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Jeff Crossman, Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General, is promising if elected to drop the states court appeal seeking to reinstate Ohios abortion ban as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

He said the court was correct in ruling that the ban on abortion is vague and puts the health of women in Ohio.

As Ohios next attorney general, I intend to end this crusade against women and protect their constitutional rights. I will end the appeal immediately and I will honor the court's decision which, again, I said was clear and direct," Crossman said.

Earlier this week, Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost appealed a decision handed down by a Hamilton County Court last week that put on hold the state's abortion ban, which prohibited the procedure at the point fetal cardiac activity could be detected.

That ban, which outlawed abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, was put in effect on June 24 and continued until September 14 when the court put a temporary hold on it and then put an indefinite hold on it one week ago.

The lawyers for abortion clinics argued the ban violates Ohios constitution which gives citizens more rights than the federal constitution.

Crossman and other Democrats running for top statewide offices next month are hoping anger over the abortion ban will drive voters to the polls to vote for them.

Shortly after the ban was put in place this summer, a 10-year-old girl who was the victim of rape went to Indiana to get an abortion because she couldn't get one here.

Yost angered many at that time by questioning the validity of the story about the child. And once a suspect was arrested and charged after allegedly telling police he raped the child, Yost didn't apologize for his comments.

He said there was no need for him to apologize since he wasn't questioning the girl herself but the media stories about her.

In the weeks since that time, Yost has claimed the 10-year-old could have gotten an abortion here in Ohio.

But there are questions about that. While the law does allow an exception for the life of the mother, it doesn't contain an exception for rape or incest.

There is another exception in the law that could possibly allow an abortion if the pregnancy threatened a woman's vital organs. But doctors have repeatedly testified that even with the exceptions, they are so vague and unclear that they are reluctant to perform abortions as soon as they ordinarily would in many of those cases.

Yost said he appealed the Hamilton County ruling after consulting with fellow Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who has said he will go as far as he can to stop abortions in Ohio.

This case might end up before the Ohio Supreme Court. But it won't be the first time. Opponents of the ban initially filed their complaint there but rescinded it and took the challenge to the Hamilton County Court when the state's highest court didn't act.

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Democrat running for Ohio Attorney General says he will stop the appeal to reinstate abortion ban - The Statehouse News Bureau

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the gun safety group founded and primarily funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is now priming pushback against the GOP on guns a strategy bolstered by a research project including interviews of nearly 18,000 likely voters across seven battleground states this summer in the wake of the Uvalde school massacre.

The project tested messages that explicitly linked anti-gun violence measures including background checks on gun sales and red flag laws with crime and public safety, including the safety of law enforcement officers. The results showed that putting that lens over gun safety issues boosted support for Democratic candidates, not only among the party base but among traditional swing voters the party needs to keep governorships and Senate and House seats this year.

Some Democrats are already deploying a similar strategy to defuse crime as a GOP attack on them, starting with President Joe Biden. Last month, Biden sought to wrest the moral high ground on crime from MAGA Republicans, arguing in one speech in Pennsylvania: Dont tell me you support law enforcement if you wont condemn what happened on [January] 6th, citing the insurrection on the Capitol. He condemned calls for defunding the FBI, after federal investigators searched former President Donald Trumps estate for classified documents.

Tying gun safety, crime and law enforcement together aims to reset that narrative that have traditionally put Democrats on the defense, said Charlie Kelly, a senior political adviser to Everytown. That was especially true in 2020, when slogans like defund the police, which were popular among activists on the left but not among voters in general, were wielded against Democrats in races around the country.

The fear tactics that they had success with in 2020, I dont think will work this time around, Kelly continued. We actually are the ones that are tough on these issues, and we need to be more vocal about it.

Maxwell Frost, a gun safety activist who won a contested Democratic House primary to represent a deep-blue chunk of central Florida, said its all about turning it on its head, calling out the hypocrisy.

We are not gun-grabbing liberals, Frost said. Yes, we want reform, but so do NRA members. Theres a disconnect between the public and the [Republican] rhetoric, and I am trying to call it out.

Some Democratic pollsters made it clear that their party should still want to focus other issues. Crime is an issue where Republicans are on offense almost everywhere, said Zac McCrary, a Democratic pollster.

But, he continued, if you are forced to engage on this issue, I do think showing strength, showing toughness, getting tough on illegal guns, is a way to talk about it effectively Youre trying to do enough on it for voters so you can move on to another issue, hopefully fighting to a draw on it and then moving on.

A Gallup poll this year found that 72 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with the nations policies to reduce crime, and 8 in 10 Americans said they worry about crime. And a recent NBC News poll showed that Republicans enjoy a 23-point advantage on the question of which party voters trusted more to handle crime.

Any time you mention crime or public safety, the advantage for Republicans is significant every time, said Robert Blizzard, a Republican pollster. If I were a Democrat, I dont think I would try to make the 2022 races about crime and public safety unless I absolutely had to.

Yet talking about crime may not be a choice for many Democratic candidates. In Pennsylvania, Republican Mehmet Oz, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Leadership Fund, the partys flagship Senate super PAC, have all attacked Democrat John Fetterman over rising violent crime in five separate TV ads in recent weeks.

Fetterman pushed back with a TV ad of his own, saying that Dr. Oz wouldnt last two hours here in Braddock, cutting to images of Fettermans forearms, where he has the dates of murders inked into his skin from his time as mayor.

I ran for mayor to stop the violence, Fetterman says. I worked side-by-side with the police, showed up at the crime scene. We did whatever it took to fund our police and stop gun deaths.

In Georgia, a pro-Gov. Brian Kemp super PAC is out with a TV ad that says Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and left-wing politicians are demonizing the police, attacking her for calling to defund the police. Abrams, meanwhile, put out a response ad, featuring law enforcement officers who say that Kemp is flat-out lying.

In the legislature, she funded law enforcement all over the state and she worked with a Republican governor to make Georgia a national leader in criminal justice reform, the ad continues. Shell keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

Elizabeth Sena, a Democratic pollster, said that the Uvalde school shooting was one of several recent turning points in voters minds about guns, prompting Democrats to campaign more aggressively on the issue. But Sena noted that for candidates with limited campaign budgets, where you only have two or three ads running in a major media market, the economy is still going to be number one, followed by maybe one other issue they get to highlight in TV ads.

It gets harder to find where guns fit in unless you have an unlimited budget, she continued.

Thats where outside super PACs and nonprofits, with larger budgets and contributors who can give six- or seven-figure donations, might come in. For example, Majority Forward, the nonprofit aligned with Senate Democrats main super PAC, released an ad in Wisconsins key Senate race earlier this year on the issue.

Buffalo, Uvalde and even Milwaukee, the ads narrator says, cutting to local TV coverage, when 17 people were injured in Milwaukee last night. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the ad continues, blocked common sense gun safety, like criminal background checks to keep guns away from the dangerous and mentally ill. Johnson even opposed funding for training and community policing to keep us safe.

Asked about Everytowns spending plans for the 2022 midterms, Kelly declined to get into specific figures but noted the group has been significant investors and participants before, I think youll see that again this cycle. So far, the group has spent about $2 million on 2022 midterm work. In 2020, Everytown pledged to spend about $60 million on its electoral program, including about $21 million in independent expenditures.

On this issue itself, we intend to be very muscular with our message approach, and I think in doing so, will help neutralize this, Kelly said.

In the memo describing the findings of its research project, Everytown tested messages that linked a candidate who opposes background checks on all gun sales and supports permitless carry with violent criminals can buy a gun with no questions asked. Compared to a control group, swing voters who saw that message moved 5 points toward Democratic candidates.

Another test, on keeping weapons out of the hands of domestic abusers, also saw a 4.7-point Democratic bump among swing voters over the control group.

This idea that law enforcement messaging can be weaponized against Republicans is not new, but its something wed shied away from for a long, long time. And Id be very interested to see how that works in real time, said Jason McGrath, a Democratic pollster.

I think you will see ads from law enforcement folks in states where theyre talking about Democrats support for them, McGrath continued, and itll be interesting to see if ads take the next step to include guns in that.

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How Democrats are trying to counter a wave of GOP attacks on crime - POLITICO

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The House is in play for the first time this cycle as Democrats continue to build momentum, but the GOP remains the favorite to take control. This edition of the Fox News Power Rankings looks at shifts toward Democrats in nine battleground House races and two key Senate races. Meanwhile, the GOP makes gains in the Georgia and Oregon governor races.

House: Republicans expected to take a 13-seat majority, but Democrats now have pathways to win

Republicans are forecast to control the House after November's elections. (Fox News)

Republicans can expect a 13-seat majority in the latest House forecast (a total of 231 seats), leaving the Democrats with a 14-seat deficit (204 seats). These numbers reflect a shift of three seats away from the GOP since August. While the trend line favors Democrats, 13 seats means the Republicans would hold a comfortable governing majority. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy will want to keep that figure in the double digits as election day approaches.

(You may notice that the chart above looks different compared to previous editions. This chart now shows the number of Democratic and Republican seats if each party wins half of the 30 most competitive races. Below each number, you will now see a "15 seats" label, which indicates how many seats above or below the headline number that each party could take.)

Fox News forecasts the Democrats' and Republicans' best and worst case outcomes for winning the House. (Fox News)

HOUSE GOP' COMMITMENT TO AMERICA' TO SPOTLIGHT INFLATION IN BID FOCUS CAMPAIGN ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES

For the first time this cycle, these rankings give Democrats pathways to retain control. The "best case" scenario for the left, which assumes that Democrats win all 30 of the most competitive races, would give them a razor-thin two-seat majority (219 seats). Remember, though, that almost every other scenario puts the GOP in control. Indeed, the best-case scenario for Republicans gives them a commanding 28-seat majority (246 seats).

Democrats continue to gain ground in national polls. Generic ballot averages now have the party up by around a point, within the margin of error. At the same time as that shift, voters across the nation have highlighted abortion policy and the future of U.S. democracy. Those made up two of the top four issues voters were "extremely concerned" about in the latest Fox News Poll. Voters prioritizing abortion and democracy prefer the Democratic Party candidate by 29 points and seven points, respectively. If Democrats can keep those voters motivated until election day, this will be a close race.

WHAT ARE THE FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS?

Republicans are also making unforced electoral errors. Asinflation reached its highest level in 40 yearson Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., proposed limits making abortion illegal nationwide after 15 weeks, giving Democrats a stronger argument that the GOP will restrict abortion rights nationwide. When "Fox News Sundays" Shannon Bream pressed Graham on the reversal, asking why he pivoted from an earlier position that abortion should be left up to the states, he promised to continue introducing legislation at the national level. Grahams Senate colleagues are running away from the plan, but 87 Republican lawmakers in the House have signed onto it.

Fox News looks into the potential outcome for the November midterm elections. (Fox News)

Even so, inflation remains the number one issue in every major poll, and that issue favors Republicans by a wide margin. The GOP leads by 12 points with voters who are extremely concerned about inflation and high prices. A combined 34% of registered voters say that inflation and the economy/jobs are the main issues motivating them. Voters get reminders that basic goods and services are more expensive every time they see a price tag. If the GOP stays focused on this issue, while nudging voters about crime rates and the border, then they will likely keep their advantage.

INFLATION WILL PICK MIDTERM ELECTION WINNER IN NOVEMBER

For its part, the Biden administration appears to be doing little to quell voters economic fears. Last week, the president hosted a celebration for theInflation Reduction Act,which is designed to lower prescription drug prices and energy costs, but economic modeling shows that the bill would have no discernible impact on overall inflation. Then, on Sunday, President Biden was defensive about inflation in a post-NFL game interview, saying that increases need to be put "in perspective" and that its "up just an inch, hardly at all." Comments like that are unlikely to resonate with moderates and independents, who are critical to any potential Democratic victory.

Finally, a reminder on the Power Rankings methodology. This forecast responds to polling averages, but also to a variety of other data points, like election fundamentals, results from primaries and previous cycles, and candidate strength. As with every forecast you will encounter this election, the Power Rankings represent our best estimate at the outcome, but shouldnever be perceived as a guarantee.

Fox News Power Rankings for November's midterm elections. (Fox News)

Turning to the individual races, and Democrats now have an edge in Washingtons 8th congressional district. This column previously discussed Abigail Spanbergers race in Virginias 7th district, noting that her centrist message gave her an advantage in exurban areas. Swap out Northern Virginia for Seattle and this race tells a similar story. Incumbent Kim Schrier is running ads featuring local politicians from both sides of the aisle, talks about increasing police funding, and regularly emphasizes that shes the "only pro-choice woman doctor in Congress." That issue is likely to have a significant impact here. Larkin is one of the stronger GOP candidates this cycle, telling "Fox & Friends First" he wants to "make crime illegal again," and both parties are investing significant resources going into November, so it remains competitive. Washingtons 8th district moves from Toss Up to Lean D.

WSJ EDITORIAL BOARD WARNS OF THE REAL STAKES OF DEMOCRATS WINNING THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Illinois 17th district is more competitive than ever. Located in the northwestern part of the state, the district is wide open after Rep. Cheri Bustos decided not to run for re-election. That has made it an ideal GOP target. The party has a star candidate in Esther Joy King, an Army reservist and former attorney who calls herself the "battle-ready leader with a heart to serve." But theres a catch. While former President Trump won the district by two points under previous lines, it was redrawn in the 2020 redistricting cycle. Under new lines, Biden would have won by eight points. The Democrats have a strong candidate in local news meteorologist Eric Sorensen, so as national polling improves for the left, this race moves from Lean R to Toss Up.

Republicans still have an edge in Arizonas 1st and 2nd districts. However, statewide GOP candidates are struggling to take the lead in the Copper State, shifting these races from Likely R to Lean R. The GOP is ahead in Wisconsins 3rd district, where incumbent Rep. Ron Kind is retiring, but this race is shifting from Likely R to Lean R on similar grounds. In that race, Democratic challenger Brad Pfaff is also targeting his opponent, Derrick Van Orden, for attending the Jan. 6 riot last year. Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, has counted inflation and the "woke military" among his top issues.

Fox News' forecast for the November midterm elections. (Fox News)

Other changes reflect recent election results. Democrat Pat Ryans upset win in New York was in a district that splits into two this November. As a result, the Empire States 18th and 19th districts are moving from Lean R to Toss Up. We also learned that Sarah Palin lacked the support she needed to win Alaskas at-large district in August, bringing moderate Republican Nick Begich down with her. Together, they handed a shock win to centrist Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. With so much uncertainty about voter preferences, Alaskas at-large district moves to Toss Up.

Finally, primaries in New Hampshire last week revealed that incumbent Annie Kuster, a Democrat, will take on Republican Robert Burns in the general election. Burns is a local businessman and former Hillsborough County treasurer who is closely aligned with former President Trump. New Hampshires 2nd district, which contains Nashua and Concord, is the slightly more liberal of the states two districts. The race remains competitive, but moves from Toss Up to Lean D. Burns is also one of six pro-Trump candidates this year to benefit from ads funded by a PAC aligned with the Democrats, making it a must-win for the left to avoid embarrassment.

Senate: Neither party has a clear advantage, but Democrats make inroads in New Hampshire and Ohio

Fox News' Power Rankings for control of the Senate. (Fox News)

Overall, the Senate remains a toss up. The forecast expects Republicans to take 51 seats and the Democrats 49, with a two-seat "margin of error" for both. While that translates to a slight GOP lead, the margin is so tight that the upper chamber could go either way (the Democrats need only 50 seats to retain power, because Vice President Kamala Harris casts the tie-breaking vote).

ECONOMIC ISSUES FAR OUTPACE SOCIAL ISSUES AMONG VOTER CONCERNS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER MIDTERMS

Democrats have gained one seat overall, and that is New Hampshire. Democrat Maggie Hassan is one of the most vulnerable incumbents heading into this cycle, but her odds have improved as the opponent field has changed. Moderate Republican candidates like Chris Sununu and Chuck Morse had a strong chance to defeat Hassan in a state that voted for President Biden by seven points in 2020. It will be a tougher climb for GOP nominee Don Bolduc. He told"Americas Newsroom"last week that he has since recognized that Biden won the last election, but had the opposite position less than a month ago. New Hampshire voters also tend to favor abortion rights more than in other swing states. That is another issue in which Bolduc is just now painting himself as a moderate.

Senate Power Rankings for November's midterm elections. (Fox News)

There are also lingering questions about Bolducs ground game and the status of $22 million in ad buys earmarked by Senate Leadership Fund, the PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Democrats are certain to pour more resources into the state. This race remains very competitive, but Hassan has an edge. New Hampshire moves from Toss Up to Lean D.

Fox News dives into November's Senate races. (Fox News)

In the Midwest, Ohio looks like more of a battleground than the forecast initially expected. White working class voters in the Buckeye State abandoned the Democrats in 2016, pushing Ohio out of "swing state" territory and giving JD Vance a presumptive lead. This forecast still sees Vance as the winner in November, but Tim Ryan is posting consistently strong polling and even better fundraising figures. Ryan has run a disciplined campaign, focusing on working class issues like jobs and China, and has loudly disagreed with Biden on the trail. He remains the underdog, but has a chance to break through. Ohio moves from Likely R to Lean R.

Two other races shift out of the "Solid" columns in these rankings. First, in Utah, independent challenger Evan McMullin is unlikely to prevail against incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Lee, but the race is competitive. On the Democratic side, incumbent Senator Richard Blumenthal should be running further ahead of Leora Levy than he has in recent polls for a deep blue state, giving the GOP a small opening. Voters are likely to stick with these incumbents in November, but since the "Solid" category is reserved for races that are close to certain, both races move into the "Likely" columns.

Governor: Georgia firms up for the GOP, and the party has an opportunity in Oregon

Fox News forecasts the governor's races for the November midterms. (Fox News)

IF REPUBLICANS TAKE HOUSE, HERE'S HOW THEY CAN SOLVE US DEBT AND BUDGET PROBLEMS

Republicans looking for good news will find it in the governors races. First, in Georgia, where GOP incumbent Brian Kemp has eked out a lead against Democrat Stacey Abrams in several polls. Kemp has carved out a unique lane in this race. While he has attracted the scorn of former President Trump, he appears to be holding onto the same coalition of right-wing and moderate voters that put him into office in 2018. Abrams secret weapon is her ability to register new voters, but that strategy may be faltering. Insiders have quietly complained that Abrams campaign isnt reaching out enough to Black men and other core groups. Georgia moves from Toss Up to Lean R.

Fox News Power Rankings in governor's races for the November midterms. (Fox News)

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Moving west, and Oregon might just be the sleeper race of the season. Independent candidate Betsy Johnson says that the Democratic Party has become too liberal. She left the party and launched a bid to become the states first independent governor since 1935. Johnson has a long road ahead of her, but she has enough of a fundraising lead to make this a serious bid. Meanwhile, Democrat Tina Kotek is emphasizing her position on abortion rights, while Republican Christine Drazan is hammering Kotek on her ties to unpopular term-limited Gov. Kate Brown. Given the presence of three viable candidates and the potential for Johnson to peel away Democratic votes, this race moves from Lean D to Toss Up.

7 weeks to go until election night

Primary season is over, so all eyes are now on the general election. Absentee ballots are already available to voters in four states, including North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and at least some voters in 26 states can fill out a ballot by the end of the month (check with your state elections department for information about voting in your area). With an avalanche of polling, debates, and news from the trail every day, it all adds up to a busy election season. Our best-in-class team of reporters and analysts are keeping track of it all. Stay tuned to Fox News Channel as Democracy 2022 continues.

Rmy Numa is the lead political affairs specialist for Fox News Channel. You can follow him on Twitter: @remynuma.

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Fox News Power Rankings: Democrats build momentum, but GOP still has the advantage - Fox News

Former Vice President Adlai Stevenson once said, The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning. Given todays political climate, and the Democratic focus on what they deem as misinformation, one would presume that not telling the truth about ones previous political party registration would be proof that someone is unworthy of winning. Yet, that is what Adam Frisch, the Democratic nominee for Colorados 3rd Congressional District, allegedly has done. Frisch will face Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in the midterm elections.

But Frisch does not appear all that confident about his Democratic Party politics. While on the campaign trail, he has positioned himself as a centrist candidate, albeit as a Democrat. He has repeatedly denied ever being registered as a Democrat. Yet, a recent discovery of a previous political registration appears to refute such claims.

Frisch is a former currencies trader and member of the Aspen City Council, according to Bloomberg. He has generally shied away from identifying himself as a Democrat (and given the failures of the Democratic-controlled Congress and Biden administration, who can blame him?) Frisch describes himself as a Western business man who wants to build a bipartisan coalition but claims he has been unaffiliated with any political party until recently.

Its a claim Frisch has repeated on multiple occasions. He's said that until Dec. 27, 2021, less than nine months ago, he's been unaffiliated his entire life and never registered as a Democrat. But, unless the 54-year-old was somehow born in 1993, the facts dont seem to agree with him. A voter registration from New York City in 1992 shows Frisch was registered as a Democrat. And, assuming this registration is legitimate, and at the moment theres no reason to suspect otherwise, Frisch has some explaining to do.

At a recent debate, Boebert questioned Frisch about his previous voter registration. He claimed to not have remembered registering that way in 1992. Yet, Frisch's explanation that he "forgot" how he registered, doesn't feel like the truth. Plus, if he forgot about that, it raises the question, what else did he tell voters that he may have forgotten isn't true?

Being dishonest about ones political registration is such an odd thing. Strategically, it doesnt make any sense. Whats the point of Frisch trying to pretend hes never been a Democrat, especially when he is running against Republican Lauren Boebert as a Democrat? If he is that ashamed of his party affiliation, then why is he running as one?

Think about it. Frisch is a Democrat, running as a Democrat, who appears to be lying about previously being registered as a Democrat. Other than potentially trying to hide radical political views from his constituents, what is the point? Moreover, if someone has to lie about their voter registration history, whats that say about their belief in the political platform of that party?

Actions such as this suggest hes nothing more than an opportunist, desperately trying to get into power. And since theres now skepticism behind Frischs credibility, voters in Colorados 3rd District should be asking, what else has Frisch not told the truth about? Nevertheless, if it has revealed anything, it is, as Adlai Stevenson said, proof that Frisch is not worthy of winning.

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Lauren Boebert's Democratic opponent forgot he was previously registered as a Democrat - Washington Examiner

Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota.Bill Clark and Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Some members of Congress file financial disclosures that are basically illegible. And it's legal.

Reps. Spanberger and Johnson are introducing a bill that would require electronic submissions.

The goal is to increase transparency amid a broader conversation about banning stock trading.

A bipartisan duo of House members will introduce a bill on Tuesday to require members of Congress to file financial disclosures electronically, according to a release shared exclusively with Insider.

Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota are introducing the Easy to Read Electronic and Accessible Disclosures (READ) Act, which would allow users to search, sort, and download financial disclosure data filed by House members, Senators, and candidates for both chambers.

The simple, two-page bill would also ensure that the resulting user interface is accessible to people with disabilities by mandating compliance with the Rehabilitation Act.

As Insider's Dave Levinthal reported in May, members of Congress are currently allowed to submit their yearly financial disclosures as well as periodic reports on their stock trades via paper on a pre-printed form.

That's led to lots of members submitting disclosures that are essentially impossible to read.

Retiring Republican Rep. Fred Upton, for example, often hand-writes his reports.

A financial disclosure from Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican from MichiganUS House of Representatives

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California files reports that his office claims are legible when filed, only to appear garbled when uploaded electronically.

"[Khanna] is committed to transparency and looking into options to make it easier to read the scan of his disclosure forms in the future," spokesperson Marie Baldassarre told Insider in May. "The originals he files are always very legible."

A stock trade disclosure from Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from CaliforniaUS House of Representatives

"Poor penmanship shouldn't be the enemy of transparency," said Spanberger in the release. "By making this change, we can increase transparency and help rebuild a degree of trust in our democracy."

Story continues

"This bill is commonsense," said Johnson in the release. "Congress has a public trust problem, and we should do all we can to ensure our constituents have faith in their elected officials."

The bill has been endorsed by outside advocacy groups across the political spectrum, including the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Taxpayers Protection Alliance, National Taxpayers Union, and FreedomWorks.

"Government is only as effective as it is open and accessible," said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, a government affairs manager at POGO. "This means that government records, including financial disclosures filed by elected officials, must be easy to find and easy to understand."

"These requirements will help bring critical transparency to the financial situation of members of Congress and more opportunity to spot potential conflicts of interest," added Hedtler-Gaudette.

The bill comes amid a broader push to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated last week that a bill banning trading could come to the floor this month, though some lawmakers in her own party are skeptical that will happen.

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon told Insider last week that a consensus bill to tackle the issue wouldn't come until after the midterms.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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A House Republican and Democrat are introducing a bill that would require members of Congress to file financial disclosures electronically - Yahoo...