Campaign Finance

Latest Articles

By | January 01, 0001

Bad behavior

Corporate America's $200 million war chest, Apple's worm, Goldman's fine, BP's latest
The ghost of George W. Bush will haunt the this year's election season.
By EDITORIAL | July 21, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

It's an outsider's year for candidates, but the consultants are old Beacon Hill mainstays. Plus, who spent what at the conventions, and Baker goes on TV first.
If you're wondering who the geniuses are behind the political campaigns in Massachusetts this year — the strategists, media firms, ad teams, and fundraisers — well, it's a lot of the same folks who have been behind Massachusetts campaigns for a long time. Candidates may win or lose, but consultants are forever.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | June 24, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

A clean mind and dirty hands

Moral dilemmas for the Maine Clean Election Fund
Three people walk into a bank ...
By AL DIAMON | February 10, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

Free speech for me, but not for thee

Freedom Watch
Last Thursday's Supreme Court opinion striking down corporate campaign advertising restrictions might as well have been divorce papers in the rocky marriage between the political left and the First Amendment.
By HARVEY SILVERGLATE | January 29, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

Coakley cashes in at the bar

Lawyering Up
It's no surprise that Martha Coakley has raised much of her money for her US Senate campaign from lawyers — that has been her professional and social circle for pretty much her entire adult life.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | December 04, 2009

Greens see red, must seek more green

Campaign planning
In a move Maine Green Independent Party leaders say unfairly targets them, but that Maine Democrats say is simply protecting taxpayer money, the Legislature last month passed a law requiring gubernatorial candidates to raise tens of thousands of dollars from private donors before qualifying for public support.
By JEFF INGLIS | July 29, 2009

Roast pork

As our state's bumbling, craven, and inept elected officials stumble toward summer, we get a few good laughs out of their promises for reform
Back in January, Governor Deval Patrick declared a "season of significant government reform" on Beacon Hill.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | May 27, 2009

Capuano cornered?

Could a developing Washington probe hurt the Somerville congressman, and derail his Senate hopes?
Republican lobbying-ethics scandals helped convince voters to toss out the GOP and put Democrats back in control of the US House of Representatives.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 03, 2009

Advocates renew push for publicly-financed RI elections

Talking Politics
During a news conference Tuesday afternoon in the State House rotunda, proponents of significantly expanding publicly financed elections in Rhode Island — a concept they call "Fair Elections" — cited a litany of reasons for why it would be good for the Ocean State and its citizens.
By IAN DONNIS | February 04, 2009

Money talks

Can Beacon Hill reform itself when the State Senate President and the new House Speaker rake in so much lobbyist cash?
To hear our state legislators talk lately, Beacon Hill is all about reforming the sketchy, poorly governed relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 06, 2009

By | January 01, 0001

Capital cash

Weiners donate $100K for Obama's inauguration
A well-connected Rhode Island couple has donated $100,000 for the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
By STEVEN STYCOS | January 07, 2009

By | January 01, 0001

RI ’08: Prelude to 2010

In a national year of change, stasis is likely to prevail at the General Assembly
During a national election season in which “change” remains the dominant motif, Rhode Island politics is locked in a holding pattern marked by a Democratic stranglehold on state and federal offices.
By IAN DONNIS | October 31, 2008

Playing the angel

Politics and other mistakes
Former congressman David Emery’s correct in thinking that public campaign financing is a luxury the state can’t afford, but his aversion to Clean Election money seems to be more a matter of convenience than conviction.
By AL DIAMON | October 27, 2008

By | January 01, 0001