New York, NY – Today, Brenda Wright, Vice President of Policy and Legal Strategies at Demos, a national, non-partisan public policy organization working for an America where we all have an equal say in our democracy and an equal chance in our economy, calls upon the United States Senate to reject the confirmation of Senator Jefferson B. Sessions (R-AL) as Attorney General of the United States.
Washington, DC – Next week, the Senate will vote on President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos. Ahead of the vote, Mark Huelsman, Senior Policy Analyst and higher education expert at Demos, issued the follow statement:
What do people mean by “money in politics” or “campaign finance reform”? Running for office requires money—for staff, travel, TV ads, etc. In many countries, much of the cost of public elections is paid for by public funds, so the voters control the process and candidates are only accountable to their constituents. But in most places in the U.S., election campaigns are funded only with private money, most of it coming in the form of large checks from wealthy donors.
Trump’s Nominee Must be Pressed on Money in Politics
For four decades, the Supreme Court’s flawed approach to money in politics has gutted common-sense protections against the power of special interests and wealthy individuals, and shaped a system that 85% of Americans believe needs fundamental changes.
New York, NY – Today, Heather McGhee, President of Demos, a New York-based public policy organization and think tank, expressed deep concern over President Trump’s nomination for the Supreme Court.
“As a legislative body that represents the American public and not special interests, the U.S. Senate must reject President Trump’s nomination of Judge Gorsuch to a lifetime appointment on the nation’s highest court.
New York, NY – Heather McGhee, President of Demos, a New York-based public policy organization and think tank, issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant Executive Orders:
In the first few days of President Trump’s administration, our nation has already seen a direct assault on our democracy. This week, President Trump issued two anti-immigrant Executive Orders, including one on “Interior Enforcement,” which sets forth provisions punishing sanctuary cities that refuse to use their local police to enforce federal civil immigration laws. Let’s be clear: this week's orders are discrimination policies and some of them are unconstitutional.
New Report Provides Overview of Legal Tools for State and Local Governments and Institutions to Establish Sanctuary Policies for Inclusive Local Democracies
Americans are working longer and harder than ever, yet in recent years the gains from economic growth have gone disproportionately to the very highest income earners.1 Working people are left out in the cold, denied their fair share of pay for the work they do.
Demos Responds to Trump’s Failed Attempt to Resolve Conflicts of Interest
New York, NY – Adam Lioz, counsel and senior advisor for Demos, a New York-based think tank, released the following statement on President-elect Trump’s announcement related to the future of his business interests:
The steep increase in college tuition and student debt over the past decade has led our country to engage in a serious debate about the need to reduce college costs and student borrowing. Yet many misconceptions remain about the scope or magnitude of the problem that student debt poses to our national economy and student debtors’ financial security.1,2 More than 44 million Americans, or nearly 1 in 5 adults, now carry student debt.
NEW YORK, NY – Jodeen Olguín-Tayler, Vice President Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Demos, a New York-based public policy organization and think tank, issued the following statement in response to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s pledge to introduce the 2017 New York Votes Act: