Edwin Bender of the National Institute on Money in State Politics writes this article on the need to promote standardized campaign finance and lobbyist data reporting in the states.
The lack of uniform disclosure for the 50 states is a failure by design. Fragmented campaign-finance reporting means it’s more difficult for people to follow the actions of their elected representatives — holding them accountable. Many candidates don’t want you familiar with their donor base. And lobbyists certainly don’t want you looking over their shoulders, especially when their actions might cost you money as a taxpayer.