Democracy 21
Democracy 21 is, according to its website, a "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to making democracy work for all Americans. Democracy 21, and its education arm, Democracy 21 Education Fund, work to eliminate the undue influence of big money in American politics and to ensure the integrity and fairness of government decisions and elections. The organization promotes campaign finance reform and other political reforms to accomplish these goals."
"Founded by Fred Wertheimer in 1997, Democracy 21's efforts have been recognized by The Wall Street Journal which observed that Wertheimer is 'perhaps the capital's longest-toiling advocate of reducing the role of money in politics' and by Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne, who has described Wertheimer as 'the eminence grise of the campaign reform movement.'"
"Democracy 21 provides the public and media with the latest information and analysis on money and politics, and focuses its activities on:
- Promoting campaign finance reforms, such as the ban on soft money enacted in 2002, reforming the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and fixing the presidential public financing system;
- Ensuring that the new campaign finance law and the nation's other campaign finance laws are effectively implemented and enforced; and
- Defending campaign finance laws in the courts.
"Updated information, analysis and commentary on each of these areas can be found in the [Democracy 21] web pages titled Money & Politics, Courts & Reform, and FEC & Enforcement."
Contents
Democracy 21 Supporters
"Democracy 21 and Democracy 21 Education Fund are supported by contributions from individuals and from a number of foundations, including The Pew Charitable Trusts, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Joyce Foundation and Open Society Institute."
Democracy 21 Board of Directors
BOD Democracy 21
- Dick Clark, Chairman; Director, Congressional Program, The Aspen Institute; Former U.S. Senator
- Fred Wertheimer, President and CEO
- Susan Estrich, Professor of Law, University of Southern California
- Susan Manes, Secretary
- Nick Ucci, Treasurer; Executive Vice President and CFO, People For the American Way
Democracy 21 Education Fund
- Dick Clark, Chairman
- Fred Wertheimer, President and CEO
- Rebecca Avila, Assistant Dean, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
- Geoff Cowan, Dean, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
- Lisa Foster, Public Interest Lawyer
- Susan Manes, Secretary
- Brad Phillips, Attorney, Munger, Tolles & Olson
- Tom Troyer, Senior Partner, Caplin & Drysdale
- Nick Ucci, Treasurer
Contact
Democracy 21
- 1825 I St, NW Suite 400
- Washington, DC 20006
- p 202.429.2008 | f. 202.293.2660
- info@democracy21.org
- website: www.democracy21.org
SourceWatch Resources
External links
- Charles Babington, "Charity Tied To DeLay Is Questioned. Group Asks Lawmakers To Demand Ethics Probe," Washington Post, March 24, 2004: "Democracy 21 contends that the charity, Celebrations for Children Inc., is a political scheme established to let DeLay raise huge sums from interest groups and supporters to host lavish parties at this summer's Republican National Convention. ... DeLay spokesman Jonathan Grella said at least three-fourths of the charity's income will go to needy children, with the remainder paying for dinners, a golf tournament, a rock concert, Broadway tickets and the other fundraising events DeLay plans to host at the convention in New York City."
- Alexander Bolton, "Two ethics groups dog DeLay charity. Democracy 21, Common Cause seek Hefley ruling," The Hill, March 24, 2004: "Two prominent government watchdog groups turned up the heat yesterday on House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) at a time when a seven-year ethics truce in the House seems to be unraveling. ... One of the groups, Democracy 21, delivered a formal ethics complaint against Celebrations for Children, a charity closely linked to DeLay, to the chairman and ranking members of the Standards of Official Conduct Committee and to members of the Republican and Democratic House leadership."
