POLITICO: New business plan: crushing Dems

By: Jeanne Cummings and Chris Frates Democrats may be going out of their way to say they aren’t anti-business, but business is gearing up to demonstrate that it’s anti-Democrats – at least when it comes to members of the party’s liberal wing. The latest blatant signs of hostility come from coal executives who are considering starting […]

New York Times Editorial: The Secret Election

For all the headlines about the Tea Party and blind voter anger, the most disturbing story of this year’s election is embodied in an odd combination of numbers and letters: 501(c)(4). That is the legal designation for the advocacy committees that are sucking in many millions of anonymous corporate dollars, making this the most secretive […]

National Journal: Health Reform’s Unending Money War

National JournalHealth Reform’s Unending Money WarBy Eliza Newlin Carney March 1, 2010 It’s too early to say how the messy, protracted health care debate will end. But one thing is already clear: It’s generated record lobbying expenditures. And like health care itself, the lobbying battle over health reform just keeps costing more. Health-care-related lobbying and […]

The Hill: FEC reports more lobbyist bundlers

The HillFEC reports more lobbyist bundlersBy Kevin BogardusMay 26, 2009 At least four more lobbyist bundlers have been reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), according to new filings with the agency. A report by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) disclosed that four lobbyists collected $209,700 in campaign contributions for the political committee during […]

The Los Angeles Times Editorial: Disclosing who influences elections

The Los Angeles TimesDisclosing who influences elections The DISCLOSE Act would prevent corporations, unions and many nonprofit advocacy groups from concealing the sources of their funding. It deserves to be debated and passed in the Senate.  The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to open debate on a bill, already approved by the […]

POLITICO: Rove vs. the Koch Brothers

By Kenneth P. Vogel Karl Rove’s team and the Koch brothers’ operatives quietly coordinated millions of dollars in political spending in 2010, but that alliance, which has flown largely under the radar, is showing signs of fraying. And with each network planning to dwarf its 2010 effort, Republicans worry that the emerging rivalry between the […]

Associated Press: U.S. Meetings With Lobbyists Go Unreported

Associated PressU.S. Meetings With Lobbyists Go UnreportedBy Rita BeamishAugust 31, 2009 President Obama ordered federal officials to disclose their contacts with lobbyists trying to influence how the government doles out money to jump-start the economy. Yet few such communications have been reported even though lobbyists say they are busier than ever with the multibillion-dollar stimulus. […]

Lexington-Herald Leader (KY) Editorial: McConnell’s hypocrisy on campaign disclosure

Lexington-Herald LeaderEditorialMitch McConnell believed in public disclosure related to campaign contributions in 1987. In a commentary published in the Herald-Leader, he lauded "post-Watergate disclosure laws" that help "flush out" politicians who "sacrifice duties or principles to get more money."Kentucky’s senior U.S. senator believed in disclosure in 1989 when he joined a Democratic colleague in introducing […]

The Hill Experts don’t expect huge fallout from Citizens United decision in first quarter

The Hill Experts don’t expect huge fallout from Citizens United decision in first quarterBy Emily Goodin March 31, 2010 Campaign finance experts don’t expect to see a huge fallout from the recent Citizen United Supreme Court ruling in the first-quarter fundraising reports. Wednesday marks the end of the first quarter and it also marks the […]

Politico: Dems move to blunt Citizens United

PoliticoDems move to blunt Citizens UnitedBy Politico StaffApril 24, 2010 In the coming week, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) plan to unveil legislation to close campaign-finance loopholes opened by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. The legislation was written in consultation with the White House. Here […]