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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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #DarkMoney #PresidentialTransition #Corruption #TrumpTransition

The post The Presidential Transition Turns Into One Big Dark Money Special Interest Swamp appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 17, 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.

Two updates on stories we’ve covered recently in Pennsylvania, where its high court invalidated ballots with missing or inaccurate dates, and Alaska, where the Alaska Native population is organizing against a repeal of open primaries and ranked choice voting.

Sept. 13th, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned an Aug. 30th unanimous decision by the lower Commonwealth Court that mail-in ballots lacking a date or an invalid date must be counted.   The Republican National Committee and state Republicans appealed, and the Supreme Court booted the case not on the merits, but on a technicality.  

In 2022, 8,500 voters’ ballots were affected, and democracy groups are asking for an immediate hearing on the merits.   As a result of the ruling, Pennsylvanians will need to be VERY careful when filling out their mail-in ballots to make sure their vote will count.

The Alaska Federation of Natives is organizing to defeat Measure 2, a far-right -backed repeal of the state’s ranked choice voting and single ballot open primary system.  Bolts Magazine reports that with Alaska’s long voter suppression history of Natives, RCV and open primaries give Native candidates a chance to compete.  Mary Petola became the first Native Alaskan elected to Congress, in 2022.  The GOP blames the loss on the use of ranked choice voting.  

We have links to more on both stories at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Earlier Commonwealth Court Decision
Supreme Court of PA – Decision on Missing and Inaccurate Dates

Spotlight PA/Votebeat – High court voids ruling on mail ballots missing handwritten dates
American Democracy Minute – Will Alaska Keep Its Open Primaries and Ranked Choice Voting?  An Upcoming Anti-RCV Ballot Initiative is a Critical Test
Bolts Magazine – Native Leaders Organize to Defend Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting System

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU PA,  PA Conference of the NAACP, Common Cause PA, Black Political Empowerment Project, ,  League of Women Voters PA,   Alaska Federation of Natives

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
  
  

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #AlaskaNews #PennsylvaniaNews #MailBallots #RCV

The post Pennsylvania Won’t Count Undated Mail Ballots After All; Alaska Natives Organizing to Retain Ranked Choice Voting appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 3, 2024

Brian is off for Labor Day today, so we’re repeating a still-timely report from June 13th. There is a story update from the Florida Phoenix you should also read: “A campaign emerges against the amendment that would end Florida’s campaign public financing.”

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

The post FL Voters Decide Nov. 5th Whether to Keep Their Small Donor Matching Program, or Turn Funding of Campaigns Over to Special Interests appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 21, 2024

Brian is traveling early this week. We’ve inserted a timely rebroadcast for today. New episodes for Thursday and Friday!

Today’s Script

The post Rebroadcast: The Purcell Principle:  A SCOTUS Decision Intended to Avoid Voter Confusion May Now Be a Stealth Voter Suppression Tactic appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 20, 2024

Brian is traveling Aug. 20-21, so is doing a rebroadcast. New episodes later this week!

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

The post Rebroadcast: What Voter Harassment & Intimidation Might We Face in 2024? A New Report Shows Election Officials What to Look For, and How to Combat It. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.