News from CED

» The 2008 presidential election process is underway and, unfortunately, candidates are opting out of the public financing system. CED supports improvements to the system. Read more HERE in this statement from CED President Charles Kolb.

» CED has been at the forefront of campaign finance reform since 1997. Since that time, major fights have been won, including passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) in 2002. CED was instrumental in achieving this victory by educating and mobilizing business leaders around the need for campaign finance reform and changing the perception, especially in the media, of the business community as supportive of the status quo campaign finance system.

In 1999, CED released Investing in the People’s Business: A Business Report for Campaign Finance Reform, which fundamentally changed the debate over the way American elections are financed. In April 2005, CED released a report on key post-BCRA issues entitled Building on Reform: A Business Proposal to Strengthen Election Finance. This report addresses the important shortcomings in our current election finance law. » more

» The Pew Charitable Trusts, as part of a series of grants designed to track and monitor implementation of the new federal campaign finance system, has awarded $500,000 to CED for our on-going effort to educate the business community on this vital issue. More information can be found in this press release from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
 

Reports

Just ahead of the mid-term elections, CED has issued a new CED Update on Money & Politics that addresses party fundraising in the 2006 election. Prepared by prominent campaign finance expert Anthony Corrado of Colby College, the brief makes a compelling case that the political parties have remained financially viable by courting small donors. The parties have not been crippled by the “soft money” ban imposed by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), as many critics of BCRA suggested would happen.

Quick Links
» Read the Update
 

On April 5th, 2005, CED released a policy statement on key post-Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) issues entitled Building on Reform: A Business Proposal to Strengthen Election Finance. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) provided keynote remarks at the release event, which focused on the dangerous new “527” loophole and the ineffectiveness of the FEC at enforcing the law. To address these important shortcomings in our current election finance law, CED makes three categories of recommendations in Building on Reform: strengthen the soft-money ban by closing the so-called “527” loophole; ensure effective enforcement of regulations by restructuring the FEC and creating an appointment system to attract individuals who are willing to make decisions independent of partisan politics and in the public interest; and strengthen the presidential public funding system in both the primary and general election through voluntary public financing for campaign funding and limits on campaign spending and the use of personal funds. » more

Quick Links
» Full Report
» Summary
» Press Release
» Newsletter
 

In March 1999, CED released its landmark report Investing in the People’s Business: A Business Report for Campaign Finance Reform, which fundamentally changed the debate over the way American elections are financed. CED successfully demonstrated that business leaders support reform, and representatives of the business community became prominent and outspoken advocates for campaign finance reform for the first time because of CED’s work » more

Quick Links
» Full Report
» Summary
» Press Release
» Endorsers
 

Polls

2005 Business Leader Poll
In April 2005, CED released results of a business leaders poll conducted by Zogby International on several campaign finance reform issues. Questions focused on the role of “527” committees, FEC reform, and the presidential public funding system. The poll shows that a strong majority (71%) of the business community believes that “527” committees have a corrupting influence on the political process, and over 4 in 5 (83%) believe that “527s” should register with the FEC.

The poll was conducted by telephone from March 8 through March 23, 2005. The business executives were chosen at random from a list of U.S. companies.

You can view the entire poll by clicking here.
 

2000 Business Leader Poll
In October 2000, CED released the first-ever survey of business leaders’ views on political fundraising. The survey, conducted by The Tarrance Group, provided new evidence to demolish the myth that corporations supported the campaign finance system.

Quick Links
» Poll Fact Sheet
» Press Release
 

Events

Chicago, Illinois
On June 7, 2006, CED convened a luncheon forum featuring Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes. » more
 

Los Angeles, CA
Partnering with the California Clean Money Campaign (CCMC), CED sponsored a June 6, 2006 luncheon discussion on money and politics in Beverly Hills, CA. » more
 

New York, NY
On April 24, 2006, CED held a forum featuring Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) to highlight the recent successes in campaign finance reform and to underscore the need for further action in Washington, DC. » more

Washington, DC
On March 16, 2006, CED launched a series of forums focusing on money and politics by hosting a luncheon featuring remarks from Senator John McCain (R-AZ). » more
 

New York, NY: On May 24, 2006, CED hosted Can Congress Cure Itself, a luncheon forum featuring remarks from Dr. Michael Johnston, Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science & Director, Division of the Social Sciences, Colgate University. Dr. Johnston discussed the findings of his new book, Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power and Democracy. » more
 

San Francisco, CA: With generous support from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation, CED hosted a February 15, 2006 campaign finance reform luncheon forum with The Greenlining Institute and the California Clean Money Campaign. » more
 

Washington, DC: CED and the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies (CCPS) at American University hosted a “Lobbying Reform Summit” on January 26, 2006 at the National Press Club, in Washington, DC. » more
 

CED Endorsement Campaign

In 2005, CED released Building on Reform, a policy statement which addresses key post-BCRA issues, including the proliferation of “Section 527” organizations. Named for the applicable tax code section, 527 groups have been formed by operatives of both parties to replace the political parties as the new conduits of soft money, thus circumventing BCRA’s ban on such contributions. While very few corporate donors have elected to contribute to such organizations, CED is still concerned that the prevalence of such groups threatens to undermine some of the gains of BCRA. » more
 

Other Activities and Materials

2004: CED Urges Restraint on "527" Giving
In 2004, CED called on corporations, labor unions, and individuals not to fund so called “527” independent groups that are designed to influence federal elections.  CED applauded companies’ resistance to the campaign finance loophole and urged restraint on "527" giving.  Click HERE to read the full text of the press release.
 

2003: CED Applauds Supreme Court Decision on McCain-Feingold
Business Leaders Support Reform. To learn more, click HERE.
 

2003: CED Files Amicus Brief with Supreme Court in Support of Campaign Finance Reform
In August 2003, CED, and a number of individual business leaders who support CED's position on campaign finance reform, submitted an amicus brief supporting the defendants in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission. Please click here to read the brief. For more information, click HERE.
 

2002: CED Asks President to Support Campaign Finance Reform
In 2002, nearly 100 business leaders, working with CED and Campaign for America, wrote President Bush asking him to urge the Senate to pass the Shays-Meehan reform legislation and sign it into law. In March 2002, the Senate voted 60-40 in favor of campaign finance reform. » more