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. |
Nearly $200 Million Spent on Presidential Campaign TV Ads to DateJune 2008The Wisconsin Advertising ProjectAlmost $200 million has been spent on television advertising so far during this presidential election year, with the overwhelming amount of recent spending coming from the race for the Democratic nomination. |
Midwest News Index: Midwest Local TV Newscasts Average 36 Seconds of Election Coverage in Typical 30-Minute BroadcastOctober, 2006University of Wisconsin-Madison News LabIn the month following the traditional Labor Day kickoff of the 2006 election campaign season, television stations in nine Midwest markets devoted an average of 36 seconds to election coverage during the typical 30-minute local news broadcast, a new analysis shows. |
Midwest News Index: Midwest Local TV Newscasts Devote 2.5 Times as Much Air Time to Political Ads as Election Coverage, Study FindsNovember, 2006University of Wisconsin-Madison News LabIn the month leading up to the recent 2006 mid-term elections, local television news viewers got considerably more information about campaigns from paid political advertisements than from actual news coverage, a new study shows. |
Midwest News Index: Midwest Reform Groups Call on FCC to Hold TV Broadcasters Accountable for Inadequate Election and Government CoverageJune, 2007University of Wisconsin-Madison News LabAn alliance of Midwest civic and political reform groups is calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to impose stronger public interest obligations on local television... |
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. |
Fair Courts: Setting Recusal StandardsApril 2008Brennan Center for JusticeThe 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. |
The New Politics of Judicial Elections in the Great Lakes States, 2000-2008April 2008The Justice at Stake CampaignThis 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... |
Report Shows Spread of Special Interest Pressure, Growing Clout of Business Groups in State Supreme Court ElectionsMay 2007The Justice at Stake CampaignWASHINGTON, 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 2008The Justice at Stake CampaignGroups cite polling of business leaders, voters in push for reform |
Poll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial ElectionsJanuary 2008The Justice at Stake Campaign |
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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. |
Nearly $200 Million Spent on Presidential Campaign TV Ads to DateJune 2008Wisconsin Advertising ProjectDemocrats Dominate the AirwavesAlmost $200 million has been spent on television advertising so far during this presidential election year, with the overwhelming amount of recent spending coming from the race for the Democratic nomination. |
Reform Advocates Call on Governor to Stop Accepting Campaign Contributions from State ContractorsMay 2008The Illinois Campaign for Finance ReformThe leaders of seven Illinois government reform organizations urged Gov. Rod Blagojevich to sign House Bill 824, which would limit pay-to-play opportunities in state contracting and called on Blagojevich to stop soliciting and accepting contributions from state contractors... |
State Donors Pitch "527" Groups Record CashMay 2008The Wisconsin Democracy CampaignDemocratic groups getting most of the Wisconsin contributionsWisconsin business, unions and individuals have contributed a record $1.5 million in the first 15 months of the 2007-08 election cycle to unregulated groups most of which raise and spend unlimited amounts on negative advertising, mailings and other outside activities in state and national elections, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows... |
Top PACs have raised $21.8 million this cycleApril 2008Michigan Campaign Finance NetworkMichigan'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... |
Statehouse CrockWisconsin Democracy Campaign |
The Cost of Corruption2007The Sunshine ProjectPolitical Corruption in Illinois and What to Do About It |
Show Me the Money2008The Sunshine ProjectCash Clout In Illinois Politics |
Fair Courts: Setting Recusal StandardsApril 2008Brennan Center for JusticeThe 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. |
Campaign Finance ReportsMarch 2007Brennan Center for JusticeThese 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 2008Justice at StakeGroups cite polling of business leaders, voters in push for reform |
National Watchdog Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Action on Supreme Court Campaign Finance ReformFebruary 2008Justice at Stake |
Poll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial ElectionsJanuary 2008Justice at Stake |
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 FundApril 2008League of Women VotersResponse to Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID... |
Felon Disenfranchisement in Ohio and NationwideDecember 2007Election 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 VoteMay 2008Brennan 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:December 2007The Election Ecosystems of Five Midwestern StatesElection Law at Moritz College of LawStudy Finds Deficiencies in Election Administration SystemsCOLUMBUS, OHIO - With the 2008 presidential election quickly approaching, a recent analysis of the election administration systems of several key battleground states showed deficient systems that jeopardize voters' access to the polls... |
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. |
New Guide Brings Redistricting Out into the OpenJuly 2008The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, George Mason University, and the Joyce Foundation are pleased to announce the release of A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting, authored by Brennan Center counsel Justin Levitt. |
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. |
Research |
MDN Presidential QuestionnaireNovember 2007; February 2008Midwest Democracy NetworkMDN Releases Presidential Candidates' Final Responses to Political Reform QuestionnaireSince mid-February, the country has witnessed a heated debate about which presidential candidates are or are not committed to forgoing private financing of their general election campaigns this fall in favor of participating in the presidential public financing system... |
New poll gauges Midwest's attitudes on political reformJune 2008Midwest Democracy NetworkMidwesterners issue call to action on reform and voice support for candidates who offer changes in political systemDistrust of state government continues to rise in five-state region, public supports broad political reform agenda to make government more effective... |
The New Politics of Judicial Elections in the Great Lakes States, 2000-2008April 2008The Justice at Stake CampaignThis 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 VoteMay 2008Brennan 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 2008Wisconsin Advertising ProjectOutspent 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 2006Midwest Democracy NetworkAlthough 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... |
Democratic Renewal: A Call to Action from America's HeartlandJanuary 2008Midwest Democracy NetworkMidwest reform groups sound alarms about serious flaws in state political systems |
Illinois |
Campaign Finance ReformReform Advocates Call on Governor to Stop Accepting Campaign Contributions from State ContractorsThe leaders of seven Illinois government reform organizations urged Gov. Rod Blagojevich to sign House Bill 824, which would limit pay-to-play opportunities in state contracting and called on Blagojevich to stop soliciting and accepting contributions from state contractors... |
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
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Michigan |
Judicial IndependenceAre your judges clean?Report wants public dollars, not special interests, for top justices Judicial elections are becoming political prizefights where partisans and special interests seek to install judges who will answer to them instead of the law and the Constitution," said former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor... |
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
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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
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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
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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
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Judicial Independence/Campaign FinancePoll: Minnesota Voters Alarmed By Prospect of Big Money, Special Interests in Judicial Elections
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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
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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
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Wisconsin |
Campaign Finance ReformState Donors Pitch "527" Groups Record CashDemocratic groups getting most of the Wisconsin contributions... |
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. |
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Judicial IndependenceElections for Judges Are Getting NastierThe Wisconsin Supreme Court race is just one example of what's ahead. |
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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
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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
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Hot Topics
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New Guide Brings Redistricting Out
into the OpenThe Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, George Mason University, and the Joyce Foundation are pleased to announce the release of A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting, authored by Brennan Center counsel Justin Levitt.
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New poll gauges Midwest's attitudes on political reform
Midwesterners issue call to action on reform and voice support for candidates who offer changes in political system...
Executive Director Job Opening
The MDN executive director will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Midwest Democracy Network. Specific duties will include...
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Michigan Campaign Finance Network:
New guide explores redistricting...
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Wisconsin Advertising Project:
General Election TV Advertising Spending Exceeds $50 Million...
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Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Nasty Supreme Court Race Cost Record $6 Million...
