The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 26, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Federal election law governs campaign contributions directly to Presidential candidates. But when an incoming administration refuses to follow the Presidential transition rules, those contributions become an unregulated spigot of special interest dark money.
The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 allows money controlled by the General Services Administration to fund Presidential transition expenses, including office space, personnel, IT, and other support services to aid incoming and outgoing administrations. It’s no small amount: $10.4 Million dollars was budgeted for 2024, and $11.2 Million for 2025, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Most of this money is contingent on the incoming administration signing a memo of understanding, and it comes with limits on outside donations of $5,000, and disclosure of contributors. President-elect Trump’s transition team has thus far refused to sign those agreements, flouting those limits.
So, it’s likely the transition is being funded by corporations, SuperPACs and other special interests, and Americans won’t have any idea how much is given, how it will be used, or what donors will get favors in return. The Federal Election Commission can’t oversee these contributions, and the GSA can’t enforce the Presidential Transition Act with no agreement. It’s one big, dark money, special interest swamp.
We’ll explore inauguration funding in an upcoming report, for which dodging public scrutiny has become an art form. We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Congressional Research Service – Presidential Transition Act: Provisions and Funding
Center for Presidential Transitions – 2024 Presidential Transition Updates
FactCheck.org – Cost of Obama’s Transition
Federal Election Commission – Presidential transition donations and disbursements are not regulated by the FEC.
States News – Trump still has not signed critical transition agreements allowing access to agencies
Rolling Stone – Trump Refuses to Disclose Who Is Funding His Transition
Campaign Legal Center – Trump Is Stalling His Presidential Transition With an Unprecedented Ethics Stalemate
The Independent – Trump accused of opening door to financial corruption as transition donors kept secret
Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W), Public Citizen,
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #PresidentialTransition #Corruption #TrumpTransition