Campaign Finance Reform

Did Incumbent Democrat Schaefer give $30K to buy Republican support?

Sep 22, 2022

Did Incumbent Democrat Schaefer give $30K to buy Republican support?

When scandal engulfs a party’s endorsed candidate, questions naturally arise where that party draws the line for stripping an...

Time for new Constitutional amendments? History says ‘yes’

Jeff Burdick

Jun 9, 2022

Time for new Constitutional amendments? History says ‘yes’

Quick quiz: Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the most recent U.S. Constitutional amendment. What was it? Answer: The...

After SactoPolitico probes, US House members change fundraising tactic; donor refunded $1,000

Jeff Burdick

May 16, 2022

After SactoPolitico probes, US House members change fundraising tactic; donor refunded $1,000

“Accountability journalism” strives to hold individuals – usually the powerful – accountable for activities that, while legal, may...

Midterm checkup: How healthy is California democracy?

Jeff Burdick

Apr 26, 2022

Midterm checkup: How healthy is California democracy?

Maintaining a healthy democracy is like maintaining a healthy body. Regular attention and checkups are required. Fortunately, each...

Q&A: California State Lobbying with Chris Micheli

Jeff Burdick

Apr 12, 2022

Q&A: California State Lobbying with Chris Micheli

Last month, veteran Sacramento lobbyist and law professor Chris Micheli published a unique collection of 49 essays by current and former...

As Dems criticize Covid misinformation, many take Fox Corp. money

Jeff Burdick

Feb 21, 2022

As Dems criticize Covid misinformation, many take Fox Corp. money

This article is part of SactoPolitico.com’s ongoing “Shame of Our Campaigns” series. For past pieces in the series, click here. Nothing...

Year-in-Review: Our 10 best political articles of 2021

Jeff Burdick

Dec 15, 2021

Year-in-Review: Our 10 best political articles of 2021

Foremost, 2021 will be remembered as the second year of the Covid-19 Pandemic, but it was also an extremely busy year in politics –...

Q3 fundraising winner: political industrial complex

Jeff Burdick

Oct 24, 2021

Q3 fundraising winner: political industrial complex

At the federal level, the term “campaign fundraising” is a partial misnomer. That’s because the majority of such funds does little to run...

Why CA bill to protect donors from online scam failed

Jeff Burdick

Sep 30, 2021

Why CA bill to protect donors from online scam failed

A major challenge for achieving effective governance involves shrinking newsrooms. As far less about government gets covered, citizens...

4 House Republicans using deceptive fundraising trick

Jeff Burdick

Aug 11, 2021

4 House Republicans using deceptive fundraising trick

The standard official portrait poses members of Congress like patriots in front of a U.S. flag. But with four House members from...

Dizzying by design: Valadao’s complicated fundraising

Jeff Burdick

Jul 29, 2021

Dizzying by design: Valadao’s complicated fundraising

Last week, The New Republic published the results of my four-month investigation into widespread use of a previously obscure campaign...

Living ‘DaVita’ loca: Federal charges shame no pols

Jeff Burdick

Jul 29, 2021

Living ‘DaVita’ loca: Federal charges shame no pols

On July 15, the U.S. Justice Department announced the latest in a long string of indictments against the giant dialysis company DaVita...

OpenSecrets’ Sheila Krumholz on campaign finance reform

Jeff Burdick

Jun 28, 2021

OpenSecrets’ Sheila Krumholz on campaign finance reform

Last month, the two leading watchdogs of U.S. political fundraising announced their merger. The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) is...

SEIU’s Richard Louis Brown on being agent of change

Jeff Burdick

Jun 10, 2021

SEIU’s Richard Louis Brown on being agent of change

Later this month, California state employee Richard Louis Brown will be sworn in as president of SEIU Local 1000 after upsetting longtime...

Former US Rep. Waxman on history of leadership PACs

Jeff Burdick

May 17, 2021

Former US Rep. Waxman on history of leadership PACs

Henry Waxman served 40 years as a Democratic Congressman for Los Angeles. From 1975 to 2015, he carved a memorable legacy in health care....

HBO doc ties corporate/political greed to opioid crisis

Jeff Burdick

May 17, 2021

HBO doc ties corporate/political greed to opioid crisis

Documentarian Alex Gibney opens his latest film “The Crime of the Century” in predawn darkness. (See trailer.) Members of a police...

Former FEC Chair Ravel on recall donations, dark money

Jeff Burdick

Mar 31, 2021

Former FEC Chair Ravel on recall donations, dark money

While sitting on board of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from 2013 to 2017 – including one stint as chair – native Californian Ann...

Matsui, Bera letting public foot opioid settlements

Jeff Burdick

Feb 23, 2021

Matsui, Bera letting public foot opioid settlements

The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post recently reported that four major opioid makers and distributors are close to finalizing a...

Fine(d) Bedfellows, Part 2: Where we go from here

Jeff Burdick

Feb 23, 2021

Fine(d) Bedfellows, Part 2: Where we go from here

This is the second of two articles in a series. Click here for part one. Last issue, a Sacto Politico study detailed the tens of millions...

Fine(d) Bedfellows Pt. 1: Worst corporations donate big

Jeff Burdick

Feb 5, 2021

Fine(d) Bedfellows Pt. 1: Worst corporations donate big

This article is part one of two, and part of Sacto Politico’s ongoing “Shame of Our Campaigns” series. For other articles in the series,...