Beyond the Network May 26
This week’s Beyond the Network takes a look at some of the issues happening outside the Midwest, and provides a national perspective on some of the issues that Midwest Democracy Network covers. Read on, read on!
Supreme Court Ethics
The United States Supreme Court is not currently subject to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which are ethical standards for high ranking judges, including recusal requirements. Representative Christopher Murphy of Connecticut recently introduced a bill that would make the Supreme Court subject to the Code. The Los Angeles Times has more in their editorial from this week.
Los Angeles Times: Supreme Court ethics
More on this from Network partner Justice at Stake’s blog, Gavel Grab
Texas Redistricting
Politico reports on the redistricting process in Texas and some of the Republican in-fighting that might prevent the legislature from producing a Congressional redistricting plan. The legislature has passed state level maps, but might let the federal map be drawn by a three judge panel. The map could also be drawn if Governor Rick Perry calls a special session after May 31. In Texas, the governorship and both houses of Congress are controlled by Republicans.
Politico: Texas GOP running out of time on redistricting
Voter ID & Voter Fraud
MSNBC takes a look at voter ID laws popping up across the nation, and what this could mean for the upcoming 2012 elections. The article takes a look at voter ID laws in the Midwest (in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio) but also at laws in Florida, which shortens the early voting window, and in North Carolina, which would be vetoed by Governor Bev Perdue.
MSNBC: Voter ID debate could change 2012 landscape
The New York Times published an editorial earlier this week on voter ID, saying that “these rules are an assault on democracy itself.” The Times takes a look at Missouri’s potential state constitutional amendment to require voter ID, as well as other legislative measures across the nation.
New York Times: The myth of voter fraud
Prison-based gerrymandering
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, along with other civil rights including Network partner Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause New York, and Demos, are defending a New York state law that counts prisoners in their home districts, and not in the district in which they are incarcerated. Read the press release at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and read case background at the Brennan Center.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: Civil rights organizations file motion to defend law ending prison-based gerrymandering
Brennan Center for Justice: Little v. LATFOR
State budgets
Stateline looks at state budgets from five different states: New York, California, Florida, Texas and Illinois, and assesses where these states are going in the future. Stateline concludes, though, that elected officials might not have as much control over the states’ fiscal well being as they think.
Stateline: 5 fiscal futures
Federal data websites
Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra said in a letter to Senator Tom Carper on the upcoming e-government budget cuts that “no project will go unaffected.” Websites such as Data.gov and USAspending.gov will remain up, but quality of data might suffer and new data might be harder to come by. Sunlight Foundation has the full letter and further analuysis on their website. In a piece from April, the Freedom to Tinker blog takes a look at what might happen if Data.gov were to be shut down.
Sunlight Foundation: Kundra on e-gov cuts: no project unaffected
Freedom to Tinker blog: What we lose if we lose Data.gov
Outside campaign spending
In a special election in New York’s 26th Congressional district, outside interest groups spent $2.25 million, 86 percent of which was spent on negative advertising. NPR has a breakdown of spending, as well as a look at what this might mean for elections in 2012.
National Public Radio: Outside groups spend big in NY election
Karl Rove and 501(c)4 groups
The Huffington Post looks at 501(c)4 groups, including one run by Republican operative Karl Rove. The article looks at the definition of a 501(c)4, and potential fines that Rove’s group might face by campaigning before achieving their status from the IRS.
Huffington Post: Tax laws could take a bite out of secret political spending
