COMMON CAUSE for COMMON CAUSE
What was lobbied
2 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Government Issues GOV
Supported amending the filibuster rules so that a super-majority would no longer be required to end floor debate in the Senate (specifically, Senate Rule XXII and Senate Rule V). Supported the Government by the People Act (H.R. 20), providing for a voluntary system of financing Congressional elections using a mix of small private donations and federal funds and establishing a refundable tax credit to encourage grassroots campaign donations. Supported the Empowering Citizens Act (H.R. 270), providing for a repair of the presidential public financing system, creating a similar public financing system for Congressional races, strengthening rules prohibiting coordinated spending by outside groups and ending individual candidate-specific independent-expenditure only committees (individual candidate-specific "Super PACs"). Supported the Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 3899, S. 1945)to strengthen and amend the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the Supreme Court's opinion in Shelby County v. Holder. Supported the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013 (H.R. 2902, S. 1424) to require the Supreme Court to promulgate a Code of Ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that should include the 5 canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with an amendments or modifications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. Supported S.J. Res. 19, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution permitting Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money to influence elections. Supported up-or-down Senate confirmation votes on nominations to the Election Assistance Commission. Supported efforts to encourage federally facilitated Health Benefit Exchanges to be fully compliant with the National Voter Registration Act for voter registration purposes. Supported the Democracy Restoration Act (H. 4459, S. 2235) to secure the federal voting rights of persons when released from incarceration. Support the Real Time Transparency Act (S. 2207, H.R. 4442) to require all federal candidates to report contributions to the FEC within 48 hours. Supported the DISCLOSE Act (S. 2516, H.R. 148) to require disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities influencing elections with independent expenditures.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| ARN PEARSON | — |
| AARON SCHERB | — |
| STEPHEN SPAULDING New | Intern to Senator Paul S. Sarbanes |
Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV COM
Advised Senate and House staff on matters of Federal Communications Commission policy to promote an open internet and net neutrality. Urged opposition to proposed Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| AARON SCHERB | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.