Vatican would see U.S. Paris deal exit as slap in face: official Reuters

May 31, 2017: White House grants ethics waivers to 17 appointees, including four former lobbyists Washington Post

May 30, 2017: How Congress dismantled federal Internet privacy rules Washington Post

May 26, 2017: ‘Citizens United,’ media corporations and other corporations Washington Post

May 25, 2017: Nevada Legislature passes proposal to overturn Citizens United Review Journal

May 24, 2017: Poll: Americans don’t think Trump is draining the swamp Politico

May 23, 2017: A Surprise Win for Campaign Contribution Limits Brennan Center for Justice

May 17, 2017: Ken Griffin gives Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign record $20 million Chicago Tribune

May 11, 2017: Article V Convention A Troubling Gambit – Even for a Good Cause Michael Olneck via Our Wisconsin Revolution

May 10, 2017: How Big Money in Politics Blocked U.S. Action on Climate Change Yale Environment 360

May 4, 2017: It’s the Money, Stupid Our Wisconsin Revolution

May 3, 2017: 50 Million Reasons Wisconsin GOP Backs High-Capacity Wells Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

May 2, 2017: Wisconsin Democrats Seek Referendum to Repeal Citizens United WXPR Public Radio

April 30, 2017: Conservative campaign finance reformer names 3 priorities Concord Monitor

April 30, 2017: The right way to amend the Constitution John Nichols via the Cap Times

April 28, 2017: Long Overlooked, Case That Laid Foundation For Citizens United Marks Tenth Anniversary Standard Examiner

April 27, 2017: Corporate America Starts Funding Super PACs Bloomberg BNA

April 20, 2017: Republicans Sell Access to Congressional Staffers, Flouting Cardinal Ethics Rule The Intercept

April 19, 2017: Why We Need a Statewide Referendum to Help Overturn Citizens United Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

April 19, 2017: Rep. Subeck: Joins Sen. Hansen to Introduce Proposal to Let Wisconsin Vote on Big Money in Politics WisPolitics.com

April 18, 2017: Is America an Oligarchy? The New Yorker

April 18, 2017: When “Free Speech” By Special Interests Tramples On The Rights Of Citizens The Daily Caller

April 17, 2017: ‘Gyrocopter Guy’ Still Has a Message to Deliver Politico

April 14, 2017: Somebody just put a price tag on the 2016 election. It’s a doozy. The Washington Post

April 13, 2017: Election 2016: Trump’s free media helped keep cost down, but fewer donors provided more of the cash Open Secrets

April 12, 2017: Citizens calling for big money ban, not balanced budget Richard Russell via The Cap Times

April 4, 2017: Right-Wing Billionaires Are Buying Themselves a New Constitution Splinter

March 31, 2017: Fixing campaign finance key to health care Kara O’Connor via USA Today

March 28, 2017: The Real Corruption Is the Ownership of Congress by the Rich Richard Posner via Pro-Market

February 3, 2017: A Dark Money Loophole Of Biblical Proportions Brennan Center for Justice

January 28, 2017: Koch network to spend $300 million to $400 million on politics, policy in 2018 cycle Washington Post

January 1, 2017: Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Plays Hardball With Her Wealth New York Times