Submitted by Matt on May 2, 2008 - 9:29am.
The Sunlight Foundation proposes that banning earmarks is unrealistic and that a better step would be to make the earmark process completely transparent.
Common Cause looks the phenomenon of cross-party giving that happens when Republican lobbyists must do business in a Democrat-controlled Congress.
Public Campaign links to poll results showing that 74% of New York residents support publicly financed campaigns.
The Brennan Center for Justice points out a recent Campaign Finance Institute report that the "small donor revolution" benefitting presidential candidates is not having much impact on congressional campaigns, who are relying on big donors more than ever.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid attempts to resolve the FEC stalemate.
OpenSecrets.org has updated their data with the most recent campaign filings as of 4/30/08:
House:
|
Party |
No. of Cands |
Total Raised |
Total Spent |
Total Cash
on Hand |
Total
from PACs |
Total
from Indivs |
|
All |
1136 |
$489,733,009 |
$290,564,148 |
$353,975,209 |
$164,324,987 |
$274,991,444 |
|
Dems |
586 |
$269,543,091 |
$148,760,037 |
$203,313,916 |
$100,285,717 |
$149,543,171 |
|
Repubs |
521 |
$219,582,671 |
$141,284,640 |
$150,565,433 |
$64,034,820 |
$125,290,610 |
Senate:
|
Party |
No. of Cands |
Total Raised |
Total Spent |
Total Cash
on Hand |
Total
from PACs |
Total
from Indivs |
|
All |
137 |
$209,786,339 |
$95,598,989 |
$165,335,751 |
$43,758,400 |
$127,887,369 |
|
Dems |
73 |
$108,568,926 |
$52,930,969 |
$85,240,437 |
$18,701,605 |
$68,501,639 |
|
Repubs |
59 |
$101,114,905 |
$42,591,631 |
$80,068,681 |
$25,056,795 |
$59,307,229 |
President:
|
Party |
No. of Cands |
Total Raised |
Total Spent |
Total Cash
on Hand |
Total
from PACs |
Total
from Indivs |
|
All |
22 |
$866,326,948 |
$761,179,116 |
$104,612,930 |
$4,141,686 |
$758,297,046 |
|
Dems |
9 |
$535,761,599 |
$448,844,660 |
$86,372,093 |
$2,298,536 |
$487,017,836 |
|
Repubs |
12 |
$330,070,352 |
$312,136,990 |
$17,943,787 |
$1,843,150 |
$270,824,421 |
Based on data released by the FEC on
Wednesday, April 30, 2008.
