Here's some truth to power. TPM is reporting that former Senator Feingold ripped a few Democrats for "enabling corruption" because they oppose President Obama's draft Executive Order regarding transparency in political contributions by gov't contractors:
"This culture of corporate influence and corruption is precisely what we as Progressives United want to change," he wrote. "So we've decided to take on those legislators who are unwilling to stand up to corporate power, and we're naming names."
Here is some background on the possible Executive Order:
After exhausting normal legislative avenues, the Obama administration has prepared a draft executive order that would enact some campaign finance reform provisions.
The administration was unable to secure the changes to donation disclosures it wanted in the last Congress.
Several Democratic sources confirmed a document being circulated by the administration would require government contractors to disclose campaign contributions made by directors, officers, affiliates or subsidiaries to federal candidates, political party committees and “third party entities” involved in electioneering.
snip
Under the drafted executive order, contractor donations would be reported in a centralized database. Disclosure would be required “whenever the aggregate amount of such contributions and expenditures made by the bidding entity, its officers and directors, and its affiliates and subsidiaries exceeds $5,000 to a given recipient during a given year.” Determinations over who, exactly, would have to disclose would be made by the FAR Council, which includes the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space and the Administrator of General Services.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Sure, Republicans hate it, but two of the usual Democratic suspects are carrying water for the other side, again:
The names included House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). In addition, the email targeted Sens. Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-CA).
TPM
I'm glad Russ Feingold is calling out Dems and Republicans who oppose transparency. And I'm glad he is calling them out for enabling corruption, for that is what it is.
This is a good Executive Order. I hope the President issues it.