Some Takeaways from the November 10, 2021: Discussion of Dark Money – Next Steps
Please provide your feedback, comments, recommendations, on the form below, whether or not you have attended previous meetings.
Resources Discussed - Please note on the form below any additional resources which you recommend to others.
Google: “When did dark money become common in American politics?” A long read, but very helpful, history of the legal approaches to donations since 1976.
Use the civics lessons plan about dark money in politics.
Review the websites (OpenSecrets.org & FollowTheMoney.org) were helpful. Focus on Kentucky’s races and who have donated in past elections.
Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, share it. Maybe schedule a briefing by someone from their staff about how to access the data systems. Learn about Kentucky's current laws on election finance here.
Action Items Suggested- On the form below, please include additional action items which we may have discussed but not listed here, or any that you suggest, but weren't discussed previously.
- Action items focusing on education:
- Study the campaign finance information at the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, share it. Schedule a briefing by someone from their staff about how to access the data systems.
- Study what PACs are associated with each party, what are they? What issues do the PACs support?
- Conduct educational campaigns showing the source and amount going to support a certain policy or person would let voters know how and why they are flooded with dark money-bought ads.
- Compile information on the costs of dark money -- what is being left unfunded because of this?
- Research the history and amount of money collected by the Democratic and Republican leadership committees together at the federal level.
- National Congressional Leadership PACs- Spending in Kentucky
- ~ U. S. House Leadership: Democratic & Republican
- ~ U. S. Senate Leadership: Democratic & Republican
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- State Legislative Leadership: PACs
- Actions involving new legislation:
- Require that all political ads include the names of individual and group donors who paid for them that might be a start. Defining “Political” would be the trick.
- Scrutinize local elections, prepare information about how costs of local elections have increased, study other state’s election disclosure laws to see how to strengthen ours.
- Emphasize the need for legislation on term limits at the state and national level.
Meet again on Dec. 2, 7 pm. Register on the form below if you can attend the virtual meeting on Dec. 2; if you cannot attend, please reply with any recommendations which you have for: resources; educational efforts about dark money; state legislation needed to address dark money.