Nov. 20 - FEC Allows Corporate Gift-Giving to Senate Candidates, Flouts Federal Election Law

In a decision that unabashedly flouts federal election law and the new congressional ethics rules approved in 2007, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) voted Thursday to gut the restriction against corporations subsidizing senatorial candidates through the use of corporate jets.

Nov. 19 - Former Government Officials, Including Members of Congress, Cashing in as Lobbyists for Financial Industry, Public Citizen Analysis Shows

More than 900 former federal employees, including 70 former members of Congress, have gone to work as lobbyists for the financial services sector in 2009, according to a Public Citizen report released today analyzing data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org).

Nov. 16 - Members of House, Senate Banking Committees Rake in Wall Street Campaign Cash, New Report Shows

While Congress has debated legislation to reform Wall Street, the financial services industry has showered members of the Senate and House banking committees with about two and a half times as much money, on average, as other members of Congress, according to a new Public Citizen report.

Nov. 10 - Financial Regulation Debate Moves to Senate: Lawmakers Who Think Public Outrage Has Abated Do So at Their Peril

More than a year after the onset of the financial crisis, three things are apparent: Congress has not passed any financial reform legislation (except for credit card rules); the more time passes, the more Wall Street objects to the prospect of any meaningful controls of its operations; and the legislation that has so far progressed in Congress is not commensurate with the scale of the crisis Wall Street caused.

Nov. 10 - Public Citizen Letter on Franken Amendment published in Washington Post

In her Oct. 25 column, Kathleen Parker defended the 30 GOP senators who opposed Al Franken's amendment to the defense appropriations bill. The amendment would restore access to justice for individuals who are sexually assaulted or harassed while working for defense contractors.

Nov. 9 - “No” Votes on Health Care Bill Received $2.3 Million More from Health Insurance Industry

Washington, DC--Members of Congress who noted “no” on health care reform legislation late Saturday night have received $2.3 million more in campaign donations from health insurance interests than those who voted in favor of the legislation to overhaul of the nation’s health care system, according to analysis released by a coalition of campaign reform groups.

Nov. 2 - Groups applaud Office of Congressional Ethics, ask House Ethics Committee to stop attacks.

We have sought to improve and strengthen a discredited congressional ethics process, including the creation of a more independent investigatory office. We note that yesterday’s inadvertent release of information regarding the activities of the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) indicates that both groups are seriously pursuing their ethics responsibilities at this stage.

Nov. 2 - Lessons from Emily’s List: Defending the Nation’s Campaign Finance Laws Requires Fixing the Agency That Is Supposed to Be in Charge

While it is disappointing that Solicitor General Elena Kagan decided not to appeal en banc an overreaching and potentially crippling court decision in the campaign finance case of Emily’s List v. Federal Election Commission (FEC), one lesson for defending the nation’s campaign finance laws has clearly emerged from this case.

Oct. 30 - Office of Congressional Ethics, both by its very existence and by its actions, deserves much credit for this sharp increase in activity at the Ethics Committee as compared to previous years.

Statement of Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG Regarding Activities of House Ethics Committee and Office of Congressional Ethics

Oct. 22 - Obama Pay Cuts a Good Start, but More Is Needed: Congress Should Impose a Windfall Bonus and Profits Tax on Wall Street

For the first time, the government appears to be set to take some meaningful action against business fat cats who a) run companies that exist only because of billions of dollars of taxpayer supports and b) still see fit to pay themselves obscene salaries. Outlets report that Obama administration pay czar Kenneth Feinberg will require executives and top employees at the most bailed-out firms to cut back on salary by 50%. If these reports are true, the administration deserves applause – with one big caveat.

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