What Else Is Happening?
For all the news that didn't the make front page, here are other important local, state, and federal stories shaping the narrative around democracy issues. Plus, the latest opinions and editorials.
‘It’s a Secret, a (c)(4) Is a Secret’: Dark Money Powers $60 Million Bribery Scheme in Ohio (David Moore / Sludge) "Last week, the FBI arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican, and four associates on a racketeering conspiracy that made national headlines for both the scope of the dark money enterprise and the directness of the quid pro quo involved.
The scandal shows how effective dark money spending by “social welfare” nonprofit groups can be in securing legislative favors and breaking the existing safeguards on improper government actions. What’s more, the bribery charges illustrate how strengthening disclosure laws around the ultimate sources of election spending would have enabled Ohio voters and watchdog groups to uncover the corporate money sources earlier, while the bailout bill was being rushed through the state legislature by Republican leaders."
NM Supreme Court announces commission to study issues of racial bias in court system (KRQE Staff / KRQE) "The New Mexico State Supreme Court announced in an open letter to the public Thursday they are establishing a commission to study issues related to race and bias in the state’s justice system.
The court said in the letter that the work of the Judiciary depends on trust “that each New Mexican will be treated fairly under the laws of this state.” The letter says the court will engage in a critical examination of the judiciary institution. The framework of the new commission will be developed by a steering committee chaired by Justice C. Shannon Bacon."
Judge: Decision on voting rights suit may come after primary (Kimberlee Kruesi / Associated Press) "A Tennessee judge on Thursday cast doubt on an attempt to allow people to participate in the state’s upcoming primary election if they’ve had their voting rights restored after being convicted of a felony out of state.
The Campaign Legal Center had filed the lawsuit earlier this month on behalf of two residents who have both been convicted of a felony outside of Tennessee and have since had their voting rights restored in the state of their conviction."
Obama: The filibuster is a “Jim Crow relic” (Ian Milhiser / Vox) "Obama called for legislation restoring the Voting Rights Act, much of which was gutted by the Supreme Court’s decisions in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Abbott v. Perez (2018). He also endorsed other democratic reforms, including an end to partisan gerrymandering, extending statehood to Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, and making Election Day a national holiday.
And then he called upon the Senate to remove an obstacle that has consistently stood in the way of civil rights legislation throughout American history."
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