Common Cause: Difference between revisions

| key_people = Karen Hobert Flynn (President)

| homepage = {{url|commoncause.org|CommonCause.org}}

'''Common Cause''' is a watchdog group based in [[Washington, D.C.]], with chapters in 35 states. It was founded in 1970 by [[John W. Gardner]], a Republican, who was the former [[Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare]] in the administration of President [[Lyndon Johnson]] as well as chair of the National Urban Coalition, an advocacy group for minorities and the working poor in urban areas.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XO9nBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dqq=%22common+cause%22+%22vietnam+war%22+%22voting+age%22&sourcepg=bl&ots=ae1HzN-MEE&sig=cqp6GaDrIsm2j2XeOweiqi3BdC0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisg8e3w8PSAhWE34MKHVzmAaEQ6AEIPzAG#v=onepage&q=%22common%20cause%22%20%22vietnam%20war%22%20%22voting%20age%22&f=falsePA139|title=Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints and Voices|lastlast1=Chapman|firstfirst1=Roger|last2=Ciment|first2=James|date=2015-03-17|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317473510|language=en}}</ref> AsIn initiallyits foundedearly days, Common Cause was prominently known forfocused its efforts toon bring about an end toending the [[Vietnam War]] and lowerlowering the voting age from 21 to 18.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.commoncause.org/about/our-impact/faq/|title=FAQ|website=Common Cause|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-date=2017-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303102208/http://www.commoncause.org/about/our-impact/faq/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sometimes identified as liberal-leaning,<ref>Dan Eggen, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/21/AR2011032104688.html Pompeo draws liberal groups' ire], ''The Washington Post'' (March 21, 2011): "Common Cause, a liberal-leaning group"</ref><ref name="BykowiczAP2016">Julie Bykowicz, [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3873292a17b244b8ba2471ee76ec16a0/will-washington-shout-down-voice-trump-voters Will Washington shout down the 'voice' of Trump voters?], Associated Press (November 28, 2016): "a liberal-leaning government watchdog."</ref> Common Cause has also been identified as nonpartisan and advocates government reform.<ref>Stacy Stowe, [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/nyregion/backburner-issues-too-hot-to-handle.html Back-Burner Issues Too Hot to Handle], ''The New York Times'' (June 19, 2005): "government-reform groups like Common Cause"</ref><ref>Mark Berman, William Wan & Sari Horwitz, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/11/08/election-day-voters-report-long-lines-intimidation-and-confusion-in-some-parts-of-the-country/ Voters encounter some malfunctioning machines, other headaches on Election Day]: "Volunteers with Common Cause, a nonpartisan government reform group..."</ref><ref>Jamie Pimlott, "Common Cause" in ''Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections'' (updated ed.: ed. Larry J. Sabato & Howard R. Ernst). Infobase Publishing, 2007, p. 75: "established as a nonpartisan citizens' lobby, the main goal of the Soros funded organization is to make government more effective and representative of progressive interests. .... because the organization claims to be nonpartisan, it does take a progressive agenda position on issues and focuses on the process by which decisions are made or the structure of decision making, that is, the rules and procedures used by politicians and bureaucrats."</ref> It is identified with the reformist "[[Good Government Organizations (United States)|good government]]" movement<ref>Dan Eggen, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906679.html Common Cause suddenly uncommonly forceful in fighting Koch Industries], ''The Washington Post'' (February 10, 2011): "Common cause has long been something of a nerd among the jocks. ... the 40-year-old good-government group."</ref><ref>William Neuman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/nyregion/city-council-state-lawmakers.html?_r=0 City Council Draws New Crop of Candidates: State Lawmakers. (Pay Doesn't Hurt.)], ''The New York Times'' (February 21, 2017): "Common Cause New York, a good government advocacy group"</ref><ref>Dean E. Murphy, [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/10/us/ohio-critics-of-gop-start-battle-to-change-election-process.html Ohio Critics of G.O.P. Start Battle to Change Election Process], ''The New York Times'' (August 10, 2005): "The Ohio group is backed by so-called good-government organizations like Common Cause."</ref> and is often described as a [[watchdog group]].<ref name="BykowiczAP2016"/><ref>Daniel L. Feldman & David R. Eichenthal, ''The Art of the Watchdog: Fighting Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Corruption in Government'' ([[SUNY Press]], 2013): "Common Cause: One of the largest and most influential good government watchdog groups..."</ref> The organization's tagline is "holding power accountable" and its stated mission is "upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commoncause.org/about|title=About Us|publisher=Common Cause|accessdateaccess-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>

The organization's stated issue areas are "money in politics", "voting and elections", "ethics", "a fair economy", and "media and democracy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commoncause.org/issues|title=Common Cause/Issues|website=Common Cause|accessdateaccess-date=12 March 2017}}</ref>

Common Cause opposes and actively lobbies against modern-day efforts to call an [[Article Five of the United States Constitution|Article V]] convention to propose [[amendments to the United States Constitution]] by both [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] and conservative groups, such as that by the progressive [[political action committee]] [[Wolf PAC]] to limit large monetary donations to political candidates parties and groups,<ref name=":1" /> and by the conservative advocacy group [[Citizens for Self-Governance]]'s "Convention of the States" initiative,<ref name="BigMoneyCC">[http://www.commoncause.org/issues/more-democracy-reforms/constitutional-convention/dangerous-path-report.pdf The Dangerous Path: Big Money's Plan to Shred the Constitution], Common Cause (May 2016).</ref> which is backed by some Republican politicians.<ref name="Moritz">John C. Moritz, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/texas/state-bureau/2016/12/06/abbott-renews-his-call-convention-states/95032860/ Abbott renews his call for 'convention of the states'], ''USA Today'' Network (December 6, 2016).</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tpr.org/post/texas-matters-gov-abbott-backs-convention-states-rewrite-us-constitution#stream/0|title=Texas Matters: Gov. Abbott Backs Convention Of States To Rewrite U.S. Constitution|last=Davies|first=David Martin|access-date=2017-02-16}}</ref>

In a May 2016 report entitled ''The Dangerous Path: Big Money's Plan to Shred the Constitution'', Common Cause wrote that "There is nothing to prevent the convention, once convened, from proposing additional changes that could limit or eliminate fundamental rights or upend our entire system of government."<ref name="Moritz" /><ref name="BigMoneyCC" /><ref>{{Cite press release|url=http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/on-the-brink-of-a-constitutional-crisis.html|title=On the Brink of a Constitutional Crisis|publisher=Common Cause|date=December 2, 2015}}</ref> While a constitutional convention could conceivably overturn the controversial [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]'' and limit the role of money in politics (as advocated by groups such as [[Wolf PAC]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHT4J7b3TCQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YHT4J7b3TCQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=How ''Common Cause'' Turned on Americans Fighting Against Corruption|website=[[YouTube]]|date=6 April 2017 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Common Cause suggests that the risk of a [[Constituent assembly#Legislative restrictions surpassed|runaway convention]] is too great<ref name=":1">{{cite press release|title=Young Turks Attack on Common Cause Ignores Danger of New Constitutional Convention: Statement by Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn|url=http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/young-turks-attack-on-common.html|accessdateaccess-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> because "state legislatures, the majority of which are controlled by Republicans, would likely control the agenda at a constitutional convention" and as a result it is extremely unlikely "that a convention controlled by those legislatures would really do anything productive on money in politics, on voting rights, on democracy in general".<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Hirschfeld|title=Vt. Senate Rescinds Effort To Repeal Citizens United Through A Constitutional Convention|url=http://digital.vpr.net/post/vt-senate-rescinds-effort-repeal-citizens-united-through-constitutional-convention#stream/0|publisher=Vermont Public Radio|date=April 4, 2017}}</ref> Any amendments would need to be ratified by three-quarters of the states.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wines|first=Michael|date=2016-08-22|title=Inside the Conservative Push for States to Amend the Constitution|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/23/us/inside-the-conservative-push-for-states-to-amend-the-constitution.html|access-date=2022-01-11|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The organization's efforts led to ethics probes and the resignations of [[Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines|House Speakers]] [[Jim Wright]] in 1988<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Robert|title=The Resignation Of Jim Wright : Speaker's Downfall|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-01/news/mn-1334_1_public-man-ethics-committee-official-conduct|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and [[Newt Gingrich]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ross|first1=Michael|title=New Ethics Charge Added as Gingrich Probe Begins|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-02-24/news/mn-35751_1_ethics-committee|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

During the 2016 presidential elections, Common Cause suggested that the [[Clinton Foundation]] would create ethics and conflict of interest challenges for [[Hillary Clinton]] should she become president.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Douglas & Kumar|title=Why the Clinton Foundation and foreign money are an issue|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article85253837.html|accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2017|agency=McClatchy News Service}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Nicholas & Nelson|title=Criticism of Hillary Clinton Mounts Over Access for Foundation Donors|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/criticism-of-hillary-clinton-mounts-over-access-for-foundation-donors-1472082071|accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2017|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> They criticized Hillary Clinton's plan to give [[Chelsea Clinton]] control of the foundation<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Donnell|first1=Katy|title=Ethicists scoff at Clinton Foundation transition plan|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/clinton-foundation-transition-plan-227386|accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2017|work=Politico}}</ref> and called for an independent [[audit]] and full disclosure of the foundation's donors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Swan|first1=Jonathan|title=Experts poke holes in Clinton Foundation's promised donor ban|url=httphttps://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/293955-experts-poke-holes-in-clinton-foundations-promised-foreign-donor-ban/|accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2017|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Press Releases|url=http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/common-cause-urges-independent-audit-clinton-foundation.html|website=Common Cause|accessdatedate=24 April 2015|access-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>

The public interest group also criticized [[Donald Trump]] onfor his refusal to release his tax returns during the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Haberman & Rappeport|title=Donald Trump on His Tax Rate: 'It's None of Your Business'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/13/donald-trump-on-his-tax-rate-its-none-of-your-business/|accessdateaccess-date=2 February 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=13 May 2016 }}</ref> The organization has been outspoken about the potential conflicts of interest from Trump's businesses and called for Trump to put his assets into a [[blind trust]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Masood|first1=Farivar|title=Trump's Global Business Ties Could Complicate Policy Stances|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/trump-global-business-ties-could-complicate-policy-stances/3620092.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|publisher=VOA News}}</ref> instead of handing over control of his businesses to his children.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Donald Trump’sTrump's questionable ‘blind'blind trust’trust' setup just got more questionable|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/11/donald-trumps-questionable-blind-trust-setup-just-got-more-questionable/|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Cassidy|first1=John|title=Trump’sTrump's Businesses Represent an Impossible Conflict of Interest|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/trumps-businesses-represent-an-impossible-conflict-of-interest|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>

In 1972, Common Cause sued President [[Richard Nixon]]'s re-election campaign, the [[Committee for the Re-Election of the President]], under the [[Federal Corrupt Practices Act]] in an attempt to force Nixon's campaign to report early campaign contributions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19730314&id=nxozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2TIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7085,1356642&hl=en|title=Common Cause resumes Nixon finance lawsuit|date=March 24, 1973|publisher=Lodi News-Setinenl|agency=United Press International|accessdateaccess-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> The lawsuit forced the disclosure of the names of several Nixon donors.<ref name="tuttle">{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/418021/common-causes-georgia-purge-ian-tuttle|title=Common Cause's Georgia Purge|date=May 7, 2015|magazine=National Review|last1=Tuttle|first1=Ian|accessdateaccess-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> In 1974, Common Cause supported passage of the [[Federal Election Campaign Act]] (FECA), encompassing public financing of presidential campaigns and oversight of campaign ethics through the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Common Cause's uncommon role|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0905/090512.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|work=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref>

Common Cause has advocated for [[public financing of elections]] in order to decrease the influence of special-interest contributions. The group's most successful [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]] efforts have been in New York City in 1999;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Smothers|first1=Ronald|title=Taking on Campaign Finance Laws, Locally|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/06/nyregion/taking-on-campaign-finance-laws-locally.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 October 1999 }}</ref> Connecticut in 2005; [[Montgomery County, Maryland]] in 2014;<ref>{{cite web|title=Montgomery County Passes Small Donor Campaign Finance Reform Bill Provides Model for Other Counties, State|date=30 September 2014|url=http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/montgomery-county-passes-small-donor-campaign-finance-reform.html|publisher=Common Cause|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> Portland, Oregon in 2016; Howard County, Maryland in 2017; Prince George's County, Maryland in 2018; and California.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Gavin|title=Ban on citizen-funded elections means more special-interest money in politics|url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article125713889.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|publisher=Sacramento Bee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walters|first1=Dan|title=Public campaign financing should require voter approval in California|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/dan-walters/article125044134.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=Sacramento Bee}}</ref>

The organization has sought to end the practice of [[gerrymandering]] in several states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commoncause.org/issues/voting-and-elections/redistricting/|title=Redistricting|publisher=Common Cause|accessdateaccess-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> In 2016, it filed a lawsuit in North Carolina challenging the constitutionality of district maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lawsuit-too-much-party-bias-in-north-carolina-2016aug05-story.html|title=Lawsuit: Too much party bias in North Carolina Congress map|first=Gary D. |last=Robertson |agency=Associated Press|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|accessdatedate=5 August 2016|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> The organization's North Carolina chapter has led a campaign to create a nonpartisan redistricting process, which has bipartisan support in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article10873580.html|title=NC House members file redistricting bill to ban 'irregularly shaped' boundaries|work=News Observer|accessdateaccess-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> Common Cause is also challenging redistricting in Democratic-controlled states, such as Maryland.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=David|title=Is it constitutional to draw a congressional district that only one party can win?|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-scotus-gerrymander-maryland-20160815-story.html|accessdateaccess-date=3 February 2017|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref>

Common Cause advocates for a [[voter-verified paper audit trail]] for election machines in all states. The organization has documented complaints about [[Voting machine|electronic voting machines]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Plumer|first1=Brad|title=A quarter of Americans will vote by electronic machine. Is that a problem?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2012/11/06/thirty-percent-of-americans-will-vote-by-electronic-machine-is-that-a-problem/|accessdateaccess-date=7 December 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 6, 2012}}</ref>

Common Cause is in favor of establishing a national [[Direct election|popular vote]] for presidential elections to replace the current [[United States electoral college|electoral college]] system.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Richie|first1=Rob|title=National Popular Vote: A Win for Our Democracy in Massachusetts|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-richie/national-popular-vote-a-w_b_672594.html|accessdateaccess-date=7 December 2015|work=HuffPost|date=August 5, 2010}}</ref> Following the November 2016 U.S. presidential election, Common Cause called for the [[National Popular Vote Interstate Compact|National Popular Vote Compact]] to counteract what it called the "anti-democratic" outcome in that election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.commoncause.org/take-action/act/fix-the-broken-electoral-college-national-popular-vote.html|title=Fix the broken Electoral College - It’sIt's time for National Popular Vote|website=Common Cause|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308045100/http://www.commoncause.org/take-action/act/fix-the-broken-electoral-college-national-popular-vote.html|archive-date=2017-03-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Karen Hobert Flynn became the organization's president in June 2016. She served in this role until her death in March 2023.<ref name=courant>{{cite news|title=Common Cause Taps Former Connecticut Director As National President|url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-karen-hobert-flynn-common-cause-president-20160613-story.html|accessdateaccess-date=14 June 2016|publisher=Hartford Courant|date=June 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name=flynn/>

*[[Robert W. Edgar|Robert W. (Bob) Edgar]] (2007–2013)&mdash;served as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] U.S. Representative from [[Pennsylvania]] before becoming president of Common Cause; died in office in April 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4773613&ct=13090265 |title=Common Cause President Bob Edgar Dies at 69 |work=Common Cause |date=April 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427050614/https://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4773613&ct=13090265 |archive-date=April 27, 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=August 10, 2018 |url-status=dead}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/us/politics/bob-edgar-pennsylvania-congressman-dies-at-69.html |title=Bob Edgar, Lawmaker and Liberal Leader, Dies at 69 |last=Martin |first=Douglas |work=The New York Times |date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425170545/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/us/politics/bob-edgar-pennsylvania-congressman-dies-at-69.html |archive-date=April 25, 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=August 10, 2018 |url-status=unfit}}.</ref><ref name="CEO Edgar">{{cite news |url=https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/nccs-robert-edgar-head-advocacy-group-common-cause |title=NCC's Robert Edgar to head advocacy group 'Common Cause' |agency=Episcopal News Service |date= 23 May 2007 |website=The Episcopal Church |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101639/https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/article/nccs-robert-edgar-head-advocacy-group-common-cause |archive-date=2018-11-12 |url-status=unfit |access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="Zeller">{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/05/29/cq_2802.html |title=Five Questions for Bob Edgar, Common Cause President and CEO |last=Zeller |first=Shawn |work=The New York Times |agency=Congressional Quarterly |date= 29 May 2007}}</ref>

*[[Miles S. Rapoport]] (2014–2016)&mdash;was president of [[Demos (U.S. think tank)|Demos]] and Secretary of State of Connecticut before becoming president of Common Cause<ref name="Hobert"/><ref name="Pazniokas">Mark Pazniokas, [http://ctmirror.org/2014/01/14/miles-rapoport-named-national-president-common-cause/ Miles Rapoport named national president of Common Cause], ''Connecticut Mirror'' (January 14, 2014).</ref><ref>[http://www.demos.org/press-release/president-miles-rapoport-leaving-demos-lead-common-cause President Miles Rapoport Leaving Demos To Lead Common Cause], Demos (January 14, 2014).</ref>

Common Cause has an annual combined budget of around $18 million. This includes its sister organization, the Common Cause Educational Fund.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Financials|work=Common Cause Education Fund|url=https://www.commoncause.org/education-fund/about-us/financials/|access-date=2018-05-06}}</ref> '''Common Cause''' is organized as a [[501(c)4|501(c)(4) organization]], and its sister organization, the '''Common Cause Educational Fund''', is a [[501(c)(3) organization]].<ref name=":0" />

*''[[Rucho v. Common Cause]]'', a 2019 [[List of landmark court decisions in the United States|landmark case]] of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|US Supreme Court]] involving Common Cause

* {{Official website|http://www.commoncause.org/}}

* [http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/1c18df779 Common Cause Records (1968-19911968–1991)] at the [[Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library]], [[Princeton University]]