GOP wants to flood politics with dark money using hidden "policy riders"

[workinclasszero]

GOP wants to flood politics with dark money using hidden "policy riders"
Campaign finance reform was once a bipartisan issue. With Koch money flooding into the GOP, those days are gone
ARN PEARSON 03.20.2018•3:58 AM


The rising tide of political spending that has swamped Washington in the wake of Citizens United and other controversial Supreme Court rulings may have lifted Republican fortunes across the country and in Washington, but apparently it isn’t enough. Now they are coming back for more.

Congressional Republicans are expected to hide five “policy riders” in the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriations bill due for a vote this month that would let churches and charities pour their coffers into partisan pockets, allow parties to spend unlimited funds on ads coordinated with candidates, and make sure the rest of us can’t see what’s going on.

These back-door attempts to eliminate longstanding limits on political spending and prevent any meaningful public disclosure are just the latest signs that Republican politicians have lost their moral compass. Today’s GOP has come to worship at the altar of big money, no matter what the cost to American democracy.

It wasn’t always like this.

https://www.salon.com/2018/03/20/gop-wants-to-remove-limits-on-dark-money-with-hidden-policy-riders/

[dchill]

1. "...and make sure the rest of us cant see whats going on."

Seems legit.

[ffr]

2. To do thy bidding of thy corporate masters

Marco Rubio is a prime example

[octoberlib]

3. Is there any kind of finance reform Democrats

can pass to make dark money illegal? It should all be transparent. Citizens United was about corporate personhood . I’d think when we get back in power we can at least do something about dark money.

[ehrnst]

8. I think that codifying transparency is the goal.

That is going to take a Dem majority in the House and Senate.

I think that all candidates, especially POTUS candidates should be transparent financially for the same reason.

[workinclasszero]

9. It will definitely take a dem House and Senate

Even then expect some resistance.

[Hortensis]

4. Huge threat, not new but they keep trying.

Democrats have managed to block them each time, but they will continue until they succeed. Or until Democrats take control of congress next November, whichever comes first.

People for the American Way alone has 12 articles on policy riders since 2015. Like this one on Trump's attempt to lead an attack last summer on the Johnson Amendment.

Separation of Church and State Must Be Protected
Jen Herrick | July 5, 2017

Just two weeks after taking office in January, President Trump used the National Prayer Breakfast to reiterate his intention to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment, which currently keeps politics from overtaking the pulpit by prohibiting churches (and other nonprofits) from getting directly involved with political campaigns while still maintaining critical free speech rights. Trump followed that up in May when he issued a “religious liberty” executive order that, in part, attempts to erode the power of the Johnson Amendment. Now the GOP Congress is getting in on the action—not only are we facing Johnson repeal bills, but they’re also trying to undermine the Johnson Amendment through the appropriations process.

The Johnson Amendment is an important safeguard for not only the separation of church and state but also against an even greater influx of big money in politics. People For the American Way and PFAW’s African American Ministers In Action oppose its repeal, including through appropriations riders that threaten our rights, our health, and our democracy.

PFAW and AAMIA were among 50 organizations that recently signed a letter opposing this latest abuse of the appropriations process:

http://www.pfaw.org/topics/policy-riders/

[FSogol]

5. What's the opposite of transparency? Oh yeah, Republican.

[Stonepounder]

13. +1

[TheBlackAdder]

6. Odd. The party that fears the "deep state" wants to secretly operate like their own "deep state!"

[Wounded Bear]

7. That's pretty much how it always goes...

[aeromanKC]

10. Justice Alito is seen shaking his head

No, not true. No Dark Money.

[TwistOneUp]

11. The Cancellation Of The Johnson Amendment

This is a truly evil move. This is phase 2 of, "Welcome To The Theocracy."

The fundagelicals will stop at nothing to take us back to the 1950's, while concurrently increasing their power.

Phase 3 will be, "The Nuking Of The Asians."

[workinclasszero]

12. The Republic of Gilead

coming soon America!