Huge Victory for democracy - Judge's Ruling could shut Dark Money out of Federal Elections

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington won what could be a game changing victory for transparency and disclosure in funding for our federal election campaigns. While this decision wouldn’t undo all of the damage to our body politic from Citizens United it could mitigate some of that damage by bringing sunlight to the Dark Money flowing to candidates through 3rd party independent expenditures (that supposedly don’t coordinate with the campaigns). 

Judge's ruling invalidates FEC regulation allowing anonymous donations to 'dark money' groups

By BRENT D. GRIFFITHS

Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled the FEC's current regulation of such groups, including 501(c) 4 non-profits, fails to uphold the standard Congress intended when it required the disclosure of politically related spending

"The challenged regulation facilitates such financial 'routing,' blatantly undercuts the congressional goal of fully disclosing the sources of money flowing into federal political campaigns, and thereby suppresses the benefits intended to accrue from disclosure ... ," wrote Howell, an Obama appointee to the D.C district court. The decision is likely to be appealed.

Of course the powerful individuals,and groups pouring vast amounts of Dark Money into our political system aren’t likely to accept this decision without a knockdown drag out out fight through the appeal courts.  

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington could use our help.