Members of the House and Senate have introduced more than 20 bills this year that would affect some aspect of the role money plays in the political system, but few — if any — have a chance of becoming law, David Meyers reports.

The bills cover a range of issues, including dark money, inauguration fundraising, corporate political action committees, foreign funding of elections and super PACs. But few of the measures have managed to garner enough cosponsors to indicate broad support in Congress. Only a resolution outlining a constitutional amendment to overturn the landmark Citizens United ruling, introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), has significant backing, with 40 cosponsors — but none are Republicans, who control the chamber’s agenda.

None of the bills have advanced past the most rudimentary of legislative activity; thus far, each has been referred to a committee, the default action when legislation is introduced. And that’s where they’re all likely to die when the 119th Congress ends in January 2027, unless Republican leaders take the unlikely step of advancing the legislation. 

While the vast majority of these bills were introduced by Democrats, a handful came out of Republican offices, but even the Republican-backed bills seem unlikely to advance, at least during this congressional session given the lack of support and their absence from committee agendas.

A two-term Democratic congresswoman from Oregon who wants to ban lawmakers and their families from buying and selling individual stocks is the latest member of Congress to violate a conflicts-of-interest and financial transparency law.

And it’s her second time this month.

As Dave Levinthal reports, Rep. Val Hoyle was weeks or months late disclosing 217 individual stock trades by her husband, Stephen, according to an OpenSecrets review of Hoyle’s new congressional financial disclosure document.

The trades’ combined value: between $245,215 and $3,355,000. (Federal lawmakers are only required to disclose the values of their trades in broad ranges.) 

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act requires federal lawmakers to publicly disclose any individual stock, bond or cryptocurrency trade within 45 days of making it. The STOCK Act also extends insider trading restrictions to members of Congress. 

There is no evidence Hoyle engaged in any prohibited transactions. But several of the stock trades Hoyle reported involved companies within industries that ostensibly fall under the jurisdiction of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, on which Hoyle serves. 

Want to know who’s funding the candidates and causes shaping our democracy? With OpenSecrets.org’s Donor Lookup, you can quickly and easily:

Whether you’re a concerned voter, journalist, researcher, or just a curious citizen, Donor Lookup puts transparency at your fingertips.

Spanberger leads near-total Democratic sweep in fundraising (Cardinal News)

Trump Allies’ Children and Niblings Cash in on Lobbying Boom (Sludge)

Americans want dark money out of politics. We don't have to wait for Supreme Court. (USA Today)

The Graying of American Campaign Dollars (On Data and Democracy)

Life after Congress: Peter DeFazio is still on the move (Roll Call)

According to OpenSecrets, which tracks political spending, DeFazio works as a lobbyist for five clients as of 2025: the American Trucking Associations, the Carpenters and Joiners Union, the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America, the Dawn Project and the Tri-County Metro Transportation District of Oregon.

How the Business of Politics Became a Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry (Campaigns & Elections)

Then there’s the money. Campaigns, committees and outside groups dropped nearly $16 billion during the 2024 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit group that tracks campaign finance information. In 2016, by comparison, federal spending totalled just over $6.5 million.

Doha attack tests Qatar’s DC machine (Politico)

While Trump’s anger at Israel accounts for some of his reaction, the Qataris also laid the groundwork in Washington. The tiny country is the seventh-largest spender on lobbying in Washington over the last decade, according to OpenSecrets. It also regularly sponsors prominent events in the district’s social scene, from an autism gala to a fete celebrating the city’s restaurants. 

Airlines Are Winning in Trump’s Second Term (NOTUS)

Airlines for America, Delta, United, Southwest and American account for more than $12.2 million of the $16.4 million the industry has spent on federal lobbying in the first six months of 2025, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks the flow of money in politics. 

Gaza conflict drives some AIPAC-backed Democrats to reject 2026 cash (NOTUS)

Over the last month, three House Democrats have sworn off contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee after accepting them in prior election cycles. AIPAC was a top contributor to Reps. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) and Deborah Ross (D-NC), supporting their campaigns with a combined $104,000 in 2024, according to OpenSecrets, while Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) received some $2 million in contributions from its affiliated super PAC for her 2022 election bid.

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