Midwest Democracy Network
Media ReformTelevision broadcasters have a responsibility to promote democratic participation through ongoing, high-quality coverage of government, public affairs, elections, candidates and issues. Recent studies show, however, that broadcasters are not honoring the public interest obligations they accept in exchange for free use of the airwaves. |
Midwest News IndexOctober, 2006 |
Midwest News IndexNovember, 2006 |
Midwest News IndexJune, 2007 |
Judicial IndependenceThe influence of money in politics has spread to the judicial system and has created a real threat to the public's perception of independent and impartial judges. A fair and impartial judiciary is essential in maintaining our government's system of checks and balances, and preserving our rights. |
The New Politics of Judicial Elections in the Great Lakes States, 2000-2008The Justice at Stake Campaign: April 2008This special report shows how five midwestern states-Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin-have become caught up in America’s “New Politics of Judicial Elections.” Between 2000 and April of 2008, four of these states have become national symbols of rising special interest pressure on state Supreme Courts, along with serious attempts at reform... |
Fair Courts: Setting Recusal StandardsBrennan Center for Justice; April 2008The paper describes the increasing threats to the impartiality of America's state courts and argues that they have been spurred by two trends: the growing influence of money in judicial elections and the dismantling of codes of judicial ethics that once helped to preserve the distinctive character of the judiciary, even during the course of campaigns for the bench. |
After bitter race, calls for reformMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; April 2008Election's tone hurt high court's standing, some say |
Gableman victoriousMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; April 2008Challenger beats Butler in high court race; 1st such ouster since '67 |
People want public funding of court racesMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; March 2008The trouble with Wisconsin Supreme Court elections nowadays is not just how they eerily resemble John Grisham's latest novel. |
Elections for Judges Are Getting NastierU.S. News and World Report; April 2008The Wisconsin Supreme Court race is just one example of what's ahead. |
Report Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court ElectionsMay 2007WASHINGTON, DC - Special interest pressure is metastasizing into a permanent national threat to the fairness and impartiality of America's courts, according to a major new report from the Justice at Stake Campaign... |
National Groups to Speak In Favor of Supreme Court Public Financing for WisconsinFebruary 2008Groups cite polling of business leaders, voters in push for reform |
Poll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial ElectionsJanuary 2008 |
Campaign Finance ReformThe explosive flood of special interest money into our political system has lead to a growing mistrust of government. Reforms in our campaign finance system aim to diminish the power of money in politics and government by promoting honesty, accountability and transparency. |
Michigan Campaign Finance Network:Top PACs have raised $21.8 million this cycleMichigan's top 150 political action committees (PACs) have raised $21.8 million so far this election cycle, according to reports filed with the Michigan Bureau of Elections... |
Illinois Channel:Unedited, Nonpartisan Coverage of Illinois State Government and Public Affairs... |
Statehouse CrockWisconsin Democracy Campaign |
The Cost of CorruptionThe Sunshine ProjectPolitical Corruption in Illinois and What to Do About It |
Show Me the MoneyThe Sunshine ProjectCash Clout In Illinois Politics |
Fair Courts: Setting Recusal StandardsBrennan Center for Justice; April 2008The paper describes the increasing threats to the impartiality of America's state courts and argues that they have been spurred by two trends: the growing influence of money in judicial elections and the dismantling of codes of judicial ethics that once helped to preserve the distinctive character of the judiciary, even during the course of campaigns for the bench. |
After bitter race, calls for reformMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; April 2008Election's tone hurt high court's standing, some say |
Gableman victoriousMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; April 2008Challenger beats Butler in high court race; 1st such ouster since '67 |
People want public funding of court racesMilwaukee Journal Sentinel; March 2008The trouble with Wisconsin Supreme Court elections nowadays is not just how they eerily resemble John Grisham's latest novel. |
Obama May Bypass Public FinancingApril 2008Barack Obama, whose fundraising prowess has set records, appears to be paving the way to bypass the public financing system in the fall without yet spelling out his intentions. |
Brennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance ReportsMarch 2007These reports examines campaign finance laws and the ways they've worked - or haven't worked - to limit the influence of money on politics in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. |
National Groups to Speak In Favor of Supreme Court Public Financing for WisconsinFebruary 2008Groups cite polling of business leaders, voters in push for reform |
National Watchdog Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Action on Supreme Court Campaign Finance ReformFebruary 2008 |
Poll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial ElectionsJanuary 2008 |
Election Law & Voting RightsRecent elections have revealed glaring faults in election administration systems across the country. Oversight of election authorities must be strengthened to ensure they are nonpartisan in their administration, while promoting full participation in our electoral process. |
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education FundResponse to Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID... |
Felon Disenfranchisement in Ohio and NationwideElection Law at Moritz College of LawFelon disenfranchisement laws strip criminals convicted of certain crimes of their right to vote. Denying criminals the right to vote has been traced back to the Roman era, and the practice was a component of the medieval and colonial tradition of imposing "civil death" on offenders by denying them a range of political and social rights... |
Restoring the Right to VoteBrennan Center for Justice at New York University School of LawToday in the United States, over five million otherwise eligible citizens cannot vote because of a felony conviction... |
From Registration to Recounts:The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
Study Finds Deficiencies in Election Administration Systems |
Open GovernmentThe public has a right to know how its government is being run. For a government to be held accountable to the public, it must operate in the open. Public access to government records and meetings are necessary in order to keep our government honest, responsive, and democratic. |
Coming soon... |
RedistrictingDeliberately gerrymandered election districts deprive voters of meaningful choices, heighten partisanship and undermine the representativeness of legislative bodies. In order for elected officials to be responsive to the public interest, new laws and processes for bipartisan redistricting must be created. |
Minnesota Redistricting ProjectHumphrey Institute of Public AffairsThe Center for the Study of Politics and Governance carries out its Minnesota Redistricting project with the generous support of the Joyce Foundation and guided by its Advisory Board chaired by Vice President Walter Mondale and former Governor Arne Carlson. |
Plan: Retired Judges Would Do RedistrictingAssociated Press; January 2008The lines on political district maps won't budge for another four years. But with the potential loss of a congressional seat looming after the 2010 census, the maneuvering has begun over who draws the new districts. |
Research |
The New Politics of Judicial Elections in the Great Lakes States, 2000-2008The Justice at Stake Campaign: April 2008This special report shows how five midwestern states-Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin-have become caught up in America’s “New Politics of Judicial Elections.” Between 2000 and April of 2008, four of these states have become national symbols of rising special interest pressure on state Supreme Courts, along with serious attempts at reform... |
Restoring the Right to VoteBrennan Center for Justice at New York University School of LawToday in the United States, over five million otherwise eligible citizens cannot vote because of a felony conviction... |
OBAMA DOMINATED TELEVISION ADVERTISING IN WISCONSINFebruary 2008Outspent Clinton by almost Five-to-One, study finds; and outspent all candidates by over Two-to-OneHalf of Clinton's ads had negative content, with first significant ad tussle taking place in Badger state |
Despite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuingAugust 2006Although they generally don't trust state government to do what is right, Midwesterners believe political and government reforms will make elected officials more responsive on key issues such as education, health care and jobs... |
MDN Presidential QuestionnaireNovember 2007Midwest Civic Groups Release Results of Presidential QuestionnaireEDWARDS & OBAMA DETAIL POLITICAL REFORM PLANS |
Democratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's HeartlandJanuary 2008Midwest reform groups sound alarms about serious flaws in state political systems |
Illinois |
Campaign Finance ReformIllinois ChannelUnedited, Nonpartisan Coverage of Illinois State Government and Public Affairs... |
Campaign Finance ReformThe Cost of CorruptionThe Sunshine Project; Political Corruption in Illinois and What to Do About It |
Campaign Finance ReformShow Me the MoneyThe Sunshine Project; Cash Clout In Illinois Politics |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute Broadcast |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study Finds |
Judicial IndependenceReport Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court Elections
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Campaign Finance ReformBrennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance Reports
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Election Law & Voting RightsFrom Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
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ResearchDespite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuing
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ResearchDemocratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's Heartland
|
Michigan |
Campaign Finance ReformMichigan Campaign Finance Network:Top PACs have raised $21.8 million this cycle... |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute Broadcast |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study Finds |
Judicial IndependenceReport Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court Elections
|
Campaign Finance ReformBrennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance Reports
|
Election Law & Voting RightsFrom Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
|
ResearchDespite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuing
|
ResearchDemocratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's Heartland
|
Minnesota |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute Broadcast |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study Finds |
Judicial IndependenceReport Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court Elections
|
Campaign Finance ReformBrennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance Reports
|
Election Law & Voting RightsFrom Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
|
ResearchDespite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuing
|
ResearchDemocratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's Heartland
|
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinancePoll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial Elections
|
Ohio |
Election Law & Voting RightsMoritz College of LawFelon disenfranchisement laws strip criminals convicted of certain crimes of their right to vote. |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute Broadcast |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study Finds |
Judicial IndependenceReport Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court Elections
|
Campaign Finance ReformBrennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance Reports
|
Election Law & Voting RightsFrom Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
|
ResearchDespite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuing
|
ResearchDemocratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's Heartland
|
Wisconsin |
Election Law & Voting RightsLeague of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education FundResponse to Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID... |
ResearchWDC Ranks Legislators on Political Reform |
Campaign Finance ReformStatehouse Crock |
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinanceFair Courts: Setting Recusal StandardsThe paper describes the increasing threats to the impartiality of America's state courts and argues that they have been spurred by two trends: the growing influence of money in judicial elections and the dismantling of codes of judicial ethics that once helped to preserve the distinctive character of the judiciary, even during the course of campaigns for the bench. |
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinanceAfter bitter race, calls for reformElection's tone hurt high court's standing, some say |
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinanceGableman victoriousChallenger beats Butler in high court race; 1st such ouster since '67 |
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinancePeople want public funding of court racesThe trouble with Wisconsin Supreme Court elections nowadays is not just how they eerily resemble John Grisham's latest novel. |
Judicial IndependenceElections for Judges Are Getting NastierThe Wisconsin Supreme Court race is just one example of what's ahead. |
Judicial Independence/Campaign FinanceNational Groups to Speak In Favor of Supreme Court Public Financing for WisconsinGroups cite polling of business leaders, voters in push for reform. |
National Watchdog Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Action on Supreme Court Campaign Finance Reform |
ResearchOBAMA DOMINATED TELEVISION ADVERTISING IN WISCONSINOutspent Clinton by almost Five-to-One, study finds; and outspent all candidates by over Two-to-OneHalf of Clinton's ads had negative content, with first significant ad tussle taking place in Badger state |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute Broadcast |
Media ReformMidwest News Index
Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study Finds |
Judicial IndependenceReport Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court Elections
|
Campaign Finance ReformBrennan Center for Justice Campaign Finance Reports
|
Election Law & Voting RightsFrom Registration to Recounts: The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern States
|
ResearchDespite distrust of state government, Midwesterners still believe political reforms possible, worth pursuing
|
ResearchDemocratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's Heartland
|
Hot Topics
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The New Politics of Judicial Elections in the Great Lakes States, 2000-2008
The Justice at Stake Campaign: April 2008
Fair Courts: Setting Recusal Standards
April 1, 2008
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MSNBC Post Debate Analysis
MSNBC; February 26, 2008
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Democratic Renewal
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Partners' Feeds
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League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Fund:
Response to Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID...
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Michigan Campaign Finance Network:
Top PACs have raised $21.8 million this cycle...
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Illinois Channel:
Unedited, Nonpartisan Coverage of Illinois State Government and Public Affairs...
