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In the News
Original journalism from the Center's OpenSecrets News
AIPAC doesn't contribute directly to candidates. Which pro-Israel groups do?
February 11, 2019 | AIPAC spends considerable funds lobbying, but does not directly contribute to federal candidates. Which pro-Israel groups gave the most in 2018?
Can Amy Klobuchar raise enough money to match her primary opponents?
February 8, 2019 | Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced her presidental bid on Sunday. But can she raise enough money to keep up with her well-funded Senate colleagues?
Most expensive midterm ever: Cost of 2018 election surpasses $5.7 billion
February 6, 2019 | It's official: the 2018 election was the most expensive midterm ever by a large margin, with total spending surpassing $5.7 billion.
All in the family: Campaigns offer source of income for candidates and their relatives
February 4, 2019 | The FEC allows candidates who aren't independently wealthy to receive a salary from their campaigns. Other campaigns hire family members to work as staff.
Everything you need to know about where Cory Booker gets his money
February 1, 2019 | Sen Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced his presidential bid on the first day of Black History Month. Take a look into where the profilic fundraiser gets his cash.
Dark money: coming from a shell company near you
January 29, 2019 | So-called "dark money" contributions originating from shell companies come from a diverse cross-section of the American landscape.
Buttigieg debuted Washington ambitions through 2018 PAC donations
January 23, 2019 | South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg has held Washington ambitions, launching a leadership PAC in 2018 which gave thousands to Democratic candidates.
Rising star Kamala Harris enters 2020 race with short, but solid fundraising history
January 22, 2019 | Senator Kamala Harris of California, a rising Democratic star, entered the 2020 presidential field having established herself as a capable fundraiser.
A look at the impact of Citizens United on its 9th anniversary
January 21, 2019 | Citizens United is 9 years old, and its impact on federal elections is clearer than ever.
'Dark money'-fueled super PAC spent $1 million on Tennessee's Senate race then shut down
January 18, 2019 | A super PAC that got the bulk of its funding from a similarly-named nonprofit spent $1 million dollars then promptly closed up shop just after Election Day.
Politically-active 'dark money' groups among sponsors funding 2019 Women's March
January 18, 2019 | In its third year, the Women's March is a prominent political movement, now linked to politically-active dark money groups.
The mysterious political consultants making millions to influence elections
January 16, 2019 | Super PACs and hybrid PACs gave out a combined $552 million to the top 10 highest-paid political consultants during the 2018 election cycle.
Kirsten Gillibrand, rejecting PACs but backed by Wall Street, announces presidential bid
January 16, 2019 | Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who has gotten plenty of Wall St. money, announced that she has formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run.
Despite condemnations, GOP leadership provided financial backing to Steve King
January 15, 2019 | After a controversial interview, GOP leadership has removed Iowa Rep. Steve King from committee assignments. Yet, many GOP leaders have helped finance King's campaigns.
Democrats dominate political spending on Twitter
January 14, 2019 | Twitter's political spending data shows that Democrats and liberal groups are outspending their conservative counterparts on the digital platform.
Lengthy history with PACs follows Tulsi Gabbard into 2020
January 14, 2019 | Decalred Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has demonstrated ability as a respectable fundraiser, historically getting substantial sums from PACs.
Ocasio-Cortez, Romney, Omar among prominent freshmen to launch leadership PACs
January 11, 2019 | At least 24 different freshmen in the House and Senate have started their own leadership PACs so far, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ihlan Omar.
Do new Democratic climate committee members get more from big oil or environmental interests?
January 10, 2019 | In total, new Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee received more money from oil and gas-related PACs than environmental PACs.
'Dark money' groups funneled millions to powerful super PACs during 2018 midterms
January 3, 2019 | Dark money groups gave more than $176 million to super PACs and outside spending hybrid PACs during the 2018 election cycle.
Ocasio-Cortez enters the House with highest portion of small contributions
December 17, 2018 | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got nearly 62 percent of her $2 million haul from small individual contributions, the highest rate of any House member in the 116th Congress.
Bipartisan bill would mandate donor disclosure in political ads
December 13, 2018 | A new bill would require any organization that runs political ads to disclose its top donors and tighten rules on super PAC-candidate coordination.
Each of the five most expensive House races ever took place in 2018
December 10, 2018 | Excluding special elections, each of the five highest-spending House races ever was held this cycle. Democrats won in four of them.
Democrats are rejecting corporate PACs: Does it mean anything?
December 7, 2018 | Fifty-two members of the 116th Congress — including 50 Democrats and 35 new members — pledged to reject money from corporate PACs this cycle.
Big city donors drive unprecedented fundraising in 2018 midterms
December 5, 2018 | Big city donors in the 10 most generous states added up to nearly $2.6 billion in contributions this cycle, compared to $1.4 billion for the rest of the U.S.
Liberal 'guardian angel' donors surpass conservatives in spending
December 3, 2018 | Tom Steyer and Sheldon Adelson's donations, combined, made up more than half of the total guardian angel contributions this cycle.
National Republican Congressional Committee the biggest loser among 2018 outside groups
November 30, 2018 | With a 25% success rate, the honor of "biggest loser" this general election cycle goes to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Pelosi's prowess as a fundraiser helps her secure speakership
November 28, 2018 | Nancy Pelosi's reputation as a powerful fundraiser helps to keep her in the Democratic party's good graces, and has now returned her to the speakership.
The usual suspects placed bets on this year's most competitive races
November 28, 2018 | Winning Democratic challengers and losing incumbent Republicans drew from very different sources of funding during the 2018 election.
Conservative groups mount late spending push in Mississippi Senate race
November 26, 2018 | Conservative super PACs spent big after controversial remarks from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith appeared to make the Mississippi Senate race close.
The political "giving" by your favorite Thanksgiving dishes
November 21, 2018 | Find out what the industries behind your favorite classic Thanksgiving dishes are spending on influence in Washington, D.C.
The money behind GOP's meager House pickups
November 20, 2018 | Boosted by a late influx of media buys from outside groups, two Minnesota Republicans accounted for two of the GOP's three pickups in the House.
Pro-Trump 'dark money' group's first tax return reveals millions in previously undisclosed spending
November 19, 2018 | The first tax return filed by pro-Trump "dark money" group America First Policies reveals it spent even more on political activities than previously reported.
Trump, GOP get millions, Miriam Adelson gets Presidential Medal of Freedom
November 16, 2018 | Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson was one of seven individuals to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday.
Pharma lobby directed millions to conservative 'dark money' groups last year
November 16, 2018 | The largest pharmaceutical trade group in the U.S. gave millions in grants to conservative, pro-Trump "dark money" groups last year.
Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS is dead, long live his multi-million dollar 'dark money' operation
November 16, 2018 | One Nation, a conservative 501(c)(4) "dark money" nonprofit masterminded by Karl Rove, raised nearly $17 million last year, according to tax filings.
Money advantage decided most House races, proved insurmountable for California GOP
November 15, 2018 | Of the 49 races called in California, just four winners had fewer dollars behind them than their opponent, showing the importance of a cash advantage.
Donors helped Democrats to modest 2018 victories in the upper midwest
November 9, 2018 | 2018 was a good election cycle for Democrats in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan. In many of the pivotal races, money played a big role.
Most expensive midterms in history set several spending records
November 8, 2018 | From start to finish, and at every level of the ballot, the 2018 election cycle set campaign finance records — often by huge margins.
Democrats ride monster fundraising to take the House, GOP successfully picks its Senate battles
November 7, 2018 | In what was the most expensive midterm election ever, a cash advantage didn't always translate to success at the polls, but it did decide most races.
Special election races resurface with new Democratic challengers
November 5, 2018 | The biggest special elections of 2017 and 2018 are back, but this time they each have to share the limelight with dozens of other close, crucial races.
Election Day Eve: what the parties have spent on the Midterms
November 5, 2018 | As the costliest midterm elections ever draw to a close, the Democratic and Republican parties have raised massive sums for campaigns across the country.
Through tariff turmoil, agriculture sticks with the GOP
November 2, 2018 | Even as farmers struggle under a GOP President and Congress, the agriculture industry continues to contribute to Republicans.
Pro-Trump super PAC weighs in on midterms
October 31, 2018 | What does a super PAC founded to elect a republican presidential candidate want with Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
What Trump's major donors are spending in the midterms
October 30, 2018 | Some of the donors who spent big on President Donald Trump's campaign in 2016 have been spending millions on the midterms.
Blue wave of money propels 2018 election to record-breaking $5.2 billion in spending
October 29, 2018 | The Center for Responsive Politics projects that more than $5.2 billion will be spent this cycle, making the 2018 midterms the most expensive ever.
In tight Senate races, dark money backs Dems, hammers GOP
October 24, 2018 | So far, FEC-disclosed outside spending from political nonprofits favors Democratic candidates over Republicans for the first election cycle since 2008.
Where are conservative groups placing their bets?
October 18, 2018 | As election day nears, major Republican donors are focusing their financial resources on races that seem more likely to win.
Conservative PACs aim to flip pair of Minnesota seats from blue to red
October 10, 2018 | Two House seats in Minnesota formerly occupied by Democrats are labeled tossups in 2018, sparking a spending battle between liberal and conservative groups.
Sen. Susan Collins' pro-choice record threatened
September 18, 2018 | The fate of Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination might rest in the hands of two moderate Republicans - Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins.
"Guardian angels" watching over campaigns
September 13, 2018 | Powerful political donors become "guardian angels" when they supply 40 to 100 percent of a super PAC's funds.
A historic win in Massachusetts primary
September 5, 2018 | Ayanna Pressley won the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts' 7th District, beating a 10-term incumbent and likely becoming the state's first Black congresswoman.
What to know before Massachusetts primary
August 31, 2018 | Here are all the campaign cash highlights to know before the Massachusetts congressional primaries Tuesday.
What is the Congressional Leadership Fund?
August 29, 2018 | Congressional Leadership Fund, an influential GOP super PAC, got ahold of a VA democratic congressional candidate's CIA security application.
August 28th primary results: In most cases, leading fundraisers also lead the vote count
August 29, 2018 | Of 40 contested federal primary races held on August 28th in Florida and Arizona, 32 were won by the candidate who raised the most money.
Rick Scott super PAC learns to love Rick Scott
August 28, 2018 | U.S. Senate candidate Rick Scott's close ties to New Republican PAC underscores an increasingly blurry line between candidates and super PACs.
August 28th sees some of the nation's most-watched contests come to a head in Florida and Arizona
August 22, 2018 | Voters in Florida and Arizona head to the polls on August 28th to choose nominees for a number of closely watched federal races.
Rep. Jim Jordan vies for speaker as atypical fundraiser
August 6, 2018 | Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is campaigning to be speaker of the House without the typical fundraising background of former speakers.
Primaries head to Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington next week
August 3, 2018 | The Aug. 7 primaries in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington offer opportunities for House Democrats.
Sheldon Adelson donates $30 million for House Republicans
July 16, 2018 | Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson reemerged as a top GOP donor with a $30 million gift to the Congressional Leadership Fund.
Primary preview: Voters head to the polls in seven states on June 26
June 20, 2018 | Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and convicted U.S. Army leaker Chelsea Manning are among the candidates in Tuesday's primaries.
Calling all researchers: Bounty offered for Money-In-Politics anomaly discoveries.
June 11, 2018 | We are offering a bounty for money-in-politics anomalies found in federal data by anyone who is interested in looking.
These two super PACs used a loophole to hide donors as they spent millions in West Virginia primary
May 22, 2018 | The conservative Mountain Families PAC and liberal Duty and Country PAC, which combined spent more than $3 million in the West Virginia Republican Senate primary, both used an FEC loophole to shield their respective donors before the May 8 election.
Facebook lobbyists donated $600K to lawmakers interrogating Zuckerberg
April 12, 2018 | Facebook lobbyists have donated nearly $600,000 since 2013 to the lawmakers who questioned company CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis shows.
Banks donate and lobby, Congress acts
March 13, 2018 | The median senator who voted to advance a Dodd-Frank reform bill received 53 percent more money from the banks it would benefit than the median senator who voted against it.
Will lack of Democratic outside spending cost Lamb an upset?
March 12, 2018 | Conservative outside spending came up big for Rick Saccone while Democrat Conor Lamb relied more on small donations.
Two more senators ditch corporate PACs
February 15, 2018 | Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Ny.) and Cory Booker (D-Nj.) on Tuesday announced on Twitter that they would join at least 10 other members of Congress in rejecting donations from corporate PACs in their upcoming reelection campaigns.
Big money spurs on an intense Arizona midterm race
February 12, 2018 | Nearly $310,000 has been spent by super PACs in the Arizona Senate race, much of it coming from big money interests like GOP mega-donor Robert Mercer.
Executives calling for DACA solution backed by bipartisan funding clout
January 24, 2018 | Executives from over 100 major U.S. corporations, including Apple, General Motors and Amazon, penned a letter to Congress this month, seeking "permanent bipartisan" legislation that would protect DACA recipients from deportation.
Conservative outside spending dominates Pennsylvania special election
January 18, 2018 | Two conservative outside groups have hit the Southwestern Pennsylvania airwaves within the last week, spending nearly $350,000 on advertisements in the state's upcoming special election.
Political donations by lobbyists rising
January 11, 2018 | Federal lobbyists have donated nearly $76 million to members of Congress since 2011, not including the final three months of 2017.
Tax lobbyists donated millions to members of Congress
December 22, 2017 | Those lobbying on issues related to taxes donated $9.6 million to members of Congress during the first nine months of 2017.
Money flows into net neutrality debate ahead of FCC vote
December 14, 2017 | After nearly a year of lobbying on both sides of the FCC's proposed repeal of net neutrality protections, tech companies and internet service providers await an FCC ruling Thursday to determine the fate of plans opposed by roughly eight out of 10 Americans, polling suggests.
Democrats donate Franken PAC contributions to charity
December 6, 2017 | Democrats are shedding the money received from Sen. Al Franken's leadership PAC in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
Higher Ed in the crosshairs of GOP tax bills
December 1, 2017 | The tax proposals being pushed by Congressional Republicans carry consequences for one of the GOP's least important donors – colleges and universities.
Democratic women running more, giving more money heading into 2018
November 17, 2017 | While historically men have dominated campaign finance contributions, women have been an important source of money for some candidates — female Democrats in particular.
McConnell-allied nonprofit received millions from Rove-linked group in 2016; neither disclosed donors
November 17, 2017 | One of the most active political organizations in the 2016 election cycle wasn't a political organization at all. It was a nonprofit allied with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that received all of its money from anonymous donors and hardly reported any of its political spending to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Known as One…
How much influence does Bannon wield among big donors?
November 2, 2017 | One of the most expensive elections this year has been the ongoing Alabama Senate special election. The GOP runoff saw two candidates, Roy Moore and interim senator Luther Strange, run head to head. Their differing sources of support — Moore's grassroots, rural base plus the backing of a few key billionaires, in contrast with the…
Contributions flood contentious Alabama special election
September 21, 2017 | Alabama's special election embodies what political analysts claim is a deepening rift between the GOP's establishment and anti-establishment factions. Money has flooded the campaigns in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff, as former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore maintains an apparent lead over interim Sen. Luther Strange. Strange, who was appointed by former Alabama Gov.…
Crowded field of Alabama candidates fight for open seat in Senate
August 14, 2017 | Nineteen candidates are contesting tomorrow's primary for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' old seat as U.S. Senator for Alabama, but few have made an impression on Alabamians. Current Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.) is miles ahead in terms of money raised. Strange, formerly the state's Attorney General, was appointed to the Senate in February by Alabama Gov.…
Fearing border tax, retailers boost lobbying 31 percent
June 23, 2017 | It's been a remarkably tough year for the retail sector. So far in 2017, retailers have set a record pace for bankruptcies and store closings. Household names are faring no better than small shops: J.C. Penney said it would shutter 138 locations in July; Macy's expects 68 locations to close this year; and Sears Holdings will turn off the…
Outside groups kick into high gear post-primary in Georgia, South Carolina
June 19, 2017 | On Tuesday, voters in Georgia's 6th Congressional District will vote in the most expensive House election ever. A staggering $56.7 million (at least) has been spent on the special election, including $51.9 million on the two candidates left standing after the primary. The race between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel is the most expensive House race…
Some lawmakers owe their dads a big thank you this Father's Day
June 15, 2017 | There isn't much that fathers wouldn't do for their kids, especially in politics. Take this famous quote from former President John F. Kennedy: "I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; 'Dear Jack, Don't buy a single vote more than is necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landslide.'"…
Montana race, now complicated, sets spending record for House contests in state
May 25, 2017 | The cost of the House special election race in Montana — where voters are going to the polls today — is officially record-breaking. It's unclear how Wednesday's misdemeanor assault charges against the Republican candidate, Greg Gianforte, will affect the outcome, particularly since a large number of voters cast their ballots before today. It's very clear, though,…
Next election still 18 months away, but it's never too early to collect cash from colleagues
May 25, 2017 | Even with the 2018 midterm elections still 18 months away, both Republicans and Democrats are making moves to strengthen their most vulnerable incumbents. One way they're doing it: By contributing through their candidate committees and leadership PACs. Already, more than $3 million changed hands this way in the first three months of 2017 — nearly…
In Montana, strong fundraising by Quist, but more outside help for Gianforte. Also, guns.
May 18, 2017 | Shots have been fired in the campaign leading up to Montana's May 25 special election. Literally. Both Republican candidate Greg Gianforte and Democratic candidate Rob Quist have aired ads in which they load a rifle and obliterate a computer and a TV screen, respectively. In his ad, Gianforte accuses Quist of wanting to create a…
Beyond the NEA budget: The political side of art
May 8, 2017 | The Recording Academy's high-wattage GRAMMYs on the Hill event in early April honored Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) for their commitment to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) — an agency that President Donald Trump's administration has proposed cutting. Still, stars like country singers Keith Urban and Wynonna Judd, both of…
Two (at most) secret donors funded 93% of pro-Rubio nonprofit
May 3, 2017 | A politically active nonprofit that supported Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) failed 2016 presidential bid raised nearly $22 million in two years, 93 percent of which came from either one or two anonymous donors, tax documents obtained by the Center for Responsive Politics show. Conservative Solutions Project, a 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organization with no employees or…
Little outside spending but lots of self-funding in South Carolina special
April 28, 2017 | While you're not seeing much in terms of cheesy outside group ads in South Carolina's special election, there's no shortage of unique messaging going on in the race. Turn on the TV and you can catch one of candidate Sheri Few's ads, in which she's holding an AR-15 and condemning lawmakers from removing Confederate flags and…
Surge in LLC contributions brings more mystery about true donors
April 27, 2017 | Donald Trump's inaugural committee did well by almost any standard: Doubling the previous record for cash raised to fund festivities around a new president's swearing-in, it took in contributions from every major sector of the economy, and from donors who had steered clear of his campaign prior to the election. The committee also received about…
250 donors shelled out $100k or more for Trump's inauguration, providing 91% of funds
April 19, 2017 | What does it take to stage a welcome-to-the-neighborhood blowout? President Trump raised $107 million for his inaugural festivities, shattering previous records. The former titleholder, Barack Obama, raised half that, $53.2 million, in 2009 — though Obama imposed far stricter limits on amounts and sources of donations. At least 47 people or organizations gave $1 million…
In the service of social welfare, Democratic operatives get IRS seal of approval
April 19, 2017 | Rebecca Lambe, J.B. Poersch and Rodell Mollineau aren't names that anybody who's familiar with national Democratic politics would likely associate with nonpartisan social welfare activity. Especially not at the height of election season. Lambe, the chief political strategist and campaign manager for former Sen. Harry Reid, the wily Senate Democratic leader, was described by the…
Outside groups pour $8.2 million into Georgia 6th
April 13, 2017 | Democrats came surprisingly close to seizing a red seat earlier this week in a House special election in Kansas. But filling HHS Secretary Tom Price's seat in the Georgia 6th in another special next Tuesday is the battle where Team Blue may have a real shot. Frontrunner and first-time candidate Jon Ossoff raised a startling $8.2 million in the just over three months…
Richest billionaires are also top political spenders
March 31, 2017 | Know what it feels like to be worth more than 10 digits? These 2,043 people do. Forbes released its 30th annual World's Billionaires list in March to make us all feel bad about our bank accounts. But what does one do with all that dough? With great wealth comes great potential to help your favorite politicians get elected. Of the…
In California jungle, Dems vie to avoid runoff; Georgia special draws outside spending
March 29, 2017 | You thought we wouldn't have to deal with another federal election for two years after Nov. 8, didn't you? Sorry. Lawmakers were scooped up shortly after to fill spots in the Trump administration or take high-level state positions, so voters in five states get another run at the polling places. Coming up fast on the…
The revolving door always spins for Goldman Sachs — by design
March 23, 2017 | Each time President Donald Trump adds another Goldman Sachs alum to his administration, it's tempting to bring up his campaign-trail rhetoric about the investment bank. After all, it seems as though Trump is trying to drain the swamp by forcing it to overflow; last week, he nominated Goldman managing director James Donovan to the post of deputy Treasury…
Women (candidates) under attack (really!) by outside groups. (Men, not so much.)
March 9, 2017 | This year has already seen historic large-scale demonstrations celebrating women and demanding equal rights, starting with the day after President Trump's inauguration, when millions gathered on the National Mall and around the globe for Women's March events. This March, on International Women's Day, participants wore red to raise awareness, while women were encouraged to skip work…
Van Hollen led Congress in contributions from lobbyists
March 8, 2017 | Sen. Chris Van Hollen's (D-Md.) star has been on the rise in the Democratic party: After seven terms in the House, he won a Senate seat last November, and now occupies a much-coveted spot on the Appropriations committee while also chairing the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party's fundraising arm for its Senate candidates. A knack for…
Defense sector contributions locked in on committee members
March 2, 2017 | You couldn't blame defense contractors for being in a great mood this week. In his speech to Congress on Tuesday, President Donald Trump — who has repeatedly said he wants to build up American military dominance — announced that he's "sending Congress a budget that rebuilds the military, eliminates the defense sequester and calls for…
Murray Energy bucks coal mining trend with record giving in 2016
February 28, 2017 | President Donald Trump wasted little time attending to one of his constituencies: Less than a month after taking office, and surrounded by applauding coal miners and a few friendly members of Congress, he put the knife in an Obama-era regulation barring coal mine waste from being dumped in waterways. And Trump is said to have more…
Outside groups spent more than candidates in 27 races, often by huge amounts
February 24, 2017 | On her way to winning a Nevada Senate seat in 2016, Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto spent almost $19 million; her Republican opponent, then-Rep. Joe Heck, paid out nearly $12 million. Their combined spending of over $30 million was among the highest in the nation. Still, it was eclipsed by investments in the race by outside…
Chairing the DNC: A multimillion-dollar election
February 22, 2017 | There's a packed field in the race to chair the Democratic National Committee, whose 447 members will elect their new leader on Saturday. Rep. Keith Ellison and former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez lead the nine candidates who remain in the contest — a relatively diverse bunch hailing from around the country and from various levels…
Leftover campaign cash can signal future plans
February 10, 2017 | The money candidates raise and spend during the heat of a campaign are pretty good predictors of the outcome. In 2016, for instance, the candidate who spent more won in 94 percent of Senate contests and 96 percent of House races. But now that Election Day has come and gone, another set of figures can…
For freshman lawmakers, debt is the cost of doing business
February 9, 2017 | President Donald Trump has said, often and with great pride, that he is "the king of debt." That's not a distinction any congressional campaign is gunning for, though, and most manage to avoid it. The median campaign debt for a member of the 115th House of Representatives as of Nov. 28: Zero. But a look…
Surprising political spending by sponsors of some Super Bowl ads
February 6, 2017 | Super Bowl LI left a few lasting impressions: That one-for-the-history-books come-from-behind victory by the New England Patriots; the Lady Gaga halftime show that was rich with hits and practically politics-free; and the ads, always the ads — many of which were not so politics-free. Just over two weeks into Donald Trump's presidency, companies had to…
As pro-Trump nonprofits rev up, regulators stall again
February 2, 2017 | With a new set of politically active nonprofits promising to pour millions into ads supporting President Donald Trump's agenda and cabinet nominees, an FEC decision last month provides a telling reminder of how these groups push the legal limits on their activity — and how difficult it is for regulators to do anything about it. For the…
Uptick in lobbying spending for merging companies facing antitrust scrutiny
January 27, 2017 | Note: Some lobbyists file after the quarterly deadline. Visit our lobbying page for the most current data. Quite a few corporations floated multi-billion dollar mergers in 2016, including ag leaders Monsanto and Bayer, telecom titans AT&T and Time Warner and fantasy sports giants FanDuel and Draft Kings. And with such marriages — which undergo scrutiny by…
Energy sector and EPA nominee: Oklahoma Strong
January 24, 2017 | Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing last week involved some pointed visual props. Making the case that Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general who is President Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is cozy with the energy sector, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) held up a chart full of boxes and arrows. All the organizations listed on…
Big sums from lawmakers sitting pretty to those in need — but victory not a given
December 21, 2016 | With control of the Senate and possibly the House at stake — or so it seemed until close to Election Day — the word went out from the Democratic and Republican parties to lawmakers: If you're not running this time, or if you're sitting on a pile of cash, share the love. Priority races were…
Zinke's nomination could bring questions about super PAC ties
December 14, 2016 | After much speculation about which oilman or pro-development donor would get the nod to run the Interior Department, multiple news sources have reported President-elect Donald Trump has picked Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke (R). Having been a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 to 2008 and a Montana state senator from 2009 to 2011, Zinke is a relative…
Challengers who bested incumbents reaped $70,000 in post-election funds
December 9, 2016 | The 2016 election is over. Ballots have been cast, and (most) federal candidates know the outcome of their hard-fought races. Yet company PACs and even individuals are still writing checks to candidates' campaign committees, even though the campaigns they're funding are done. "Giving after the election clearly shows the donation is not given to support…
Pipelines of funds support allies of Dakota Access project
December 8, 2016 | When the Army Corp of Engineers announced Sunday it would block construction of an essential part of the Dakota Access Pipeline Project and study alternative routes, thousands of protestors at the site — members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, environmentalists, veterans and others — joined hands in jubilation. Concern about potential damage to the…
Female candidates poorly funded by PACs, donors, and major parties
December 7, 2016 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2016 FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: Michelle C. Whittaker, Director of Communications, Representation2020 (301) 270-1238 / (301) 270-4616 / [email protected] Brendan Quinn, Outreach Coordinator, Center for Responsive Politics (202) 857-0044 / [email protected] David Vance, Common Cause (202) 736-5712 / [email protected] Female Candidates Have Greatest Success in Open Seat Elections But Poorly Funded…
Betsy DeVos and her big-giving relatives: Family qualifies as GOP royalty
December 1, 2016 | It's no secret that Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Education Department, is a political fundraising juggernaut. Her contributions to candidates and school choice causes around the country have been all over the news since she was named the nominee. More consequential, though, are the depth and breadth of contributions by her family…
Oilmen, pro-development financiers and Sarah Palin in the queue for Interior
November 28, 2016 | Update: In early December, Trump announced he would nominate Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke (R) to run Interior. Read more about Zinke here. While names were announced for a slew of appointments to President-elect Donald Trump's administration last week, there are still some significant posts left — like running the Interior Department, which is in charge…
HHS contenders: A crop of politicians with major funding from health sector
November 18, 2016 | Nov. 29 update: President-elect Donald Trump named Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) as his pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Unsuccessful GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson declared Tuesday that he has no interest in a position in the Trump cabinet and instead wants to serve the administration as an outside advisor because he…
One Nation rising: Rove-linked group goes from no revenue to more than $10 million in 2015
November 17, 2016 | One of the most active groups in the 2016 cycle wasn't a super PAC — though those were plenty busy — but a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, One Nation. From mid-2015 through 2016, the group spent about $40 million in a largely successful push to protect the GOP's fragile majority in the Senate. And it did…
No Secretary of State prospect donated to Trump
November 16, 2016 | Update Dec. 14: President-elect Trump tapped ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson. For background on his political contributions, click here. We continue our series on the money-in-politics histories of candidates for Donald Trump's future Cabinet by looking at those who have been mentioned as possibilities to run the State Department. (See our earlier analyses on prospects for…
Pentagon pick could have deep influence on Trump
November 15, 2016 | Updated Nov. 16. Update Dec. 1. President-elect Donald Trump chose retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis as Secretary of Defense. President-elect Donald Trump has made inflammatory comments about some of the nation's current or possible defense policies. He has hinted at a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, supported use of nuclear weapons, called NATO…
Following the money of Trump's Treasury hopefuls
November 14, 2016 | Update Nov. 30: President-elect Donald Trump selected Steven Mnunchin as his Treasury Secretary. Read on for more information or see summary data on his contributions here. New administration, new Cabinet members. President-elect Donald Trump has already begun picking out his crew, but so far, his two concrete choices did not donate a penny to Trump's election…
Mine, all mine: Single candidate super PACs, creeping down-ballot
November 10, 2016 | It used to be a must-have accessory for any presidential campaign. Now, the deep-pocketed super PAC that is dedicated to supporting you, and only you, is more an integral part of a candidate's campaign machinery. Republican Mitt Romney's Restore our Future poured $142 million into trying to defeat President Obama in 2012, while Priorities USA…
Parties pull out the stops with "outside" spending
November 10, 2016 | While super PACs and other outside groups went on a jaw-dropping spending spree this year, traditional party organizations played key roles in boosting their candidates, often taking the lead in making independent expenditures in the cycle's barnburner races. Together, the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee raised a combined $1.7 billion through Oct. 19,…
In first post-McCutcheon presidential election, more big donors, giving more
November 10, 2016 | No individual has given to every single congressional and presidential candidate yet, or even every Democratic or Republican candidate. But 2016 marks the first presidential election since the Supreme Court's decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission removed caps on a donor's total campaign giving, and — as expected — a group of wealthy individuals…
PACs pop up just in time to avoid reporting donors
November 7, 2016 | For those trying to secretly influence the election as the clock winds down, Oct. 20 was an important milestone. If a super PAC waited until then to register, it doesn't need to file any information about its donors with the FEC until 30 days after the election. Pretty smooth, eh? "The problem with these last-minute…
Black Republicans are struggling to save their seats in House races
November 4, 2016 | GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump doesn't have the best track record with African American communities. He's made plenty of gaffes, calling a black man a "thug" and shouting "Get him out!" when he thought the man was disrupting a rally. He broke with tradition and declined to speak at the NAACP's annual convention. He implied in…
Outside groups spending furiously in Nevada 3rd
November 3, 2016 | Nevada is on fire, but it's not the desert heat. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's upcoming retirement has led to an inferno of outside spending — about $80 milliion so far — in the contest for the open seat. And the fire has spread to other races as well, driving Nevada's 3rd Congressional District to…
Fundraising histories and lots of experience in speculative Clinton Cabinet
October 28, 2016 | Washington thrives on speculation and now, after months of guessing at things like primary contenders and vice presidential picks, it's time to draft potential cabinets. With no shortage of well-educated guesses on who might lead the various executive departments, certain names crop up more often than others, often officials and bureaucrats with substantial political and policy…
In two of the hottest Senate races, outside money edge goes to challengers
October 27, 2016 | It's an open secret in the political world that most congressional contests are not contests at all; incumbents tend to raise more money than challengers, and better-funded campaigns almost always win. In some of the most expensive Senate races this cycle, however, challengers are attracting more money from outside spending groups than incumbents, and it may…
Lobbyists, campaign cash help drug industry stymie bid to restrain Medicare prescription costs
October 19, 2016 | When the Republican-controlled Congress approved a landmark program in 2003 to help seniors buy prescription drugs, it slapped on an unusual restriction: The federal government was barred from negotiating cheaper prices for those medicines. Instead, the job of holding down costs was outsourced to the insurance companies delivering the subsidized new coverage, known as Medicare…
Liberal big money is pouring into elections
October 13, 2016 | If you think campaign finance is just a right-wing billionaires' spending spree, take another look. Liberal money has been pouring into federal elections in recent years. In 2012, when post-Citizen United money started flowing in earnest, wealthy Republicans took the leading roles. The number of individuals making contributions of $1 million or more grew from 16 in 2010…
Outside groups — mostly party establishment — playing big in GOP's vulnerable districts
October 13, 2016 | With scorching news about Donald Trump dominating the media, along with his equally blistering pushback, GOP members of Congress have had to make some tough decisions about where to position themselves vis-a-vis the top of the ticket. And situation's trickle-down volatility has done them no favors, helping to ensure that the latest Roll Call list…
Trump's tax losses, and the political power of real estate
October 7, 2016 | The possibility that Donald Trump avoided paying income tax for nearly two decades has stirred debate about how, exactly, he managed to report almost $1 billion in net operating losses on his 1995 tax return. It has also triggered buzz about the copious benefits available to the real estate industry in our tax code. The exact…
Pence, Kaine share long histories in the fundraising trenches
October 4, 2016 | Though divided ideologically, Indiana's Republican Gov. Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia have traced similar paths through state and federal politics on their way to being nominated for vice president. Both have served in Congress and as governors, and now hope to assume the government's second-from-the-top job. Though they may not discuss it…
Team Blue routing Team Red in presidential fundraising, unlike 2012
September 22, 2016 | Many polls suggest the presidential race has gotten closer in recent weeks, but the financial status of the two campaigns and their allies is far less competitive. Since Citizens United and other court decisions beginning in 2010 changed the landscape of federal campaign finance, it makes sense to look at presidential financing as a three-legged stool.…
FEC stalemates on how to deal with foreign-owned companies spending in elections
September 15, 2016 | Federal law states that foreign nationals cannot donate or spend money in U.S. elections. Period. But how should the law treat companies with foreign ties, such as U.S. subsidiaries wholly owned by foreign companies? Basically, companies owned by foreign firms can spend in U.S. elections as long as the funds are generated in the U.S.…
Funds gush in deep blue Land of Lincoln as Kirk struggles to hold seat
September 14, 2016 | One-term Sen. Mark Kirk's success or failure in his heated struggle to retain his seat will help determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate come January. No surprise, then, that the race's fundraising totals have soared. The most recent fundraising reports show that Kirk, a Republican, and his opponent, Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth, each had raised more than $10…
Ad data (beta): CRP unveils new tool for tracking FCC ad data
September 8, 2016 | Today, CRP is unveiling a new tool that allows users to track political ad buys daily, as they are reported to the Federal Communications Commission. CRP's new project is the latest of several worthy efforts that have sought to unlock this information — crucial as it is to understanding how candidates, super PACs and dark…
Seat on Energy & Commerce panel helped determine donations to Whitfield
September 1, 2016 | It's official: Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) is resigning next Tuesday, Sept. 6, after being chastised by the House Ethics Committee. The panel didn't recommend punishment for Whitfield when it concluded its probe into whether he granted special access to his wife, a lobbyist with the Humane Society Legislative Fund. But its July report said the 11-term…
Trump pulls in historic low in cash from Congress
August 11, 2016 | As Donald Trump emerged as the GOP's presidential nominee, a growing number of federal lawmakers came out in support of their party's candidate. Words are one thing. We wanted to know how many put their money where their mouths are by sending him contributions from their campaign committees and leadership PACs. Turns out, the Republican nominee received a…
For Roy Blunt, one staff salary makes up most of PAC spending
July 22, 2016 | Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt was nowhere to be found at his party's nominating convention in Cleveland this week, despite being vice chair of the Senate Republican conference. That has nothing to do with his feelings about the guy at the top of the ticket, he's said; he's in the middle of a tight re-election race…
They talk the talk, but don't write the checks: No Trump donors on Republican stage yet
July 19, 2016 | Republicans are denouncing Ohio Gov. John Kasich for ditching his own party's convention held in the state he governs. Of course, he's not the only nationally known GOP leader to skip the proceedings. It gets worse, though: None of Monday's or today's prime-time speakers at the Cleveland confab have donated more than $200 to Donald Trump's campaign or the super…
Our Perry story misfired. Here's why.
July 15, 2016 | Yesterday morning, we published a story saying that Jeffrey Miller, campaign manager of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's 2016 presidential campaign and the director of his leadership PAC, received nearly half the money spent by those organizations. Yesterday afternoon, we pulled the story. Miller contacted us about 27 hours after we first tried to reach…
GOP Veepstakes: The money behind the contenders
July 13, 2016 | The anticipation is killing us: What name will appear along with Donald Trump's on the Republican ticket? The presumptive nominee could announce his VP pick any day now, just in time for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next week. The Donald is reported to be appearing at a public event with his chosen running mate on Friday, according…
Pennsylvania Senate race draws highest outside money from the left
July 8, 2016 | Outside spending groups have poured more than $20.4 million so far into Pennsylvania's Senate race between Republican incumbent Pat Toomey and Democrat Katie McGinty, putting it close behind Ohio's Senate race, at $21.8 million, for the most outside spending in a congressional contest. But while Ohio's race is dominated by conservative groups backed by the Koch brothers, such as the political…
The Kochs versus their machine
July 6, 2016 | To anyone who follows politics, the Koch brothers are best known for spearheading a sprawling network of groups that invest millions in conservative, libertarian-leaning candidates and causes. It's assumed that Charles and David Koch and their wives have put a great deal of money into these organizations — but it's hard to know for sure,…
Ten nonprofits called out for breaking political spending cap
June 16, 2016 | Even with a tax status that says "social welfare group," a nonprofit organization's spending record can still reveal plenty of political activity. Sometimes too much. Ten politically active nonprofits are the subject of new civil complaints filed with the IRS by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning watchdog group based in D.C. The group elected Hillary…
A hedge fund house divided: Renaissance Technologies
June 7, 2016 | Renaissance Technologies, the hedge fund firm and one of the largest political contributors in American politics today, is a world made in the image of its leadership. The firm rejects many of Wall Street's routine practices. Rather than staffing up with whiz kids in finance, for instance, Renaissance looks for analysts with backgrounds in science and…
New tax forms show strong ties between pro-Rubio group and campaign
May 24, 2016 | With the 2016 election cycle bringing previously unmatched amounts of "dark money" spending by politically active nonprofits, one group stands out for blazing its own trail: Conservative Solutions Project, the 501(c)(4) social welfare organization supporting Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) aborted presidential campaign. In an election cycle that saw an influx of single-candidate dark money groups, most…
Are super PACs becoming captive to hedge funders? Six give nearly $10 million to presidential groups in March alone
April 21, 2016 | Hedge fund managers know something about when to hold and when to fold. Last month, they did more of the former when it came to political giving, holding steady with their pattern of making uber-contributions to presidential super PACs — even after the favored candidate of some of them dropped out of the race. Wall Street…
Forget the presidential — top-spending House races stir (and revive) rivalries
April 21, 2016 | To find some of the best story lines this side of the presidential contest, look no further than the tubs of money sloshing around in congressional races. The cash being spent in the Beltway-straddling Maryland 8th District is in another stratosphere. David Trone, the founder of a major alcoholic beverage retailer and a Donald Trump-style…
$300 million and counting: Rubio, Trump help drive $100 million in outside spending in last six weeks
March 31, 2016 | It's been a month and a half since we last checked in on outside spending for the 2016 election. In that time, it's grown by 50 percent — nearly $100 million dollars. By this time in 2012, outside spending was a third of what it is today, or $103,016,139. Since Feb. 12, the date of…
Norman Braman and a bunch of LLCs try to win a Senate seat
March 29, 2016 | This piece was cross-posted with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. Florida billionaire Norman Braman's preferred presidential candidate is out of the running. Good thing there are Senate races, too. Braman could still get another favorite, Florida Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, nominated as the Republican candidate to fill the Senate seat left open by former presidential hopeful…
Big money — if not the GOP establishment — has been with Ted Cruz from the start
March 25, 2016 | This piece was cross-posted with Moyers & Company. Sen. Ted Cruz, effectively anointed by Jeb Bush this week as the Republican party's last best hope to stop Donald Trump from becoming its presidential nominee, was emphatically not the standard bearer the GOP establishment had in mind at the beginning of this campaign. The brash Texas senator's…
The battle for superdelegates — this time, it's not about the money
March 10, 2016 | Troy Jackson introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders to a crowd of over 8,000 people in Portland, Maine last July. It was the "summer of Sanders." As the candidate took the stage, he said solemnly to the exuberant crowd, "In case you didn't notice, this is a big turnout." "It was pretty clear where I stood then," Jackson told OpenSecrets Blog months…
Presidential hopefuls stretch the truth talking about campaign finance
March 1, 2016 | The financing of candidates' campaigns has become a central theme of the primaries, although — aside from Trump's truth-adjacent claims that he is self-financing his bid — Republicans mention the topic significantly less often than do Democrats. We offer this analysis of the veracity of statements by various candidates aiming for the White House. Sen.…
Ahead of Super Tuesday, outside spending — some of it dark — props up incumbents
February 29, 2016 | Super PACs and dark money groups have spent more than $1.9 million to boost the campaigns of congressional incumbents with primaries tomorrow — Super Tuesday, for folks just in from another planet. And even as voters prepare to go to the polls, the donors of some of that money remain undisclosed. Races in the Heart of Dixie and…
How the parties worked the law and got their mojo back
February 19, 2016 | Are the parties being starved to death? Loyalists on both sides of the aisle have said so, citing a series of legislative moves and court decisions in recent years that took away the parties' ability to raise unlimited "soft money" and allowed other groups to do so instead. The shrinking presence of the parties, which…
Possible Supreme Court picks gave only to Democrats, or not at all
February 17, 2016 | President Obama may pick his nominee to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat as early as next week. If the inside-the-Beltway speculation is any good, chances are he'll pick a Democratic donor. OpenSecrets Blog reviewed contributions by nine potential picks listed in reports by Politico and the Associated Press and found that, of those who have made contributions…
How Crossroads GPS beat the IRS and became a social welfare group
February 12, 2016 | When a group called Crossroads GPS sent the IRS an application for tax-exempt status in September 2010, Nancy Pelosi was speaker of the House, Snapchat hadn't started doing whatever it does, and Miley Cyrus was still Hannah Montana. A lot has changed since then, including the political influence of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations like GPS, a…
Coal money takes the long road to Alabama Senate race
February 10, 2016 | Before a $100,000 contribution from Murray Energy Corporation found its way into the Alabama Senate race last month, it took a detour to California. Outside money is streaming into Alabama to support Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in the Republican primary despite Shelby's considerable cash reserves. The main repository for those funds — Citizen Super PAC — has collected…
Republican megadonors line up behind Speaker Ryan
January 27, 2016 | Major Republican donors — some of whom saw their chosen presidential candidates crash and burn in the last six months — dropped serious money into House Speaker Paul D. Ryan's joint fundraising committee (JFC) in November and December, campaign finance records show. Marquee 2016 donors like Diane Hendricks and Marlene Ricketts, who both gave millions to the…
A "big ideas" State of the Union speech — but which ideas?
January 11, 2016 | He can't pass a substantive bill in an election year with a Republican Congress, the thinking goes. So President Obama wants to talk above politics in his final State of the Union address Tuesday night. Obama introduced the "big things" theme for his speech last week: "That's what I want to focus on in this…
OpenSecrets Blog's best in 2015: explanatory and accountability journalism
December 23, 2015 | Lists are easy, as any writer left behind on a skeletal holiday staff will tell you. The "Best of [year]" list in particular isn't art, it's #content — but done with care, it can be a revealing reminder of the highlights of the previous year. To that end, here's OpenSecrets Blog's list of our best…
Tiberi has the fundraising edge, Brady the seniority in contest for Ways and Means chair
October 23, 2015 | Rep. Paul Ryan's candidacy for speaker opens up another race, to become chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The two front runners for the position are GOP Reps. Pat Tiberi of Ohio and Kevin Brady of Texas. Both are veteran members of Congress, with Brady having won his first House election in…
Women charged in UN bribery case were donors to Rep. Calvert
October 7, 2015 | Two women arrested Tuesday morning and charged in federal court with laundering money from Chinese businessmen each tried to give a California GOP lawmaker the maximum contributions allowed by law last year, Federal Election Commission records show. Jason Gagnon, communications director for Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), whose campaign and leadership PAC received the checks, said…
McCarthy dominates Chaffetz and Webster in fundraising, party giving
October 6, 2015 | House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) may not be the least giving House speaker candidate, but favorite Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) still dwarfs him in fundraising by $22 million. On Thursday, Republicans will choose among Chaffetz, McCarthy and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) to replace Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) as leader of the…
Candidates for House leadership posts nowhere near as giving as Boehner
September 29, 2015 | No one in the House leadership race right now can touch soon-to-be-former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) when it comes to career fundraising prowess, but speaker candidate and current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has also been magnanimous when it comes to giving back to the team. Over his career, Boehner gave a generous 42 percent of his…
Boehner raised nearly $100 million over career, gave much of it to party and candidates
September 25, 2015 | Whatever else is said about him, you can't say he didn't share. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) raised $97 million for his House campaigns and leadership PAC from the time he received his first donations in 1989, Center for Responsive Politics data shows — far more than any other sitting House member. Only Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lamar…
Hybrid PACs collectively beat fundraising records of past election cycles
August 17, 2015 | The 2012 election cycle saw the birth of little-known hybrid PACs, also known as Carey committees, which can maintain two separate accounts; one for contributions to federal candidates and parties, and the other for independent expenditures, to which unlimited contributions can be made. The committees, which emerged as a result of the case Carey v. FEC, collectively raised…
When it comes to contributions, Trump doesn't play in the big leagues
August 7, 2015 | Donald Trump was pretty much the only Republican presidential candidate at last night's prime time Fox News debate to find fault with the current campaign finance system. It's hard to know what he thinks the solution is, but something, according to Trump, is "broken." I will tell you that our system is broken…I give to…
Dad Trumps kids in political giving, but they're a chip off the old block
July 10, 2015 | Throughout Donald Trump's young, and never dull, presidential campaign, his past donations to federal candidates — including many Democrats — have been frequently noted. "The Donald," however, is not the only member of the Trump clan to actively participate in donating to federal candidates, parties and other federal fundraising committees; his adult children have done…
At the National Constitution Center, all money is created equal
July 2, 2015 | Independence Day is just around the corner, and families across America will be in search of fun (and maybe even educational) activities to participate in over the weekend. For anyone in Philadelphia — where both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were approved and signed, a good place to start would be the National…
Lobbyists for foreign interests paid close attention to several White House contenders
June 26, 2015 | The U.S. senators running for president who made the most of their connections on K Street for campaign fundraising have also received a number of contacts, and campaign funds, from influencers working for foreign governments, an OpenSecrets Blog analysis of foreign lobbying data shows. Records show that over six years, several of the 2016 presidential candidates and their leadership PACs…
Three of five senators running for WH have big backing from lobbyists
June 19, 2015 | Three of the five U.S. senators running for president have made super-fans out of a few K Street lobbyists, an analysis of campaign finance data by OpenSecrets Blog shows. Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have each raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from current or one-time federal lobbyists…
Rove's 'new' group isn't new, and that could be the point
May 26, 2015 | Karl Rove and his colleagues at the dark money behemoth Crossroads GPS have a "new" 501(c)(4), and according to reports, they're going to use it in much the same way they have used GPS itself — as a conduit for anonymous, political money in the 2016 elections. But the group, One Nation, isn't "new," and…
"Campaign donor" is not a job — but occupation can predict party preference
May 19, 2015 | In the world of money in politics, many interest groups behave predictably. Election after election, contributions from oil and gas companies, for instance, flow overwhelmingly to Republicans, while those who work in education favor Democrats. What about when contributions break down differently within industries? The CFO and the janitor, for instance, may have opposing political views,…
Jewish Conservatives Form Infrastructure of Graham's Potential 2016 Donor Base
May 18, 2015 | Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) confirmed Monday on CBS's This Morning that he will be running for president in 2016 in part because he thinks "the world is falling apart." Graham, who is expected to officially launch his campaign on June 1, can take comfort in knowing that there are some major donors who may be…
Major Financial Players Lobby Around Obama's Investment Rules
May 1, 2015 | In the months since President Obama announced his support for new retirement investment rules that would stop advisers from pushing high-fee plans on small-fry American investors, several major financial organizations have lobbied hard on a bill that would undermine the commander in chief's agenda, according to recently released lobbying records for the first quarter of the year. The…
The Political One Percent of the One Percent in 2014: Mega Donors Fuel Rising Cost of Elections
April 30, 2015 | In the 2014 elections, 31,976 donors — equal to roughly one percent of one percent of the total population of the United States — accounted for an astounding $1.18 billion in disclosed political contributions at the federal level. Those big givers — what we have termed the Political One Percent of the One Percent —…
Rubio's Money Operation Reels In Serious Donors
April 23, 2015 | The nascent presidential campaign of Sen. Marco Rubio has its hurdles — not the least of which is trying to emerge from the shadow of a more senior fellow Floridian and White House hopeful. But the latest Federal Election Commission filings show that some big donors seem to want him in the game. Last week, the…
For Earth Day, Industry-Backed Republicans Look to Delay Power Plant Rules While Obama Talks Them Up
April 22, 2015 | Happy Earth Day! President Obama celebrated with a trip to the Florida Everglades to highlight the perils of climate change and talk up his proposed power plant emission rules. Back in Washington, House Republicans observed the occasion with a subcommittee vote on a measure that would delay those rules. The sponsors of the bill, as it turns…
Schock Still Spending Big — On Lawyers
April 15, 2015 | The campaign committee of former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), who resigned last month after allegations of improper spending by his congressional office, secretive investment deals with donors and fraudulent mileage reimbursement claims, filed its first quarter FEC report today, and it's a portrait of a shining career stopped short. Stopped short by a gigantic legal…
Will Clinton Win Back Wall Street for Democrats?
April 14, 2015 | Wall Street has been remarkably bipartisan for much of the last 25 years, but a swerve to the right a few years ago cut its flow of campaign cash for Democrats practically to a trickle. That may change as Hillary Clinton's official announcement of a presidential bid returns to the spotlight a Democratic candidate whom Wall…
Last Known Coordinates: Shared Vendors May Offer Clues to Planning Between Campaigns, Super PACs
April 1, 2015 | Super PACs are now the de rigeur accessories for every candidate's campaign, and not just presidential ones. In fact, in the 2014 midterms, 102 single-candidate super PACs spent $52.5 million trying to get candidates elected. The key for campaigns and their matching super PACs, though, is that they can't match too much — though identifying…
Reid Linchpin of Democratic Big Dollar Fundraising
March 27, 2015 | Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's announcement he won't run for reelection in 2016 lights up unexpected races for his leadership post and his Nevada seat, but its biggest impact might be the loss of one of the Democratic party's most industrious and creative fundraisers. And in the post-Citizens United era, Reid has been a linchpin of…
Netanyahu Taps Paul's (and Cruz's) Digital Gurus
March 24, 2015 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's almost-a-surprise victory last week seems at least partly due to how he played the digital game, with an aggressive online outreach effort, active social media accounts and short but attention-grabbing videos. That digital strategy was mostly engineered by an American consulting firm, Harris Media, which was recently hired by Sen. Rand…
Cruz Jumps in the Pool — Will Dollars Follow?
March 23, 2015 | In announcing his official bid for the GOP's 2016 presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) declared that he will need the "the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America." He'll certainly need the power of the millions of dollars — at least $40 million — he believes he…
Stephen Colbert — Two-Time Recipient of "OpenSecrets Bump" — Calls IRS' Bluff
March 19, 2015 | PROGRAMMING NOTE: This is a premium report for our OpenSecrets Platinum members only, so if you are not reading this on a $10,000 AppleWatch that you got as a party favor at your niece's Sweet 16 yacht-christening and/or dressage quadrille performance, you're in the wrong place. Now that it's just us, let's start with a disclosure: OpenSecrets…
Not Such a Schock? Big-Spending, Mileage-Accumulating Illinois Lawmaker Steps Down
March 17, 2015 | Rep. Aaron Schock's resignation today may slow the cascade of revelations in recent weeks about his elaborate Masterpiece Theater-inspired office decorations, his flights on private jets and stays in luxury hotels on the taxpayer's dime. Deeper troubles may lay ahead, though, for the Republican from Peoria as details of his involvement in real estate deals…
Registered Lobbyists Gave $1.1 Million in Contributions Post Election
March 12, 2015 | While campaign workers (and increasingly television viewers) breathe a sigh of relief the morning after an election, for lobbyists it's time to get back to work to bolster relationships with incumbents or begin them with new members. That's often done in the form of contributions (surprise!). According to an OpenSecrets.org analysis, 948 lobbyists wrote more…
Friends Helping Friends: Melgen's Contributions Came Early and Often for Menendez
March 9, 2015 | The Justice Department reportedly is on the brink of filing criminal corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) for allegedly pushing the interests of a Florida ophthalmologist in exchange for gifts and contributions. Menendez says he's done nothing wrong, and that Salomon Melgen's generosity over the years was spurred because the two are friends. Friends…
West Coast, East Coast: Silicon Valley Blurs the Distinction With Washington Presence
March 6, 2015 | Silicon Valley has staked its claim in Washington. From Capitol Hill to the White House, tech money is everywhere — and 2016 looks like it will be the industry's biggest year yet. Tech may not be pushing as much cash into politics as Wall Street, but its influence is on an upward climb. Its lobbying has…
Gone, But Not Forgotten: Ex-Members Keep on Giving
February 25, 2015 | Even when they don't head straight to K Street, it's safe to say that former members of Congress don't forget their colleagues — nor are they consigned by them to history. For one thing, many ex-lawmakers find themselves involuntarily retired with money left in their campaign accounts and leadership PACs — money that can be used…
DCCC Leads NRCC on Strength of Member Dues
February 24, 2015 | House Democrats are still in the minority — even more so after November — but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee burst out of the gate in the 2016 cycle led by strong early donations from its own caucus. The National Republican Congressional Committee lagged in fundraising, relatively speaking — particularly from GOP House members.. Both House…
Internet Taxation Bill Brings Lots of Love from Telecoms
February 13, 2015 | Congress is once again considering whether (and how) to tax the ability of Americans to make late-night Amazon purchases in their underwear, and the companies most interested in the outcome have been generous to the lawmakers leading the charge. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week reintroduced the Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act. The bill,…
Schock Campaign's Travel, Catering Bills Rival Those of Party Leaders
February 13, 2015 | Rep. Aaron Schock has had a bad few weeks. He's been mocked for redecorating his congressional office in the style of Downton Abbey, accused of selling his house to a campaign donor for an inflated price and savaged for his extravagant spending of taxpayer and campaign donors' money; that doesn't even include losing a key…
Energy Industry Cash Fuels Senate Environment Committee
February 10, 2015 | Years of cultivating relationships with Republican lawmakers and supporting their campaign committees financially may begin to pay off tomorrow, as the GOP now controls the Senate — and thus, the Environment and Public Works Committee. That means some of the industry's closest friends will lead the questioning of EPA officials at an oversight hearing tomorrow to discuss…
Beer and Taxes Make for Bitter Brew
February 10, 2015 | Craft beer is everywhere, and while that may seem like a good thing for beer lovers, the giants of the industry aren't thrilled. This isn't just a bar fight, either — it's a tension that often plays out on Capitol Hill. With a new Congress, the debate over Sierra Nevada v. Bud is fermenting anew —…
Rubio Reports More Top Tier Donors in Latest Filings
February 5, 2015 | In the ongoing scrum that is the GOP presidential money primary, every wealthy donor locked up adds both to a potential candidate's perceived viability and his credibility with more donors. FEC filings from late last month have already yielded positive signals for several of the senators who may be angling for the nomination, but the…
Paul and Rubio Make Headway With Big Donors
February 2, 2015 | Mitt Romney's will-he-won't-he drama and the big fundraising ambitions of Jeb Bush and Chris Christie have dominated the presidential money-in-politics story lines lately, but the three GOP senators seen as most likely contenders for the 2016 Republican nomination have one advantage — long-established leadership PACs they've used to crisscross the country and drum up support. And numbers…
Keystone Opponents Favored by Environmental Groups, But the Checks Were Smaller
January 30, 2015 | Yesterday's Senate vote on the KeystoneXL pipeline showed some sharp breaks along party lines, as no Republicans voted against the bill — but also along lines of financial support from special interest groups. Last night, we noted that senators who voted for the pipeline project to go forward have received, on average, seven times more…
Keystone Senate Yea Votes: Seven Times More Oil & Gas Money
January 29, 2015 | Senators who voted to push through development of the Keystone XL pipeline today have received, on average, $570,034 in contributions to their campaigns and leadership PACs from the oil and gas industry over the course of their careers. The 35 senators who voted against bill have received, on average, just $78,641 from the industry. The Obama…
In the Garden of Dark Money, the Thorny Case of Rosebush Corp.
January 22, 2015 | Ever since news broke in 2013 that the IRS had targeted the exemption applications of tea party and some other politically-oriented groups for extra scrutiny, conventional wisdom had it that the agency throws up roadblocks for organizations trying to obtain its seal of approval. But much evidence indicates the IRS backs down without much fuss…
Wall Street's Investments in Deregulation
January 14, 2015 | Wall Street did its part to make 2014 the most expensive midterm election ever, outpacing its 2010 total and once again putting the bulk of its financial muscle behind GOP candidates and groups. Donors from the securities and investment industry, otherwise known as Wall Street, contributed a total of $184 million to candidates, parties and outside…
Huckabee Won't Be Starting From Scratch
January 8, 2015 | Mike Huckabee may be the folksiest of the Republicans known to be contemplating a 2016 White House bid, but he's not naive. Earlier this week, the former Arkansas governor and 2008 winner of the Iowa caucuses told the Washington Times that he'd like to raise $25 million in the next few weeks as a gauge of…
Historic Defections in Boehner Vote; Money Couldn't Buy Him Everybody's Love
January 6, 2015 | Speaker John Boehner of Ohio secured a third term as the top Republican in the House, and number three in the line of succession for the presidency. But party dissidents made a scene, with 25 not voting for him on the first ballot. Each vote was arguably a slap in the face; it's rare in recent…
Grimm's $2 Million Throwaway: Contributions Came In Despite Indictment
January 2, 2015 | Less than two months after spending $2 million to be re-elected to the House of Representatives, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) announced he would resign his Staten Island seat. In April 2014, Grimm was indicted on 20 counts alleging various frauds; he pleaded guilty to a single felony charge on Dec. 23. Grimm first came under scrutiny when…
Highlights of 2014: Twelve Stories of Money and Politics
December 23, 2014 | It was the best of years or it was the worst of years, depending on your perspective. The Supreme Court's McCutcheon decision and Congress' green light allowing national party committees to set up additional accounts — and accept a lot more money — were the big legal developments of the year in terms of political…
Jeb Bush's Rivals Already Running
December 17, 2014 | Former Florida Governor and ex-First Brother Jeb Bush announced his plans to start a fundraising committee next month, and immediately some big names in GOP money — such as Florida developer Mel Sembler — got behind him. Bush has recently proven his ability to raise big bucks, but some of Bush's likely competitors for the…
Club for Growth Names New President After Lackluster Returns in '14
December 16, 2014 | Following mixed results in the 2014 midterms, Club for Growth last week announced a change of leadership. As of Jan. 1, former Indiana Rep. David McIntosh (R) will replace current Club president Chris Chocola, whose tenure saw the group go through ups and downs. Club chairman Jackson T. Stephens Jr. praised the outgoing president in…
Wall Street's Omnibus Triumph, and Others
December 12, 2014 | In the wake of the passage of the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill last night, it's no easy thing sorting out the winners and the losers. The wide variety of riders and add-ons means a slew of interest groups can claim victory, even if it's hard to pin down exactly who should claim credit for stuffing the…
More Cash in More Party Pots? Senate Language Could Help Parties — and the Very Rich
December 10, 2014 | The epitaph for the national political parties may have been written too soon. Yes, the 2002 McCain-Feingold law took away their unlimited soft money donations. And true, Citizens United and other court decisions left them feeling like 98-pound-weaklings as mighty super PACs and other outside groups sprung up around them and dominated the airwaves. But…
Cash on the Table
December 5, 2014 | The 2014 election might have been the most expensive midterm ever, and it might have seen some of the most extravagant spending on wall-to-wall advertising ever — but when Election Day had come and gone, there was a surprising amount of money still sitting on the table. The Service Employees International Union PAC reported yesterday…
Battle in the Bayou: Gusher of Oil Money for Landrieu, Though Cassidy Leads in Recent Fundraising
December 3, 2014 | This article was cross-posted at TIME.com. The defeat of the Keystone XL pipeline bill in the Senate last month may have been viewed as a blow to Sen. Mary Landrieu's re-election bid, but her battle to get the bill passed was warmly received by members of the oil and gas industry, including Keystone's parent company.…
Breaking Party Ranks on EPA Science Vote
November 24, 2014 | The Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to base its major decisions on science — good science. But what is good science and how do you decide it? Since 1978, the EPA has had a science advisory board tasked with helping answer those questions. But, because this is Washington, nothing is ever that simple. Last week,…
Taking Care of Their Own? Not All New Party Committee Chiefs Were Big Givers
November 18, 2014 | With Monday's announcement that Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) will lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, all four House and Senate party committee chairmanships are now filled heading into the 2016 election cycle. While a mix of skills lead to success in these slots, contributions from leadership PACs are often thought to enhance candidates' chances…
As FEC Window Opened, Subjects of Dark Money "Issue Ads" Became Targets for Defeat
November 3, 2014 | It's official. Today, spending by "dark money" organizations on congressional elections surpassed that of all previous cycles. At $169.2 million so far, money spent by these groups that don't disclose their donors handily outpaces 2010's previous record for a midterm election, where dark money spending topped out at $135 million. It even, albeit barely, tops the $168.6 million spent…
Greg Orman, Independent and Wealthy
November 1, 2014 | Greg Orman's detractors in the Kansas Senate race have sought to question his status as an Independent and depict him as a covert liberal. But one thing is certain: he's independently wealthy. The entrepreneur trying to unseat Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) poured $1 million into his own campaign in October, bringing his self-funding total to…
Cash for Challengers: Some Turn the Tables, Outraising Incumbents
November 1, 2014 | The incumbent advantage in fundraising is undisputed — so when a challenger brings in the larger haul, that often raises red flags for the sitting lawmaker's re-election prospects. This cycle, only 10 federal races feature an outraised incumbent. Chalk those up to a variety of scenarios: a scandal-ridden candidate; a wealthy self-funding challenger; shifting political…
Straw Into Gold: Candidates Trading Leadership PAC Dollars for Campaign Cash
October 31, 2014 | This story is cross-posted at TIME.com With just a few days remaining in the first quarter of 2014, Mary Landrieu did something generous: The embattled Democratic senator from Louisiana, herself in the midst of an exceedingly tough re-election race, used her leadership PAC to give $5,000 to the campaign of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who…
Overall Spending Inches Up in 2014: Megadonors Equip Outside Groups to Capture a Bigger Share of the Pie
October 29, 2014 | This Center for Responsive Politics report is part of #Money14, a series of independent reports exposing the role of money in American politics. Join us for an event around the fifth anniversary of Citizens United to hear more about the participating organizations' innovative research and work together for a more inclusive, transparent, and participatory democracy.…
"Grassroots" Groups Flooded with Big Donor Cash in Third Quarter
October 17, 2014 | Big-dollar donations to outside spending groups in the third quarter appeared to be falling like manna from heaven. Take, for instance, the largess of Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans. He doled out at least $3.5 million to seven different super PACs in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, pumping up their reserves weeks…
Dave Brat's New Buddies
October 17, 2014 | It appears Dave Brat has given up running on a shoestring for a new pair of Air Jordans. The Republican nominee for Virginia's 7th District congressional seat became a political celebrity overnight by defeating House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a June 10th primary — despite a multimillion dollar fundraising disadvantage. The tea party-supported Brat…
Congressional Leadership Fund Collects Corporate Cash
October 16, 2014 | Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Chevron Corp. made a $2 million donation to CLF. It has been corrected to reflect the actual amount of the donation, $1 million. Chevron Corp. donated $1 million to a conservative super PAC with ties to Karl Rove's dark money network in early July, a rare instance of…
SarahPAC, Like Palin Herself, Light on Donations to Fellow Republicans
October 16, 2014 | The involvement of immediate family members in a drunken brawl does little to boost one's political prospects. On a different level, the same might be said of a stingy leadership PAC. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's SarahPAC continued to perform underwhelmingly as a source of funds for other candidates in 2014's third quarter, a…
Jeb Bush Raises Close to $1 Million for GOP Senate Hopefuls
October 14, 2014 | If Jeb Bush does decide to run for the GOP nomination in 2016, he may have five good friends in the Senate to rely on for support. Last month, Bush hosted a fundraising event in Tampa for the benefit of five GOP Senate challengers hoping to unseat Democrats in some of the most closely contested…
In Kansas, the Right Unites in Attacking Independent Candidate
October 14, 2014 | Different factions of the Republican Party are uniting in Kansas against a common enemy: the independent who is threatening Sen. Pat Roberts's re-election bid. The GOP has swooped in to support the three-term Republican incumbent against self-proclaimed centrist Greg Orman. National party operatives like Chris LaCivita have taken the reigns of Roberts's campaign, according to Bloomberg.…
Super PAC(ked) With Out-of-State Money
October 3, 2014 | They may be called super PACs, but they can't be everywhere at once. It's become fashionable for these committees, which can spend unlimited amounts on ads backing or attacking candidates anywhere in the country, to tout their allegiance to a state. But as often as not, an OpenSecrets Blog analysis found, they run mainly on out-of-state money. We tallied up…
A Well-Oiled Pipeline Brings Party Cash to Nebraska House Race
September 25, 2014 | In the Second District of Nebraska, a state that would be crossed by the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, an influx of cash from the national parties is adding fuel to the fire of a competitive House race. Eight-term incumbent Rep. Lee Terry (R) is facing one of the biggest challenges of his career in State Sen. Brad Ashford.…
Dems Getting Stingier With Campaign Cash to Colleagues
September 17, 2014 | In the run-up to the 2012 elections, Republican candidates spent more on political contributions than their Democratic counterparts for the first time in a decade, transferring $54 million from candidate committees to parties or other candidates. On the Democratic side, similar transfers peaked at $76.3 million in the 2008 cycle, after growing steadily since 2002. Though…
Candidates in Little New Hampshire Get Big Out-of-State Money
September 10, 2014 | His victory last night in New Hampshire's GOP primary means Scott Brown will continue to catch flak for moving from Massachusetts to try to take Democrat Jeanne Shaheen's Senate seat. Shaheen has been working hard to tag Brown with the carpetbagger label. But the reality is that almost all of the fuel for this fight…
John Tierney Keeping it Close — Again — in Mass.
September 8, 2014 | Rep. John Tierney of Massachusetts once again is expected to face a struggle on Nov. 4 in his bid to return to the Capitol — that is, if he even makes it to that ballot. First, he has to wrangle the Democratic nomination from a tough challenger in Tuesday's primary: former Marine Seth Moulton. In some ways, this…
Democratic Lawmakers Lead the Way in Personal Contributions
September 5, 2014 | Of the many methods that members of Congress can use to help out their colleagues, their party or some other political cause, digging into their own pockets may not seem the most appealing — not when they can establish joint fundraising committees, contribute from their campaign committees, or create leadership PACs to share the wealth.…
Chamber diversifies its portfolio in endorsing Peters
September 3, 2014 | In a move that might indicate a shift in political strategy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Democratic incumbent Rep. Scott Peters on Wednesday, backing him over his Republican challenger Carl DeMaio in a tight race for California's 52nd Congressional District. Previously, the business group has stuck almost entirely with Republicans. Peters is one of four Democrats who have received the…
Cracking the Contribution Cap: One in a Million Americans
September 2, 2014 | Americans who have taken advantage of the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year to toss aside overall political contribution limits are one in a million. Actually, they're slightly fewer than one in a million. Of the 318 million people in the U.S., a whopping 310 donors have given more than the total $123,200 they were allowed to…
Politiquizz: Hot, Hot, Hot
August 22, 2014 | (Photo: Dog's Empire) Members of Congress will have a lot on their plate when they return from summer recess early next month ― but for some, one of their biggest concerns may be holding on to their jobs come November. Statistically speaking, many of those members will get to keep their seats: 90 percent of…
Gather Ye Contributions, In Bulk
August 21, 2014 | Seven-figure political contributions are a regular feature of politics this decade, but only outside groups like super PACs are allowed to accept such large checks. Contributions to candidates and party committees are still subject to strict limits, which makes gathering the huge sums that it takes to run competitive campaigns difficult and extremely time-consuming. For…
Primary Threat in Alaska has GOP Establishment Shuddering
August 18, 2014 | In Alaska's Senate primary race, the Republican establishment has downplayed threats to its top candidate, Dan Sullivan. Yet his challengers, Joe Miller and Mead Treadwell, have triggered a frenzy of last-minute spending to ensure Sullivan wins the Tuesday election. As of late July, Sullivan had about $4.1 million in the bank — over three times more…
In Montana, Sunk Candidate Is Sunk Cost
August 11, 2014 | A plagiarism scandal that drove Sen. John Walsh (D-Mont.) to drop his re-election bid Thursday was a major blow to the Democratic Party, still intent on proving it can keep its majority in the Senate. It also constituted a major financial loss for Democrats who'd placed their bets on Walsh and saw them evaporate long…
Hawaii In a Whirlwind Senate Primary
August 8, 2014 | In Hawaii, Saturday's Democratic Senate primary is a whirlwind of inter-party haggling. A presidential endorsement for incumbent Sen. Brian Schatz has been overshadowed by his predecessor's dying wish that challenger Rep. Colleen Hanabusa be appointed to the seat. The race has also turned into a seesaw battle between two progressive grassroots movements: environmentalists and feminists.
In Kansas Races, Outside Winds Shore Up Support For Challengers
August 4, 2014 | Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) will face Milton Wolf in Tuesday's primary. (Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture) In Kansas, two primary challengers are gaining more traction than expected as outside groups uproot the Sunflower State's playing field. In the Senate race, three-term Republican incumbent Pat Roberts saw a minor challenge from radiologist Milton Wolf turn into a real threat after…
Interest in Israel: The Money in Politics On Gaza
August 4, 2014 | As the fighting in Gaza escalated over the past few weeks, Congress said and did little, except consider a bi-partisan bill just before recess to replenish aid to Israel's missile defense program. At a time when nearly everything is grounds for noisy partisan rancor, this unusual silence and cooperation indicates general accord on Capitol Hill…
In New York's 19th, Cash is Always Greener
August 1, 2014 | In New York's 19th district, a race between a former Army colonel, Republican Rep. Chris Gibson, and Sean Eldridge, the husband of Facebook co-founder and The New Republic publisher Chris Hughes, would seem to be a study in contrasts. And yet their fundraising style isn't so different: both have a donor base that is spread far and…
Ante Up for the Party
July 22, 2014 | Much like being in a fraternity, being a House Republican leader hinges partly on popularity — and also on paying one's dues. While the June 10 primary loss of Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) was a devastating first for a House majority leader, it soon ushered in a new round of winners and losers. The following week, several…
Politiquizz: Cooperating for Cash
July 21, 2014 | In 1998, five active joint fundraising committees (JFCs) raised a total of $1.7 million. So far this year, 371 joint fundraising committees have raised more than $93.1 million with more than three months to go before Election Day — surpassing the total of nearly $92.5 million that JFCs raised in the entire 2010 mid-term election…
Travels With Don: The Lobbyists, the Nilgai and the Handsome Ranch Foreman
July 15, 2014 | In 2004, Randy DeLay was asked by the commissioners of the Port of Brownsville, Texas, to justify his $25,000 monthly lobbying bills. Why was he submitting such high travel expenses for what appeared to be junkets? DeLay, the younger brother of then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), explained to them that lobbying is expensive work, especially when you're trying to…
New OpenSecrets.org Page Highlights Single-Candidate Super PACs
July 11, 2014 | We've written before about "single-candidate super PACs," outside spending groups that exist solely to support or oppose a sole office-seeker. Last cycle, virtually every presidential candidate had at least one dedicated super PAC. Some are managed by the candidate's close associates, most notably Restore Our Future, last cycle's top-spending super PAC and one of Mitt…
Politiquizz: Crack Open a Cold One
July 11, 2014 | The summer is heating up, with temperatures in the 90s this week from coast to coast. It's no wonder the beer, wine and liquor industry look forward to summer all year long. Sales soar during this season as Americans purchase alcoholic beverages, especially beer, to beat the heat and celebrate the holidays. Earlier this year, a…
The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, or Hunting for Cover on Guns
July 8, 2014 | Despite objections from a handful of Democrats, the Senate voted on Monday to move forward with a pro-hunting bill that has delighted most gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association. Introduced by embattled incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act (S. 2363) would unlock funding to build shooting ranges on public land while easing hunting restrictions. But…
RSLC Goes In With Developers to Turn Tide in NY State Senate
July 3, 2014 | A version of this story was co-posted on Urbanalia. In New York state, legislative politics are more than a little counterintuitive. Democrats have a majority in the state Senate, but since the 2012 elections, a group of breakaway members of that party have lined up with Republicans to keep the chamber under GOP control. The…
Sister of Fidel, Former Spy, and Loyal Hillary Supporter
June 30, 2014 | Hillary Clinton and Juanita Castro Ruz, sister of the former and current presidents of Cuba Fidel and Raúl, have both penned highly scrutinized memoirs about their intertwined personal and political lives. And the two women have something else in common. According to the latest filings of Ready For Hillary PAC, the committee set up to support Clinton's possible…
Spotlight on the Site: Who's Cashing In On Campaigns (Anomaly Tracker No. 5)
June 30, 2014 | Attention, supersleuth readers: We have a brand new tool for you to play with, a new category on our anomaly tracker. This one is focused on outlier expenditures of political committees, allowing you to find out when more than 50 percent of a committee's money goes to a single vendor — and who those cash-guzzlers are.…
The Donkey That Abandoned "Racehorse" Rangel
June 26, 2014 | Rep. Charles B. Rangel won re-election to New York's 13th Congressional District seat by a razor-thin margin this week — but that's no thanks to fellow Democrats, who all but abandoned their longtime colleague on the fundraising front. In 2012, when he faced his first close shave against state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, contributions from other Democrats' campaign…
Welcome to 2016!
June 25, 2014 | Already finding the 2014 mid-term elections a little passe? Already pining for the next presidential election in 2016? Well, there's good news for you: The first 2016 presidential ads have been aired! And, not surprisingly, they were negative, and they both targeted Hillary Clinton. While presidential hopefuls have been angling for advantages in early primary states for…
Cochran on the Hot Seat in Mississippi
June 24, 2014 | In the last weeks before today's runoff election in Mississippi pitting Sen. Thad Cochran (R ) against tea party-backed challenger Chris McDaniel, eleventh-hour campaign contributions have poured in at a furious rate, matched only by the efforts of outside groups joining the fray. Six-term incumbent Cochran saw more of the same institutional and big business support he has relied on…
In Wichita, Pompeo and Tiahrt Vie for Koch Backing
June 23, 2014 | Last month, former Kansas Rep. Todd Tiahrt announced his candidacy for the state's Fourth Congressional District seat by shooting some early barbs at his former protégé, incumbent Rep. Mike Pompeo, citing some of the "big policy differences" that divide them. The Republican rivals have one thing in common, though — the hand that has fed their political careers is one and…
Scalise Victory Upends Conventional Wisdom on Leadership Cash
June 19, 2014 | Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) triumphantly took his spot as the No. 2 Republican in the House this afternoon, stepping up from No. 3. But Rep. Pete Roskam (R-Ill.), who was one rung lower on the ladder as deputy whip, did not manage to ride McCarthy's coattails. Instead, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) became majority whip —…
Unreported Spending Helped Stoke Discontent With Cantor
June 19, 2014 | In other upsets where tea party-backed candidates have emerged as victors, outside spending has been a big part of the formula for helping insurgents prevail. In the case of Majority Leader Eric Cantor's epic defeat at the hands of an unknown opponent in the Virginia GOP primary last week, though, outside groups seemed to play…
Organizing for Action: Who's Giving to Obama-Linked Nonprofit?
June 17, 2014 | Since the beginning of the 2014 campaign cycle last year, 14 donors — running the gamut from a hedge fund manager to a gay rights activist to a little-known Salt Lake City venture capitalist — have given $100,000 or more to President Barack Obama's avowedly un-campaign committee, Organizing for Action. Another 26 have ponied up…
In Mississippi Primary, Money Raining In Before the Storm
June 16, 2014 | Sen. Thad Cochran's (R-Miss.) chances of fending off tea party-backed challenger Chris McDaniel remain uncertain a week before the runoff election next Tuesday — but if he loses, it won't be for lack of trying by establishment Republicans. Cochran has benefited from the strong support of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose fundraiser last week on…
Politiquizz: International Cash
June 16, 2014 | According to campaign finance law, you must be an American citizen or green card holder to make a political contribution. That applies whether the donation is to a candidate or to a company's PAC. The U.S. divisions of foreign-owned companies often form PACs here, but they must rely on American employees or green card holders…
Is K Street Down the Road for Cantor?
June 13, 2014 | Though it has now come to a screeching finish, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)'s leadership position in the House has brought him enduring connections, political clout and insider knowledge — in other words, potent K Street cred. "He brings incredible contacts with the whole Republican caucus in both houses" of Congress, said Ivan H. Adler, a…
More Insiders Aim to Move Up Leadership Chain
June 13, 2014 | Most Washington insiders seem convinced that House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will take over for Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) at the end of July; then again, most of these people were convinced Cantor would cruise to an easy re-election. But if the real race now is to see who takes over as Majority Whip,…
Money is on Kevin McCarthy to Replace Cantor
June 12, 2014 | The surprising defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) shocked the GOP and delighted many Democrats, but it also sent the House Republican caucus into a frenzy over who would fill Cantor's shoes as the party's No. 2 man. Palace intrigue — already gathering steam due to speculation that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would step…
With Cantor Gone, GOP — and Tea Party — Loses Major Fundraiser
June 11, 2014 | "I'm in shock," Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said in response to the defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to David Brat, a small-town tea party activist, in Tuesday's Virginia primary. No kidding: McHenry has received at least $60,000 from Cantor's extensive fundraising network over the years — and he's not the only one who's…
Don't Blame Steakhouses for Cantor's Fall
June 11, 2014 | It's difficult to overstate the magnitude of Eric Cantor's upset loss to little-known challenger Dave Brat in Virginia's 7th Congressional District. Through May 21st, Brat received no PAC donations, was outraised 25-to-1, and saw just $4,805 in outside spending on his behalf. Last night, journalists combing through CRP's data on the race came up with…
Dave Versus Goliath, By the Numbers
June 11, 2014 | House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's campaign spent more money on food — $168,000 on steakhouses alone — than Dave Brat did on his entire campaign. But it wasn't just steak. On April 6, the Cantor campaign spent $790 at Proof, a downtown D.C. restaurant, where the cheapest entree on the menu is a "Napoleon of…
In S.C., Money Matters Far More Than Before for Graham
June 10, 2014 | South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has never had to fight with a fellow Republican for his Senate seat. Now, he is battling tooth and claw to ward off six cheeky challengers in today's primary. The two-term senator has already spent $8.5 million in the 2014 race, outflanking all his Republican contenders, who together have barely spent $2 million.…
Top Donors to Joint Fundraising Vehicles: Overwhelmingly Republican
June 4, 2014 | On Tuesday, the Senate leaders from each party spoke to their colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, sharing their contrasting views on the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions that have loosened campaign finance restrictions. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have long clashed in this area — and they also know which side their bread…
Mississippi Mudfest: Campaigns, Outside Groups Give It All They've Got
May 30, 2014 | Mississippi can lay claim to some of the GOP's ugliest infighting leading up to Tuesday's Senate primary vote, marked by a proxy war between the conservative establishment and tea party affiliates that's triggered a torrent of spending by outside groups. Poll results have been all over the map in recent weeks, indicating that state senator and…
For-Profit Education's Million-Dollar Letter
May 30, 2014 | The public comment period ended this week on the Education Department's proposed new rules to limit federal aid to colleges and universities whose graduates are particularly debt-saddled or have high rates of student loan default. The rules would hit for-profit institutions hardest. But the industry is fighting back — and it has allies. Last week, 36…
Joni Ernst: From Iowa Underdog to Favorite of Outside Spenders
May 29, 2014 | With the vote set for Tuesday, a former underdog is now benefiting from major national endorsements and much of the outside spending in Iowa's Republican Senate primary. In the weeks since State Sen. Joni Ernst cut through the clutter of the five-way race with a campaign ad touting her pork-cutting experience, she has gathered support from all corners of the…
Tea Party Money Gets First Big Win
May 28, 2014 | Last night Congress's oldest member, Rep. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) became the first serious trophy for Tea Party insurgents after a long string of defeats in other states. Hall, who was born in 1923, served in World War II and had a lengthy career as a Texas judge and state legislator before first being elected to…
Money-in-Politics Megalith: The Squire Patton Boggs Merger
May 27, 2014 | The merger of Patton Boggs LLP and Squire Sanders to create Squire Patton Boggs spawns a new legal superstore. It also creates a new power source of campaign contributions and lobbying. Since 1989, the two component firms have combined for total contributions of more than $13 million to federal candidates, party committees, leadership PACs and…
McConnell May Coast on Tuesday, but the Money is Still Big
May 16, 2014 | Matt Bevin was considered, at one time, a possibly serious threat to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). No more: When Republican voters go to the polls on Tuesday to select their nominee, McConnell will likely win by a wide margin. Still, the early threat froom Bevin has helped push fundraising in the race sky-high. The two GOP…
Rand Paul's Ties With Losing N.C. Primary Candidate Run Deep
May 7, 2014 | Last night, North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis won the Republican primary and the right to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan — a victory for the GOP establishment, as Tillis easily dispatched outsider Greg Brannon. This morning, pundits not only declared victory for the establishment, but speculated that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who flew down last weekend to…
Conservatives Finally Take the Lead in 2014 Outside Spending
May 2, 2014 | One of 2013's more intriguing campaign finance stories was the fact that — after being outspent 2-to-1 in the 2012 cycle — liberal outside spending groups easily outpaced their conservative counterparts. Led by groups with close ties to Democratic leadership, liberal super PACs dominated the outside spending in early races such as the special elections in Massachusetts and New…
Aereo Takes Its Case To Washington
April 23, 2014 | Though little Aereo argued before the Supreme Court this week about copyright law, it has learned from its much large opponents when it comes to making its case in Washington -- with lobbying and campaign cash.
Stand Back: NRA's PAC is Loaded on Eve of Convention
April 23, 2014 | With a fat $14.1 million in its bank account, the NRA Political Victory Fund prepares to bolster a large herd of Republicans.
Many Candidates — Political Opposites Included — Share Common Donors
April 22, 2014 | A scant few Americans give money to political campaigns -- but those few often give to many.
Consequences of McCutcheon: Dan Backer Version
April 9, 2014 | Shaun McCutcheon's lead attorney scoffs at the notion that super JFCs and PACs will proliferate with the overall contribution limits now in the dustbin. He has some experience, but he also has skeptics.
Ranking the RINOs: Who Does the Tea Party Hate Most?
April 4, 2014 | Outside spending tells us something about the incumbents that tea partiers most want to dump off the side of a boat.
McCutcheon Decision: Add Some More Zeroes to That Check
April 2, 2014 | The Supreme Court wipes out overall limits on how much an individual can give to candidates, parties and PACs. Let the fun begin.
Communications Link Strong in Rogers' Past and Future
March 30, 2014 | Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) should be comfortable in the communications sector, a major source of his campaign cash.
Hobby Lobby's Lobbying Hobbies
March 26, 2014 | Hobby Lobby's appearance in the national political spotlight, via the Supreme Court contraception mandate debate, naturally made us wonder: How does the craft company spend money in Washington?
Prescription for Winning: Doctors Rake in Campaign Cash from Medical Connections
March 26, 2014 | Professionals in health care look after their own.
ERIC PAC: A Fondness for Food
March 12, 2014 | Rep. Eric Cantor's leadership PAC has spent more than $170,000 on restaurants in the 2014 election, nearly 12 percent of the PAC's total nonpolitical expenditures; that outstrips, both in dollars and as a percentage, what's being spent on eateries by other high-ranking House members.
Sincere or Strategic, Lobbyists Give Big
March 12, 2014 | It's hard to sort out lobbyists' motivations for making campaign contributions. But the top recipients of their donations so far this cycle are a bit of a surprise: Top Republican leadership and at-risk Senate Democrats.
An Encore for the Center to Protect Patient Rights
March 5, 2014 | Sean Noble's mammoth group -- which since 2009 has funneled $170 million-plus to conservative organizations involved in politicking -- seemed to be on the outs last year with its main backers. Now, say hello to American Encore.
Credit Suisse's On-Shore Friends
February 28, 2014 | A Senate report this week hammered European banking giant Credit Suisse for helping American clients hide billions in Swiss tax shelters. Still, despite the report and a tough hearing that followed, Credit Suisse is actually on quite good terms with a number of lawmakers -- and is an all-around big spender in town.
Site Spotlight: Expanded Organization Profiles, New APIs
February 14, 2014 | In-depth features have been added to all of our organization profiles, providing in-depth info on contributions, lobbying, congressional holdings and more at your fingertips. For programmers, there are two new APIs.
Prominent Member of the Post-Watergate Class Retires
January 30, 2014 | Waxman, a champion of the health care overhaul and bane of the tobacco industry, calls it quits. Like his fellow retiring lawmakers, he's leaving some money on the table that may benefit other candidates.
Special Interests Heavily Involved in Farm Bill Maneuvering
January 30, 2014 | A five-year farm bill has finally -- after three years of congressional bickering -- passed the House, and could get final approval from the Senate as soon as today. Crop insurance came out the big winner in terms of increased funding.
PAC Man Trey Radel
January 28, 2014 | PAC contributions made up 71 percent of the almost $300,000 that the former television reporter raised in the first three-quarters of last year.
Divided We Stand
January 28, 2014 | State of the Union -- 9 p.m. tonight. But Obama's list of 2014 priorities may sound a lot like last year's roster, due in part to a deadlocked Congress that produced a historic year of inaction.
Strong Evidence Emerges on Right to Work's Political Activity
January 24, 2014 | Newly released emails and recordings of conversations show top officials from the National Right to Work Committee were deeply involved with a huge off-the-books mass mailing operation benefiting state candidates in 2010, indicating the organization may have falsely told the IRS it didn't engage in politics.
Most Likely to Exceed: Who's Poised to Double Down Post-McCutcheon
January 15, 2014 | In anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the Center for Responsive Politics and the Sunlight Foundation have teamed up to look at the deep-pocketed donors who could give even more if the justices strike down another limit on the amount of money in U.S. politics.
Cheney Leaves Money on the Table
January 6, 2014 | Liz Cheney may have left a lot of money on the table when she dropped her 2014 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Wyoming today. Through the end of September -- the most recent fundraising report available -- Cheney had raised more than $1 million in campaign cash, but had spent just $232,000. At the last official counting, Cheney had $795,062 on hand.
Should Auld PACs Be Forgot…
December 23, 2013 | As the year draws to an end, we mourn those we lost.
What Do PACs Care About?
December 12, 2013 | What motivates PACs? The ability to gain influence with a candidate almost certain to win? Or the possibility of swaying a close race to the contestant most likely to be friendly to their cause?
McConnell's Growing Ties to Rand Paul: Trouble Brewing?
December 10, 2013 | Mitch McConnell has been paying yet another consultant linked to Rand Paul. But some of McConnell's hires from the Paul orbit are facing accusations that they broke the law before joining the minority leader's campaign.
At Least 1 in 4 Dark Money Dollars in 2012 Had Koch Links
December 3, 2013 | With most of the annual tax filings for nondisclosing nonprofits now in, it's clear that no liberal or conservative dark money network matched, in combined size and complexity, the constellation of Koch-linked groups that churned hundreds of millions of dollars into elections around the country last year. The Center to Protect Patient Rights provided a big chunk of it, giving out more than $112 million in grants.
Obama's Pick To Lead Air Force a Former Exec for Major Defense Contractor
December 2, 2013 | Deborah Lee James, President Obama's nominee for Air Force Secretary, worked for a major defense firm with financial ties to Capitol Hill.
McConnell Campaign Hired Key Figure In National Right To Work Complaint, Records Show
November 26, 2013 | A consultant who figures prominently in accusations about paying a legislator for his support in the 2012 Iowa caucuses, as well as providing illegal campaign assistance to Iowa legislative candidates, is on Mitch McConnell's payroll, too.
National, Iowa Right to Work Groups Subsidized State Candidates, Misled IRS, Former Employee Charges
November 25, 2013 | An ex-employee of National Right to Work and its Iowa affiliate claims that the groups provided free labor to conservative state legislative candidates as well as candidate mailers written, produced and mailed by the anti-union groups -- allegations that, if true, could to violate state law. Beyond that, they told the IRS they engaged in no political activity, a statement that appears to be false.
Radel's Close Ties To Leadership
November 21, 2013 | Rep. Trey Radel (R) is the first sitting member of Congress to be arrested and convicted on drug charges since 1982. So why has the GOP leadership been so quiet on the Florida freshman's situation? One reason could be that Radel has been a favorite of the Republican leadership since his election last year.
Red State Dems Close Ranks in Face of Tough 2014 Battles
November 13, 2013 | Democratic senators up for re-election in conservative states in 2014 are seeing the love from other Dems' leadership PACs -- including each others'.
Business Cash Rules in Alabama
November 6, 2013 | Business brought its money and muscle to bear, just as promised after the government shutdown, in the special primary election in Alabama. It worked.
OpenSecrets Politiquizz: Budget Battle
October 29, 2013 | Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) are charged with trying to negotiate a compromise on the budget -- no small task with the divide between the two parties these days. But we've found some common ground in their campaign finance history -- answer our quiz and you could win a CRP prize!
California Investigation Reveals Some Donors in Dark Money Scheme
October 24, 2013 | California's election-money watchdog group today released a list of 2012 donors to Americans for Job Security, one of the groups involved in an $11 million scheme to funnel money into two ballot initiative campaigns last year. OpenSecrets Blog was able to decipher a few big names in the mostly redacted pile.
Debt Crisis "Nay"-Sayers Received Large Sums from Business, Finance Interests
October 22, 2013 | A joint analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics and the Washington Post shows that business interests played a key role in helping elect lawmakers who rejected their plea to raise the debt ceiling and end the shutdown.
Fundraising Down for GOP Dissidents, but Koch and Citizens United Stayed True
October 17, 2013 | GOP House members who pushed for a government shutdown and default saw their fundraising drop off in the third quarter -- but Koch Industries and Citizens United were with them all the way.
OpenSecrets Politiquizz: Leader of the PAC
October 11, 2013 | Who's funding the top leadership PACs in both parties?
Koch Industries and Citizens United Back Dissidents
October 11, 2013 | Despite the fact that Koch Industries has attempted to distance itself from the budget and debt ceiling hardliners in Congress this week, there are ties between the company and the Republicans who have been pushing their leadership to hang tough. As it turns out, Koch Industries' corporate PAC is a big supporter of many of the 20 "dissident" Republican House members who have been identified as the biggest thorns in the side of the Republican leadership on the shutdown and the debt ceiling.
The Money Behind the Republicans Who Want to End the Shutdown
October 7, 2013 | Twenty-three Republicans have said they are willing to make a deal on a clean budget bill that would end the shutdown. Here's a look at how money might be playing a role in their decision to break ranks.
Dissidents Haven't Seen the $ Love from Boehner, Cantor
October 3, 2013 | If money builds loyalty on Capitol Hill, and if the House Republican leadership has been giving it out hand-over-fist, why can't House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor make the shutdown go away? There's a reason.
Which Donors Have the Most to Lose With a Shutdown?
October 1, 2013 | Making payments to government contractors is one of the many functions of the federal government which could be halted in a shutdown. The likelihood of a shutdown lasting long enough to hurt the bottom line of a company as large as Lockheed is remote, but we thought we'd take the opportunity to check out which members of Congress may have some displeased donors if the shutdown lasts a little too long.
FEC Faces Shutdown, Fundraisers Carry On
September 30, 2013 | If Congress fails to prevent a government shutdown tonight, almost all federal work will halt, and that includes the work of the Federal Election Commission. According to a plan for a shutdown released by the FEC earlier this month, all of the agency's 335 employees -- but not the commissioners -- are expected to be furloughed without pay until the government opens again.
Rep. Spencer Bachus, Popular with the Finance Sector, to Leave Congress
September 30, 2013 | Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) announced today that he won't be seeking reelection in 2014. Here's a look at the money trail he left behind.
Ted Cruz's Corporate Contributors
September 26, 2013 | Sen. Ted Cruz's marathon speechifying seemed meant to please a certain subset of the Texan's supporters -- and it did. But what about his corporate contributors? They're big backers of the Republican establishment, which didn't much like his "filibuster."
Return of The Hammer?
September 21, 2013 | Will Tom DeLay, whose state money-laundering conviction was thrown out this week, try for a comeback? If so, he'll have to find a few new sources of campaign cash. Some of his deepest-pocketed donors have moved on in one fashion or another.
McCutcheon's Multiplying Effect: Why An Overall Limit Matters
September 17, 2013 | On Oct. 8, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in McCutcheon v. FEC, a case challenging the overall contribution limits for individual donors that were first enacted in the mid-1970's. Caps on donations to specific candidates, party committees and PACs -- put in place to prevent corruption or the appearance of it -- aren't directly affected by the case. Without an overall limit, though, those caps would lose much of their force.
Behind Rocket Blast, Carefully Calibrated Washington Relationships
September 9, 2013 | NASA's rocket launch Friday from the outskirts of Washington made for great photo ops, but was also a reminder of the relationships the company has built on Capitol Hill with key lawmakers.
Hedging Bets in Washington? SAC Employees Gift Cantor, Others
July 25, 2013 | Criminal charges filed against a top hedge fund might signal the end of the fund's high-flying ways -- on Wall Street and here in Washington. SAC employee contributions have leaned Republican in the last couple of election cycles, with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor receiving more than any other current lawmaker.
Billion Dollar Baby: U.S. Chamber is First to Hit Lobbying Milestone
July 23, 2013 | The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent more than $1 billion lobbying members of Congress and other officials since 1998 - by far a greater amount than any other organization over the period. The Chamber has no rivals in terms of raw resources devoted to lobbying - and may also have little competition when it comes to overall influence on the Hill.
Internet Sales Tax Fight Moves to House
July 22, 2013 | The battle over a proposed Internet sales tax has moved to the House, with interests on both sides pouring money into the campaign coffers of potential allies. Major retailers, including some online ones, have thrown their weight behind the initiative, and in the last few days of June a number of their PACs made big contributions to key House members.
Investigation Doesn't Taint Grimm's Fundraising
July 17, 2013 | Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), though being investigated by the Justice Department for allegedly improper fundraising operations in his 2010 victory, had his best fundraising quarter ever in the three months ending June 30.
Groups Spending Mystery Money in Kentucky, Arkansas Races
July 12, 2013 | A pair of big-spending Democratic outside groups have launched a volley of attack ads in two states where hot Senate races may develop, and almost immediately an equally well-connected Republican group has fired back. Big names are directing the fight, but the names of donors bankrolling the exchange haven't been disclosed. In the case of one of the groups, they never will be.
House Launches Bill to Establish National Park on the Moon
July 12, 2013 | It was former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich who dreamed of establishing a colony on the moon. But -- in the wake of sequester-induced cuts to national parks located here on Earth -- a new bill to establish a national park on the moon rocketed into the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology this week courtesy of two Democrats, Reps. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.).
Facebook "Likes" Immigration Overhaulers
July 9, 2013 | The Facebook corporate PAC has donated $110,000 to members of Congress so far this year, dutifully handing out large donations to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle -- but lavishing particular attention on key figures in the fight for overhauling the immigration system.
An Unexpected Challenge to Enzi in Wyoming: Calling All Donors!
July 8, 2013 | In each of his three elections, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) has made short work of his opponents, cruising to easy victories in the conservative-friendly state. But he may need to ramp up his fundraising -- he could face a primary challenger with ample name recognition.
Liberal PACs Off to Mixed Start
June 26, 2013 | Some prominent liberal PACs are off to a good start for the 2014 cycle, but others are flat or lagging behind where they were two years ago. That's a contrast to a number of the high-profile conservative PACs that we wrote about Tuesday, many of which are flush with cash.
Conservative PACs Flush With Cash
June 25, 2013 | It's still early, but the PACs of several prominent conservative groups and politicians have already piled up or given away significant cash, and in some cases are much better armed going into this election cycle than they were two years ago in the run-up to 2012.
Lautenberg Dies After Three Decades in the Senate
June 3, 2013 | Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) died Monday morning due to complications resulting from viral pneumonia. A longtime member of Congress, Lautenberg served in the Senate for 30 years, from 1983-2001 and then from 2003 until his death. Lautenberg raised a total of $21.8 million for his campaigns since 1989.
Rove's Shadowy Defense
June 2, 2013 | Karl Rove complains that his Crossroads GPS 501(c)(4) gets more scrutiny than liberal groups. But it's in a league of its own when it comes to spending on politics.
Republican Controls Funding Race in Missouri Special Election
May 31, 2013 | Ever since Jo Ann Emerson announced in early December that she would be leaving the House of Representatives, the race for the empty Missouri 8th district seat has been on. And if money talks, it's saying that aspiring congressman Jason Smith, a Republican, has seized a decisive advantage over his Democratic counterpart Steve Hodges. With the special election set for next week, it appears that the fundraising battle has already been won.
Michele Bachmann Retiring, Despite Fundraising Prowess
May 29, 2013 | Michele Bachmann's decision not to run again means her fundraising superskills will have to be put to other uses.
Wall Street Shaped Bill Easing Oversight, and Kept Contributions Coming
May 24, 2013 | Lobbyists from the banking industry had significant input into the wording of a bill exempting certain kinds of trades from regulation under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul. Players in the industry also had their checkbooks out for lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee in the first quarter of this year.
Getting the Fix: Lawmakers' Targeted Favors for Top Donors
May 14, 2013 | A mash-up of data on bill sponsorships, campaign contributions and lobbying shows that in some cases, lawmakers have sponsored bills of interest to just one entity -- which happens to be a top contributor to the lawmaker's campaign fund.
Through Thick and Thin, Blue Dog Money Follows Blue Dog Members
May 1, 2013 | It's been said if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Just make sure it's blue. Members of the House Blue Dog Coalition contribute to other Blue Dogs to an unusual degree.
A Taxing Choice? PAC Checks May Ease the Pain
April 30, 2013 | Congressional supporters of the Internet sales tax purport to be torn between antitax orthodoxy and helping out the small bricks-and-mortar retailers. It might ease the pain when the gargantuan box stores appear with checks in hand.
Major GOP Donor Passes Away
April 15, 2013 | Republican megadonor Bob Perry died in his sleep over the weekend. We remember his campaign finance record.
Leadership PAC Funds Often Give Little to Other Candidates
April 9, 2013 | Leadership PACs are an extension of a politician's brand. Set up as auxiliaries to traditional campaign committees, they're traditionally thought of as ways for politicians to earn goodwill by passing campaign cash on to other party members -- bestowing gifts on up-and-comers in exchange for loyalty down the road, or offering tribute to party higher-ups. But in an analysis of leadership PACs, OpenSecrets.org found that of the 25 leadership PACs that spent more than $1 million in the last election cycle, just five of them gave more than 50 percent of their money to other candidates.
Gun Rights Group Has Close Ties To Paul Family
April 4, 2013 | The National Association for Gun Rights -- a group to the right of the NRA -- has been stirring controversy with attacks on Republicans. As it happens, the group has strong ties to both Rand and Ron Paul, OpenSecrets Blog has found.
Republicans Court Silicon Valley for Campaign Cash
April 3, 2013 | Republicans hope to lure Silicon Valley money from Democrats and cash in on the growing technology pie.
Johnson's Retirement Makes Way for GOP Takeover
March 26, 2013 | Sen. Tim Johnson was the sole remaining Democrat in the South Dakota Congressional delegation. His retirement could move the GOP closer to a Senate majority.
Upstart Financial Firm Quickly Learning Ways of Washington
March 22, 2013 | LPL Financial is an upstart financial services firm, built on a model of bringing Wall Street to the masses. Expanding at a blistering rate, it's begun running into problems with regulators. Good thing the company, which specializes in moving into rural areas, has just as quickly learned to operate within the urban confines of Washington, D.C.
Lobbyists 2012: Out of the Game or Under the Radar?
March 20, 2013 | Spending on lobbying as well as the number of active lobbyists was down in 2012. But nearly half of lobbyists who were active in 2011 but reported no lobbying in 2012 continued to work for the same employers -- suggesting that many have simply avoided the reporting limits while still contributing to lobbying efforts.
Senate Real Estate Prices Up
March 12, 2013 | A squabble over office space leads to shocking (shocking!) allegations of an attempted payoff.
Remembering CREEP, and the High Price of Easy Money
March 11, 2013 | There are similarities between some of the biggest campaign donors of the CREEP era decades ago and those of today.
Capital Eye Opener, March 6: Allen West Gets Into Shadow Money, and Single-Candidate
March 6, 2013 | Rep. Allen West won't run again, but he's getting into the shadow money game. Also, Public Citizen reports that half of all outside spending groups in 2012 were devoted to a single candidate.
Money to Senators Looms Over Assault Weapons Hearing
February 27, 2013 | The subject of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing today -- a proposed assault weapons ban -- is controversial enough. But casting another shadow on the conversation is the fact that members of the panel, who may vote on the proposal as early as Thursday, have received far more in campaign contributions from gun rights groups and individuals who are committed to the issue than they have from the other side. Since 2000, committee members have collected over $350,000 from gun rights groups and individuals, but just $17,000 from pro-gun control interests.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 22: Ideological Campaign Cash, Young Guns and More
February 22, 2013 | National Journal's liberal-conservative ratings of Congress are out. Also, Eric Cantor's YG Network files its first Form 990.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 14: Iraq to Hire Lobbying Firm and a K Street Behemoth on the Horizon
February 14, 2013 | Iraq hires the Podesta Group, known for its ties to top Democrats, to boost its image on Capitol Hill, and American Airlines merger with US Airways will create a jumbo jet sized K Street game.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 13: Obama Donors Picked for Plum Slots, and GOP Tweets Bilingually
February 13, 2013 | A top bundler for Obama keeps the revolving door spinning at the Justice Department, while another donor goes on a board overseeing a natural preserve in New Mexico.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 12: SOTU Guest Was Dem Donor, Giffords' Super PAC to Run Ad Tonight, and More
February 12, 2013 | The owner of a Wisconsin brewery who will sit with Michelle Obama at tonight's speech has also contributed to several Democratic causes, including the president's campaigns. Also, Gabby Giffords' super PAC will run its first ad before and after the State of the Union in select markets, and public employee unions rally on Capitol Hill today to protect federal workers in sequestration negotiations.
Ron Paul Network Was Lucrative for Jesse Benton
February 8, 2013 | Jesse Benton was an integral part of the Paul family's network of organizations, and a lightning rod for controversy before he left last fall to become Mitch McConnell's campaign manager. We can settle one matter about which critics have raised questions: How much he earned during his years with Paul's various committees.
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 8: Pritzker Well-Fixed for Commerce, Steve King Fights Back, and More
February 8, 2013 | Democratic fundraising stalwart Penny Pritzker sits atop Obama's list of potential picks to run the Commerce Department. Also, is it odd that Rep. Steve King -- mentioned as a possible target of Karl Rove's new group that will pick favorites in GOP primaries -- actually benefited from money spent on his behalf in 2012 by Rove's old group?
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 7: Menendez Ties to Donor Deepen, Hutchison Joins Giuliani's Firm, and More
February 7, 2013 | Sen. Robert Menendez' ties to a donor who's under FBI investigation are deeper than initially reported: According to the Washington Post, he contacted top federal health officials twice over their finding that the donor overbilled Medicare. And research by OpenSecrets.org shows the donor and his wife each contributed to Menendez' legal defense fund
Capital Eye Opener, Feb. 6: Duckworth "Buzziest" House Freshman in Media Hype and Fundraising, One Florida University Beefs Up Lobbying Staff, and More
February 6, 2013 | Rep. Tammy Duckworth was mentioned in the news more in her first month of office than any other House freshman, according to a University of Minnesota study. She also spent more in her campaign than her colleagues in the class of '12.
Major GOP Donor Hires Lobbyist While Federal Investigation Continues
January 31, 2013 | Gary Morse's the Villages, one of the world's largest retirement communities, hires a federal lobbyist in connection with the very issue for which the company is under investigation by the IRS. But he's unlikely to have trouble opening doors among Republican lawmakers.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 31: FEC Increases Contribution Limits, Urban Outfitters Enlists K Street, and More
January 31, 2013 | The FEC's higher contribution limits may be better news for Republicans than Dems: far more contributors maxed out to Romney than Obama. Also, Urban Outfitters' new CEO leans right, a distinct change from the chain's last leader.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 30: Federal Unions Growing, Hillary's Biggest Fan, and Samsung Opens DC Lobbying Office
January 30, 2013 | Public employee unions continue growing, and so (for the most part) does the amount they spend to lobby Washington. Also, one university professor has started two pro-Hillary super PACs.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 29: K Street Talks Cybersecurity, Defense PACs Make Year-end Investments, and More
January 29, 2013 | Everyone from Wal-mart to Boeing wanted to be heard on cybersecurity in 2012's final quarter. Also, defense PACs made many post-election investments in Capitol Hill allies.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 28: Harkin Retires as Cantor and McConnell Look to the Future
January 28, 2013 | Sen. Tom Harkin's retirement has opened a door for the GOP in Iowa in 2014, while Mitch McConnell is shoring up his cash and his allies for his own re-election fight. Meanwhile, in the House, Cantor might be eyeing the speakership.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 14: Cornyn Hearts Cruz, Revolving Door in Reverse, and More
January 14, 2013 | Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn could benefit from some of the fundraising sources of his new BFF, tea party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 11: Rockefeller Retires, and a Michele Bachmann Dust-Up
January 11, 2013 | Senator Jay Rockefeller wasn't just a solid Democratic vote; he was a reliable fundraiser who gave generously to other Democrats.
Capital Eye Opener, Jan. 9: Major Super PAC Donor Runs Into Trouble In Texas, New House Oversight Chair and More
January 9, 2013 | Texas billionaire Harold Simmons, who donated more than $20 million to American Crossroads, was fined by the Texas Ethics Commission for making illegal contributions to 18 Texas lawmakers in 2011.
Obama's Shadow Money Allies File First Report
January 8, 2013 | The tax return of the nonprofit linked to the main pro-Obama super PAC shows links to other liberal groups and more payments to Paul Begala. What it doesn't show is donors' names.
Wall Street's Steeply Increasing Republicanism
January 4, 2013 | Wall Street loved Mitt Romney -- that much we know. But the gap between the financial industry's giving to the two parties hit almost historic levels in the third quarter of 2012.
Exclusive: Nonprofit Funneled Money to Kochs' Voter Database Effort, Other Conservative Groups
December 21, 2012 | A previously unreported nonprofit network funneled millions of dollars to the Koch brothers' effort to catch up with Democrats' voter microtargeting. And beyond that, it sent money to a collection of other tax-exempt groups that worked to get Republicans elected in the last two campaign cycles.
Capital Eye Opener, Dec. 19: Proposed Changes in NY's Shadow Money Rules, Fischer's New PAC, and More
December 19, 2012 | New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's proposed requirement that politically active nonprofits disclose their donors could be a bellwether -- or a bust.
Capital Eye Opener, Dec. 17: Manchin on Gun Control, S.C.'s New Senator and More
December 17, 2012 | West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) is one of the few Democrats who receives campaign cash from the National Rifle Association, but this morning he said he was ready to talk about gun control.
Down-to-the-Wire Presidential Spending
December 13, 2012 | Some outside groups laid out significant amounts of money in the final 24 hours before voters hit the polls, including a shadowy one that let loose with $3 million.
Capital Eye Opener, Dec: 10: Fight Night in Vegas, Crist's Final Crossing, and More
December 10, 2012 | Mitt Romney went to Vegas to attend a fight, but Sheldon Adelson wasn't by his side. The MGM Grand, where the fight took place, is actually a big Democratic donor. Also, Charlie Crist makes it official at the White House.
American Crossroads Brought in $37 Million in Last-Chance Cash
December 7, 2012 | Without the Adelsons, American Crossroads would have brought in just $14 million in the final few weeks before the election -- and thrown less money down the drain.
South Carolina Tea Party Senator To Leave Congress in January
December 6, 2012 | A major voice of the tea party, Sen. Jim DeMint announced he will resign from Congress after the New Year, when he will take over as president of the conservative Heritage Fund.
Rising Stars: Newly-Elected Lawmakers to Watch
December 5, 2012 | Newly elected members of Congress are weeks away from claiming their seats. Here is CRP's shortlist of newcomers expected to make some waves.
Capital Eye Opener, Dec. 3: Watts' RNC Buzz, DaVita's D.C. Footprint, and More
December 3, 2012 | J.C. Watts, who's being mentioned as a possible RNC chair, has some strong ties to shadow money. A dialysis company that's accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid has invested heavily in Washington. And Bloomberg's pro-gun control super PAC likely had an impact.
Grimm's Fundraising Robust Despite Accusations of Campaign Fraud
November 30, 2012 | Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) has been operating under a shadow since shortly after his election in 2010, accused of participating in major campaign finance wrongdoing. But even as his legal troubles continue to mount, Grimm has seen his fundraising efforts thrive and won re-election in his Staten Island district earlier this month.
Capital Eye Opener, Nov. 13: Gay Rights Groups Back History, Prolific Paul Ryan and More
November 13, 2012 | The freshly declared victory of the woman who will be the first openly bisexual member of Congress shows the strength of gay rights and women's groups. Also, the evolution of Paul Ryan as a national figure, as seen through campaign finance data.
Blue Team Aided by Small Donors, Big Bundlers; Huge Outside Spending Still Comes Up Short
November 7, 2012 | President Barack Obama clinched a second term last night relying on many of the same campaign finance tools he used in his pre-Citizens United victory in 2008: party support and an in-house campaign finance operation that turned to individual donors and a web of elite bundlers to expand its reach. He received comparatively little help from outside spending groups. But that's not to say super PACs and secretive nonprofit groups had no influence on the election -- although they heavily favored conservative candidates, many of whom lost, they created an arms race that helped drive the cost of election to record levels.
Mixed Results for Challengers That Outraised Incumbents
November 7, 2012 | Some winning challengers yesterday had a cash advantage to neutralize the incumbent advantage, though a couple of races where challengers won the fundraising battle are still too close to call.
Mystery Firm is Election's Top Corporate Donor at $5.3 Million
November 5, 2012 | The biggest corporate contributor in the 2012 election so far doesn't appear to make anything–other than very large contributions to a conservative super PAC.
Capital Eye Opener, Nov. 5: Lobbying FEMA, Virginia Senate Race Cost Unprecedented, and More
November 5, 2012 | The debate over the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in post-disaster cleanups continues in Washington long after the crisis has passed. Also, the Virginia Senate race has cost more than $86 million, with outside spending making up the majority of that.
Hot Race for Nevada Senate Seat: Dean Heller vs. Shelley Berkley
November 2, 2012 | Democratic congresswoman Shelley Berkley tries her luck against Republican incumbent Dean Heller in Nevada's $45 million Senate race.
Hot Race in Ohio's 16th: Jim Renacci vs. Betty Sue Sutton
November 2, 2012 | Two incumbents face off with new redistricting lines still wet. Outside groups have spent more than the candidates, by millions.
Super PACs, Nonprofits Favored Romney Over Obama: Citizens United Decision Helped Romney Neutralize Obama's Fundraising Advantage
October 30, 2012 | Super PACs and nonprofits unleashed by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision have spent more than $840 million on the 2012 election, with the overwhelming majority favoring Republicans, particularly GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The spending helped close the gap on Obama's considerable fundraising advantage over his rival.
Capital Eye Opener, Oct. 26: Passing $1 Billion in Outside Spending, Pro-Gingrich Group's Apocalyptic Ad, and More
October 26, 2012 | More than $1 billion has been spent by outside groups in this election cycle, and meanwhile candidates, parties and super PACs all cleaned up in the first 17 days of October. Also, the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future makes its first expenditure in months, producing a dark vision of four more years of Obama.
Hot Race in Michigan's 1st: Dan Benishek vs. Gary McDowell
October 21, 2012 | A rematch between one-term incumbent Dan Benishek and his Democratic challenger, ary McDowell, looks to be a much tighter race than their encounter two years ago.
Capital Eye Opener, Oct. 18: Binders Full of Money, Bloomberg's New Super PAC, and More
October 18, 2012 | Don't laugh, binders are big business and helped make Romney the wealthy man he is today, while another wealthy man, Mike Bloomberg dives into the world of super PACs head first, and the Ivy League education of two New York Senate candidates.
Backed by Adelson, Republican Pro-Israel Group Targets Obama
October 17, 2012 | With support from casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and a board laden with well-connected luminaries of GOP fundraising, the Republican Jewish Coalition is making a strong push to turn just enough Jews against Obama to deny him re-election.
Capital Eye Opener, Oct. 17: NFL Owners as Donors, Wall Street Shifts, and More
October 17, 2012 | Most NFL owners support Republicans, despite a big contribution from the wife of the Pittsburgh Steelers' owner to an outside spending group that backs Obama. Also, Wall Street drops Obama like he was a live grenade.
Capital Eye Opener, Oct. 15: Specter's Powerful Fundraising, People's Majority Returns, and More
October 15, 2012 | Former Sen. Arlen Specter won't just be remembered for his complicated political history, he was also a powerful fundraiser. Plus, one of the original super PACs is back, and conservative outside spending groups form a towering virtual campaign.
Hot Race in California's New 7th: Dan Lungren vs. Ami Bera
October 5, 2012 | In California's brand-new 7th District, two old competitors are going at it again. Once again, the challenger has been outraising the House veteran. But this time the district is being flooded with outside money.
Hot Race in the Minnesota 8th: Chip Cravaack vs. Rick Nolan
October 4, 2012 | There are plenty of disparities in the contest between Rick Nolan and Chip Cravaack, including the fact that Cravaack has raised about $1 million more. But outside spending is the real story of this race.
Capital Eye Opener, Sept. 11: Primaries in Three States, Cash from Trash Hauler and More
September 11, 2012 | Three of the candidates who are likely to emerge winners of today's primaries in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware will go straight into general election contests that are rated as toss-ups as Republicans fight to retain their large majority in the House.
Capital Eye Opener August 30: Gabby PAC, What GOP Donors Want, and the NRA Fires Again
August 30, 2012 | Gabrielle Giffords re-enters politics with a PAC. Meanwhile, policy changes that would help Sheldon Adelson, Harold Simmons and other major political investors.
Capital Eye Opener, August 28th: 'Turncoat' in Tampa, a $6000 Campaign, and Convention Spending Down
August 28, 2012 | Charlie Crist makes convention news, agreeing to speak at the Democratic event next week -- despite being the beneficiary of millions from Republicans during his career, a New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate shows how to run a campaign on the cheap, and convention sponsors are holding back this year.
Capital Eye Opener, August 27: Florida Welcomes GOP, and Hurricane Boehner
August 27, 2012 | Hold on to your wallet! Literally hundreds of fundraisers are crammed into every spare minute of the Republican convention. Also, Boehner's pre-convention storming for cash.
Liberal Group With Ties to Unions Ends Donor Disclosure
August 23, 2012 | Patriot Majority's latest series of attack ads targets the conservative billionaires pumping money into the secretive world of right-wing non-profits, but offers few clues about who is funding its own activities. In a striking example of how the most ambitious actors in the realm of political funding have begun taking advantage of a shift in the legal landscape since 2010, the trail connecting Patriot Majority to its well-known progressive funders has all but melted away. Almost all of Patriot Majority's activities are now being carried out through a nonprofit that, under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, doesn't have to disclose its donors.
Capital Eye Opener, August 22nd: Tribal Lobbying, Yoder Makes Waves, and Retirees Take Spotlight
August 22, 2012 | Two new lobbying registrations this week have ties to Native American tribes, according to Politico. The National Indian Gaming Association and Chickasaw Nation Industries have officially hired Ben Nighthorse Consultants, Inc. and Sprit Rock Consulting, respectively, to represent their interests in the federal government.
Capital Eye Opener, August 20: Akin's Money Background, Nonprofit Strategies and Fancy Zip Codes
August 20, 2012 | Read up on Todd Akin's campaign finance background, secretive nonprofit's shift their strategies and after Romney's campaign picked up $7 million on a fundraising tour of the East Coast's fanciest zipcodes, we wondered who the people that actually live there write their checks to.
Capital Eye Opener, August 17: Philly's D.C. Ties, Paul Ryan Pays Off and More
August 17, 2012 | The City of Philadelphia spent nearly $112,000 to get closer to the federal government between January and June this year, according to federal lobbying records.
Following the Money in the Wisconsin, Florida and Connecticut Primaries
August 15, 2012 | This year's long, expensive and often unpredictable primary season is drawing to a close, but could still have some surprises in store. Races in Wisconsin and Florida pitted Tea Party favorites against members of the Republican old guard, and candidates are divided not just by philosophy but by fundraising style and super PAC support.
Super PACs Utilize Secretive Nonprofits to Hide Funding in Pennsylvania, Utah
August 13, 2012 | Two super PACs focused on a handful of races and advised by the same lawyer-lobbyist have kept most of their donors' names secret by drawing all or nearly all of their funds from tax-exempt groups that don't have to disclose the source of their money.
Capital Eye Opener, Aug. 13: Ryan's Biggest Supporters and Detractors, Bob Kerrey's Friends In The Media and More
August 13, 2012 | The biggest supporter of Paul Ryan's leadership PAC the last several years has been a New York City hedgefund run by a billionaire known for his support of the GOP and gay marriage; Forget about the liberal media, Bob Kerrey finds friends in the rural media.
Washington's Influence Olympics: The United States Olympic Committee
August 10, 2012 | We've had some fun here at OpenSecrets Blog pitting K Street's top power players against each other in Washington's Influence Olympics. But in all seriousness, politics has always been very much a part of the Olympic Games. The United States Olympic Committee itself is no stranger to Washington, spending millions on lobbying over the years; and several members of its board of directors are active Democratic and Republican donors.
Capital Eye Opener, July 31: An Olympic Ad Boosting Romney, the Teamsters Stay in the Game, and More
July 31, 2012 | Restore Our Future follows Priorities USA Action in using the Olympics to talk about Romney, this time in a positive light. But will Olympic officials come down on this super PAC as it did on Priorities? Also, how corporations embroiled in scandal deal with contributions to politicians, and the Teamsters stand strong in the realm of political giving.
Texas Senate Duel is Off the Charts for Outside Spending
July 31, 2012 | Ted Cruz and David Dewhurst have been collecting Republican endorsements like so many gold coins, but the real gold was the independent spending in the race by 17 different organizations. All told, $7.7 million was spent by outside groups supporting Cruz, while $6.2 million favored Dewhurst, helping make the race the costliest non-presidential race so far this election cycle.
Capital Eye Opener, July 27: LinkedIn Arrives on K Street, Anti-Incumbent Super PAC Calling It Quits and Disney World Gets Political
July 27, 2012 | LinkedIn comes to Washington, lobbying for the first time. The Campaign for Primary Accountability, though, is packing its bags, at least for this cycle. And a Republican lawmaker's leadership PAC takes folks to Disney World. Can we come next time?
Midwestern Bank PAC Funds Kochs' Americans for Prosperity
July 19, 2012 | TCF Financial's PAC has given away $105,500 in this election cycle, mostly to the usual assortment of candidates and other committees. But $25,000 -- nearly a quarter of its donations -- went to Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers' very conservative nonprofit that spent millions targeting Democrats in 2010.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Dark Horse Candidates
July 19, 2012 | The veepstakes is more art than science. Mindful of the fact that Mitt Romney could choose a running mate who's not prominent on anyone's radar screen, we bring you a list of sometimes-mentioned possibilities.
Capital Eye Opener, July 17: Romney's "Political Payoffs" Attacks, Senate Votes No on DISCLOSE, and Battle for House Majority attracts Big Bucks
July 17, 2012 | As expected, when the DISCLOSE Act came to a vote yesterday in the U.S. Senate, it was defeated along strict party lines.
Sunlight for Stealth PACS: Late-Disclosing Groups Report Donors
July 16, 2012 | Certain super PACs that spent money in primaries without disclosing where they got the funds have now had to report to the FEC. There are some familiar megadonors among them -- and in one case, a big gift from another super PAC that hasn't said where its money comes from. That just adds another layer of opaqueness to the puzzle.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Bobby Jindal
July 16, 2012 | Of all the potential GOP vice presidential candidates who might -- or might not -- be on Mitt Romney's short list, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal might present the biggest contrast with Romney himself.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Kelly Ayotte
July 12, 2012 | After being elected to the Senate just two years ago, Ayotte is in the running as a possible veep candidate. She's one of Sarah Palin's "mamma grizzlies," and has attracted lots of checks from other politicians' leadership PACs as well as from insurance and financial firms.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Tim Pawlenty
July 9, 2012 | Working-class roots and a solid fundraising record could help the former Minnesota governor get the nod.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Marco Rubio
July 6, 2012 | After riding an anti-establishment Tea Party wave into office in 2010, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has gone from being a relatively unknown state representative to a potential vice presidential pick in just two short years. Although some have reported that GOP candidate Mitt Romney is not vetting Rubio, the campaign insists it is considering the 41-year-old Florida native for the VP slot.
Lawmakers Who Took Sweetheart Loans Also Benefited From Countrywide Campaign Cash
July 5, 2012 | Six lawmakers that received special loan deals from troubled mortgage dealer Countrywide were also the beneficiaries of more than $105,000 in collective campaign contributions from the subprime giant.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Paul Ryan
July 3, 2012 | Although many in the Republican Party initially wanted Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) to run for president in 2012, they still may get to see him on the ticket as Mitt Romney's running mate.
Capital Eye Opener, July 3: DeMint's PAC Launches Super PAC Arm, A $3B Pharma Settlement and NY Soccer Club Backs Romney
July 3, 2012 | Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is moving on from his successful leadership PAC so that the group can create a new super PAC, GlaxoSmithKline agrees to the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history with the Justice Department and FC New York sports pro-Romney apparel.
Stealthy Super PACs Influenced Primaries Without Disclosing Donors
July 2, 2012 | Nine super PACs that collectively spent nearly $1.3 million in recent congressional primaries disclosed just $37,318 in contributions before voters cast their ballots, due to a loophole in Federal Election Commission disclosure rules. Whether the groups gamed the system intentionally or not, the identities of the donors to most of them won't be known till mid-July.
A Heartbeat Away? The Money-and-Politics Veepstakes: Rob Portman
June 27, 2012 | Portman's assets include the fact that he's from the battleground state of Ohio. But he also has a broad range of experience, and -- by the way -- is pretty good at fundraising.
Hatch v. FreedomWorks, JPMorgan Bankers Continue Giving Ways and More in Capital Eye Opener: June 26
June 26, 2012 | Despite outside spending, Orrin Hatch is a lock to prevail in his primary, while JPMorgan Chase employees show some love for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's leadership PAC. And a breakdown of the Obama campaign's spending.
Nonprofits Outspent Super PACs in 2010
June 18, 2012 | A joint investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and the Center for Responsive Politics has found that more than 100 nonprofits organized under section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code spent roughly $95 million on political expenditures in the 2010 election compared with $65 million by super PACs.
New OpenSecrets Feature: Top Lobbyist Donors
June 12, 2012 | If campaign donations facilitate access to power, a select group of Washington lobbyists will be scheduling many meetings on Capitol Hill after the 2012 elections. These deep-pocketed individuals regularly donate the maximum allowable amount of money to federal candidates (currently $117,000 per 2-year cycle). Today, the Center is releasing a new feature, displaying the top 25 lobbyist contributors to federal candidates, parties and outside spending groups.
Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits
May 18, 2012 | A secretive, well-funded group provided $44 million in 2010 to a host of 501(c)(4) groups, many of which were among the most active in airing ads attacking Democrats in the midterm elections. The Center to Protect Patient Rights was the source of more than half the budget of the group American Future Fund, for example. The Center's role in funding the groups has not previously been reported.
Super PAC Spending Teeters at $100 Million Mark
May 10, 2012 | Expenditures by super PACs are on the verge of hitting $100 million, further proof that outside spending will far outstrip anything seen in previous election cycles. For a little perspective, consider that one super PAC, Restore Our Future, has already spent more -- $44.5 million -- than all outside groups combined had spent at this point in 2008.
Monsanto's Deep Roots In Washington
May 9, 2012 | It's planting season, which brings to mind one of the most ubiquitous names in agribusiness: Monsanto. Love it or hate it -- and there are plenty of people on either side -- the company's formidable Washington presence makes it a tough competitor.
Chesapeake Energy CEO Invests Heavily in Politics
May 9, 2012 | Embattled Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon, embroiled in a corporate governance scandal, has invested heavily in Washington. As regulators probe his activities, he may be hoping those campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures bring a good return.
Facts on #CISPA
April 20, 2012 | SOPA is still warm in the grave, but here comes CISPA, a bill that would mean corporations could turn over info about their users to law enforcement without a court order. Privacy advocates are outraged and trying to stir up support before next week's House vote. Companies lobbying on the bill have given lots of money to its original sponsor, Republican Rep. Mike Rogers.
Hedged Bets at Renaissance Technology
April 17, 2012 | Two top executives of a wildly successful hedge fund have made different bets with their political donations.
OpenSecrets PolitiQuizz: What is Congress' Largest Asset?
April 9, 2012 | In celebration of the signing of the STOCK Act last week, this week's question has to do with the largest investment Congress has in a single company.
OpenSecrets Blog PolitiQuizz: Nancy Pelosi's Leadership PAC
April 2, 2012 | Leadership PACs run by House Republicans were dominant in contributing to candidates in 2010. The Dems fell behind. How did former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi's PAC perform compared to those of GOP leaders Eric Cantor and John Boehner?
Who's Talking to Mary Bono Mack About Internet Privacy?
March 30, 2012 | At a hearing yesterday on a proposed new law that would limit on how easily advertisers could track Internet users, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) said she'd received no letters of support for the law from constituents. But she has received tens of thousands of dollars for her campaign from opponents of the law.
Blue Dog Fundraising Climbs as Coalition Fights Extinction
March 20, 2012 | Blue Dog Democrats are an endangered species on Capitol Hill, but their fundraising suggests they may be clawing their way back with a little help from Democratic leadership PACs, among others.
VoteVets Reaped Heavy Backing from Environmental Groups
February 28, 2012 | An organization begun six years ago by Iraq war veterans received nearly $4 million from environmental groups in 2010, a year during which it spent $3.2 million running ads that targeted congressional candidates and urged passage of a climate bill.
NRCC Sees Big Spike in Cash Ahead of '12 Elections
February 13, 2012 | Super PACs and other groups doing outside spending in this election cycle have stolen most of the spotlight in campaign finance, but several "inside" organizations, such as the NRCC, are more than holding their own financially, as well.
Buying the Joint Strike Fighter Caucus
December 14, 2011 | It's the steal of the century. For the price of buying a condo in Washington, D.C., you can support the political campaigns of members of Congress who support your trillion-dollar program. Talk about return on investment!
How Much Love Will Leadership PAC Contributions Buy in GOP Presidential Race?
December 13, 2011 | Fifty-two sitting members of Congress have endorsed GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. And according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics, Romney, through his leadership PACs, has donated to 48 of them since the 2004 election cycle.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Builds List, Raises Money Off Of Tax Cut Plan
December 6, 2011 | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is trying to pressure Republicans into supporting an extension of the payroll tax cuts backed by President Barack Obama. And in the process, Reid is also trying to grow the list of supporters for his leadership PAC and maybe even raise a buck or two.
FEC Says Leadership PACs Cannot Become Super PACs
December 2, 2011 | By a unanimous vote Thursday, the six members of the Federal Election Commission agreed that leadership PACs could not raise unlimited contributions to fund independent expenditures.
How Wealthy are President Barack Obama and His Cabinet?
December 1, 2011 | President Barack Obama may be the leader of the free world, but he's far from the wealthiest person in his cabinet, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Ethics Watchdog Alleges New Jersey Democrat Used Campaign Funds for Personal Use
November 30, 2011 | A complaint to the FEC against Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) alleges that the eleven-term congressman illegally used tens of thousands of dollars contributed to his campaign to pay for a luxurious trip to Scotland to attend a donor's wedding, a graduation party for one of his daughters and to support his other daughter's acting and singing career.
Many Influential Lawmakers Invested in Wall Street Giant Goldman Sachs
November 22, 2011 | According to research by the Center for Responsive Politics, 19 current members of Congress reported holdings in Goldman Sachs during 2010. Whether by coincidence or not, most of these 19 Goldman Sachs investors in Congress are more powerful or more wealthy than their peers, or both.
One-Time Obama Bundler Now Seeing Only Red
November 16, 2011 | Chicago hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, who served as one of President Barack Obama's top fund-raisers four years ago, says he won't be backing Obama again this election. Instead, he'll be fueling an on-again, off-again love affair with the GOP and raising money to help elect Mitt Romney.
A Look Back at 2010: A New House GOP Fund-raising Paradigm?
November 9, 2011 | Getting under the hood of overall spending patterns for House campaigns reveals some dramatic differences in 2010. The search for explanations is challenging, but may be important for 2012 and future races.
Cain Ad Stars Paid Well, Senator Wants a Super PAC and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 26
October 26, 2011 | GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain released an unconventional campaign ad Monday featuring only his chief of staff Mark Block and the vocals of another aide's wife, all of whom have received generous payments from Cain's political operations.
Questions Surround Creation of Super PAC by Florida Deep Sea Burial Corporation
October 24, 2011 | Earlier this month, a Florida nonprofit corporation by the name of Deep Sea Burials, Inc., filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission forming a super PAC. The filing, however, contained several inconsistencies.
9-9-9 Architect Once Backed Romney, American Crossroads' Bold Request and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 14
October 14, 2011 | Richard Lowrie, Jr., a Wells Fargo financial analyst in a small town in Ohio, is the man behind Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan. In 2008, Lowrie contributed the legal maximum of $2,300 to Romney's presidential campaign, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. So far this year, he's only given $500 to Cain.
NBA Lobbies Despite Lockout, Bishops See Religious Freedom Under Attack and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 12
October 12, 2011 | Despite the lockout, the NBA's spending in Washington has remained to be a budget item. During the first half of 2011, the NBA spent $40,000 on federal lobbying, focused on "federal issues affecting professional sports leagues" and "cable television and copyright regulations," as well as seeking to "protect collectively bargained drug testing agreements."
Granite State Money Chase, Joe the Plumber Rises Again and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 11
October 11, 2011 | As they chase voters and campaign cash, the eight Republican presidential hopefuls will debate tonight at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Notably, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has collected more money from residents of the Granite State than any of his GOP rivals.
Eric Cantor Super PACs Up, Sarah Palin Drops Out and More in Capital Eye Opener: Oct. 7
October 7, 2011 | Sarah Palin, the former GOP governor of Alaska and 2008 vice presidential nominee, told radio host Mark Levin Wednesday that she was content to influence the political scene as a non-candidate, "unshackled" and "able to say what I want to say."
Art Pope's National Political Influence
October 6, 2011 | Art Pope, a conservative multimillionaire profiled in this week's New Yorker, used his wealth and nonprofit empire to intervene in 22 state races in North Carolina last year, 18 of which resulted in Republican victories. The man the New Yorker alleges purchased North Carolina's state legislature in the 2010 elections has steered significant sums to national Republicans as well, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Would a PAC By Any Other Name Sound As Sweet?
September 29, 2011 | Thousands of political action committee committees thrive in the federal political landscape, and new ones are popping up every week. Yet based on the names of these groups alone, the average voter rarely has enough information to determine the agenda of a particular PAC -- especially leadership PACs and super PACS.
Bipartisan Legislation Would Bring Sunshine To Debt Supercommittee
September 22, 2011 | A bipartisan group of congressional representatives has introduced legislation to require the 12 members of the debt super committee to immediately enact transparency measures that would bring its work in full view of the public. And it can't come soon enough.
Donor to Lindsey Graham Indicted for Illegal Campaign Contributions, Fraud
September 21, 2011 | A South Carolina pharmaceutical executive and major contributor to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been indicted for making at least $31,000 in illegal donations to the senator and embezzling at least $3.6 million of federal grant money, which Graham helped to earmark.
Rise of the Retirees, Postal Unions Seek to 'Save' USPS and More in Capital Eye Opener: Sept. 21
September 21, 2011 | The future of Medicare is a hot political topic. And as President Barack Obama, his potential GOP rivals and members of Congress debate the future of the program, it's likely that campaign cash from retired Americans will also be on their minds.
Men Linked to Corporate Donations to Pro-Romney Super PAC Have Long History of Donating to Romney
September 13, 2011 | Earlier this year, three donations of $1 million each were given to a super PAC supportive of the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The super PAC was called Restore Our Future. These large sums may not in and of themselves have raised eyebrows. But the identities of the donors certainly did.
Conceal and Carry Bill Targeted, Bachmann Slams Perry for Pharma Money and More in Capital Eye Opener: Sept. 13
September 13, 2011 | This morning, the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security will hold a hearing on H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, legislation that has been targeted by both gun control groups and organizations supportive of gun rights.
The Politics of Ozone Regulation
September 9, 2011 | President Barack Obama recently instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to overturn written ozone regulations. According to The Hill, the president's decision came after his chief of staff, Bill Daley, met with representatives from business trade associations and environmental groups.
Democrat David Weprin Holds Financial Advantage in Home Stretch of New York Special Election
September 2, 2011 | In the contest to fill the House seat of former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), Democratic candidate David Weprin is out-pacing his Republican opponent, Bob Turn, in terms of fund-raising.
Conservative Groups Spend Big in Nevada Special Election
September 2, 2011 | Heading into the final stretch of the campaign, Democrat Kate Marshall has out-raised Republican Mark Amodei, but outside groups have also dumped more than $800,000 into the race.
Boehner Rakes in Donations, the Redistricting Battle Continues and More in Capital Eye Opener: Aug. 25
August 25, 2011 | It might be the dog days of summer, but that hasn't stopped Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) from seizing the opportunity to fill up the coffers of his political committees.
Who's Who in the World of Super PACs?
August 24, 2011 | According to research by the Center for Responsive Politics, all liberal super PACs have raised a combined $7.61 million during the first half of 2011 -- with more than 80 percent of their money coming from 23 donors.
Barack Obama's Bus Tour, Tom Tancredo's Super PAC and More in Capital Eye Opener: Aug. 16
August 16, 2011 | Fresh off his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign as the Constitution Party candidate in Colorado, ex-Rep. Tom Tancredo has founded his own super PAC. The group, which is known as the American Legacy Alliance, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Friday.
Michele Bachmann Wins Straw Poll, Rick Perry Jumps in Presidential Race and More in Capital Eye Opener: Aug. 15
August 15, 2011 | House Tea Party Caucus founder Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) prevailed in Saturday's straw poll in Ames, Iowa. Bachmann has raised $3.6 million as of June 30. Her victory in the Ames Straw Poll will likely boost her future fund-raising hauls.
Some Joint Fund-raising Committees Corner the Market to Help Candidates Raise Cash
August 10, 2011 | One-fifth of the 377 joint fund-raising committees active during the 2010 election cycle received at least half of their donations from one sector. Less than one percent of candidate committees, on the other hand, typically received 50 percent or more of their donations from one sector during the same time period.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: How Much Financial Love Did Iowans Give Mitt Romney During His First Presidential Bid?
August 8, 2011 | For months, candidates have campaigned in Iowa and poured thousands of dollars into efforts to win what has become one of the first tests of a Republican presidential campaign's popularity and organizational strength: The Ames Straw Poll.
GOP Presidential Hopefuls Use Leadership PACs to Expand Clout
August 8, 2011 | Republican candidates in the crucial early primary and caucus states of Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire benefited significantly more than their counterparts in other states from the leadership PACs of the GOP presidential hopefuls.
Chief Information Officer's Donation History, FAA Deals and More in Capital Eye Opener: Aug. 8
August 8, 2011 | President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Steven VanRoekel will be promoted to be the executive branch's chief information officer. VanRoekel comes to the post from Microsoft, by way of the Federal Communications Commission. VanRoekel and his wife Caroline, however, are no strangers to the political process.
Money Talks: OpenSecrets.org's Interview with Top Campaign Finance Attorney Trevor Potter
August 3, 2011 | OpenSecrets Blog recently sat down with attorney Trevor Potter, the head of the Campaign Legal Center, to discuss the changing campaign finance landscape. The wide-ranging conversation touched on the seriousness of comedian Stephen Colbert's super PAC, how political speech isn't for "sissies" and how the U.S. Supreme Court is made up of "theorists" who are "not in touch with reality" when it comes to how money is being raised and spent.
David Wu's War Chest, T-Paw's Lobbyist-Bundler and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 27
July 27, 2011 | James E. Hyland, currently a lobbyist with the Pennsylvania Avenue Group, bundled $17,610 for the presidential campaign of former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Hyland is a registered lobbyist dealing mainly with the financial sector.
OpenSecrets.org Unveils 2010 'Big Picture' Analysis
July 26, 2011 | The 2010 election was a historic one for a number of reasons. And, now, a new page launched on OpenSecrets.org gives you the highlights of the 2010 election, so you can see for yourself who gave money, who got money and much, much more.
Murdoch's Cash Lines Pockets of Members of Congress
July 21, 2011 | Since the 1990 election cycle, media mogul Rupert Murdoch has contributed about $750,000 to federal candidates and political committees, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. Of that sum, 80 percent -- or $600,200 -- has benefited Republicans.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: How Much Did News Corp. Spend on Federal Lobbying in 2010?
July 18, 2011 | News Corp., listed by the Center for Responsive Politics as a "Heavy Hitter" for its expansive influence on Capitol Hill, has spent millions on campaign contributions and lobbying the federal government during the last two decades. It also owns news organizations such as Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.
California's Special Election, Paul Ryan's Wine Pal and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 12
July 12, 2011 | Cliff Asness, the founding and managing partner of hedge fund AQR Capital, and Rutgers University professor Susan Feinberg may have irreconcilable differences about a $350 bottle of wine at Washington D.C.'s Bistro Bis, but they once found common ground in the campaign of President Barack Obama. Furthermore, during the 2010 election cycle, Cliff and his wife Laurel Asness also donated $7,666 to the leadership PAC of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), with whom he was spotted sharing an expensive meal by Feinberg.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Which GOP Presidential Candidates Has Jim DeMint Previously Supported?
July 11, 2011 | Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who has become the must-have endorsement for GOP presidential hopefuls, plans on holding off any campaign support for now.
Koch Industries Solicited by Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for Campaign Cash
July 8, 2011 | Koch Industries has not taken kindly to a request from Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to contribute money to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which Murray chairs. Koch Industries, an oil and gas industry giant, primarily supports the Republican Party, but Murray was correct in noting past support from the company.
Defense Dollars to Democrats, the Odd Couple: McCotter and Unions and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 8
July 8, 2011 | Historically, Democrats in Congress have been perceived as the bigger proponents for cuts in defense spending. But recent campaign contributions from political action committees show party affiliation alone doesn't translate to support -- or lack thereof -- from defense interests.
Anti-Castro PACs Dole Out Campaign Cash, Mitt Romney Earns a Utah Endorsement and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 6
July 6, 2011 | Today, congressional representatives are typically more wary about publicly supporting of Castro, and an active anti-Castro lobby has been financially generous to opponents of the Cuban communist leader. During the 2010 cycle, anti-Castro political action committees donated more than $3 million to congressional campaigns across the country, with a roughly two-to-one ratio of contributions to Democrats over Republicans.
NEA Endorses Obama, Freshman Senator Becoming Key Tea Party Player and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 5
July 5, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
The Politics of Hot Dogs, PAC Patriotism and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 4
July 4, 2011 | Rather than your usual daily dose of news and tidbits, today OpenSecrets Blog brings to you three things associated with the July 4th holiday -- patriotism, hotdogs and fireworks -- and information on their relation to the wide world of money and politics. Happy Independence Day!
Capital Rivals: A Telecom Battle Royal
June 30, 2011 | Facing potentially stifling federal regulations that threaten to short-circuit their profits, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile have each dumped millions of dollars into campaign contributions and federal lobbying expenditures, hoping that a barrage of political influence will subdue any unwanted restrictions.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Solicits Cash for New Democratic Super PAC
June 22, 2011 | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has given his blessing to a new big-money super PAC and authored a fund-raising missive on the group's behalf, OpenSecrets Blog has learned. Reid's direct appeal for his supporters to open their wallets for Majority PAC comes at a time of increased haziness about how explicitly lawmakers can raise money for big-money outside groups without running afoul of federal election laws.
FDA Introduces New Cigarette Warning Labels, NRCC Out-Raises DCCC and More in Capital Eye Opener: June 22
June 22, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Prolific Fund-Raiser Michele Bachmann Enters Republican Presidential Fray
June 13, 2011 | Bachmann raised the most money during the 2010 election cycle, outpacing 434 of her House colleagues, as OpenSecrets Blog has previously noted. Her dominant $13.5 million haul was much more than House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who was a distant second with nearly $9.8 million in fundraising.
OpenSecrets.org Mailbag: Sarah Palin's Pocketbook, Candidates' Donor Numbers and More
June 10, 2011 | Welcome to the latest installment of OpenSecrets.org Mailbag, where we answer your burning questions about the role of money in politics, political influence and the work we do here at OpenSecrets.org.
Conservative Democrat Dan Boren, a Fund-Raising Powerhouse, to Leave Congress in 2012
June 7, 2011 | Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), the state's only Democratic congressman, announced today that he will not seek re-election in 2012.
Tobacco Companies Adjusting Strategies to Remain Prominent Political Players
June 7, 2011 | After dealing with legal battles and widespread health concerns, tobacco companies have been working toward transforming their image -- and approaching politics more discreetly.
From Plumbers to Bankers, Anthony Weiner Long Enjoyed Diverse Campaign Cash Support
June 6, 2011 | Weiner's top donors hailed from his home state and belonged to the real estate and law industries, as well as the securities and investment and television and music industries.
Democrat or Republican, National Party Committees Reap Campaign Riches From Registered Lobbyists
June 6, 2011 | The Democratic National Committee has a policy against accepting donations from registered lobbyists, but the other national party committees are all too happy to take lobbyists' money.
Exclusive: DNC Accepted Lobbyist Donations in Violation of Internal Policy, Will Return Contributions
June 3, 2011 | The Democratic National Committee will reimburse at least 10 registered federal lobbyists who donated to the committee -- a violation of the organization's stated policies -- after OpenSecrets Blog brought the donations to the DNC's attention this afternoon.
Follow Lobbyists' Money With New Features on OpenSecrets.org
June 1, 2011 | As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was running for re-election, about $1 out of every $20 he raised for his massive war chest came from a tiny but elite group of Washington insiders: federally registered lobbyists and their immediate family members, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics of campaign finance data and lobbying reports.
John Edwards Indictment Ahead, Retirees Heart GOP Senators and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 27
May 27, 2011 | Although a variety of factors likely went into each senator's decision to vote down the Ryan budget, interestingly, retirees -- who often lean Republican in their political contributions, as OpenSecrets Blog has previously noted -- are among the top donors to all four Republican senators who voted against the bill.
GOP Hopefuls Kick Off Fund-raising, Abnormal Stock Returns for House Members and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 25
May 25, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
BP Back in Politics, T-Paw Makes it Official and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 24
May 24, 2011 | BP may still be reeling from its tarnished reputation following last year's Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but it continues its attempted comeback -- at least in the political sphere.
Politicians Rushing for Fraternity and Sorority PAC Money
May 19, 2011 | Of late, the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee has become a financial force for candidates who "champion Greek issues."
Republican Presidential Hopefuls Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich Report Latest Leadership PAC Hauls
May 19, 2011 | During April, the leadership PAC of House Tea Party Caucus founder Michele Bachmann, who is considering a presidential bid, raised $172,800, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' review of campaign finance documents filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.
Surge of Last-Minute Spending Hits New York Special Congressional Election
May 17, 2011 | During the past seven days, outside groups have shelled out more than $1.2 million on political messages in New York's 26th Congressional District, where a special election is being held on May 24, touting their preferred candidates and criticizing their opponents, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Blue Dogs' Lobbying, SEC's Revolving Door and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 16
May 16, 2011 | BLUE DOGS CHASE JOBS ON K STREET: Having been systematically targeted by congressional Republicans during the 2010 election cycle, some conservative Blue Dog Democrats appear to have found a silver lining to their exile from Capitol Hill.
Will Ron Paul's Third Presidential Run Be a Charm for Texas Republican?
May 13, 2011 | Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), the granddaddy of the Tea Party movement, showed the world he could turn enthusiastic grassroots support into political gold during the 2008 election cycle. But as he again seeks the GOP presidential nomination this year, Paul hopes he won't be just playing second fiddle to the Romneys and Gingriches of the race.
Can Small-Dollar Donors Fuel a Michele Bachmann Presidential Bid?
May 12, 2011 | Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), the founder of the House Tea Party Caucus, is weighing a presidential bid. And as she does, Bachmann may have a strong claim on President Barack Obama's mantle of small-dollar donor fund-raising success.
Donnelly Runs for Senate, Howard Dean's Group Calls for Afghanistan Withdrawal and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 10
May 10, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Herman Cain Touts Outside Status Despite Numerous Financial Ties to Politicians
May 6, 2011 | While former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain has never occupied elected office, he is no stranger to Washington's world of money in politics. Cain has regularly opened his wallet for political allies, and he even operates his own political action committee, called the Hermanator PAC.
Barack Obama Seeks Big Bucks, Lobby Shop Hires Norm Coleman and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 28
April 28, 2011 | President Barack Obama returned Wednesday night to a land where campaign cash has flowed for him like milk and honey: New York City. Of every $20 Obama raised when he ran for president in 2008, $1 came from someone in New York City. And as he battles for re-election, Obama is hoping to keep his New York City supporters motivated to again open their pocketbooks for him.
Firefighters Halt Campaign Donations, Ron Paul's Bid and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 27
April 27, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
Donald Trump's Political Donations, Lobbying Law Firms Drop DOMA Defense and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 26
April 26, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Haley Barbour Nixes Presidential Run Despite Promising Fund-Raising, Frequent Campaigning
April 25, 2011 | After months spent on the campaign trail, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour today decided against entering the 2012 presidential race despite a strong history of political fund-raising.
BP Firing Up Political Machine One Year After Start of Oil Spill
April 19, 2011 | After a year of largely self-imposed campaign finance exile, embattled oil company BP is again making federal political contributions from the political action committee sponsored by its North American subsidy, a Center for Responsive Politics review of federal records indicates.
FEC Audits Obama's 2008 Campaign, Vilsack to Run in Iowa And More in Captial Eye Opener: April 19
April 19, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Ron Paul Mulls Presidential Bid, Watchdog Calls for FEC De-funding and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 18
April 18, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Conservative Ex-Sen. Rick Santorum Faces Financial Hurdles as Potential Presidential Candidate
April 14, 2011 | Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) revealed Wednesday night on Fox News that he is forming an exploratory committee in a quest to potentially seek the GOP presidential nomination. His hang-up? Campaign cash.
Business Targets Campaigns of Key Committee Members
April 13, 2011 | It's no secret that corporations and special interest groups that dominate lobbying in the nation's capital routinely shower campaign cash on congressional committees directly affecting affect their business interests. But a study by the Center for Responsive Politics and The Fiscal Times found that special interests routinely target members of Congress who can do them the most good.
Financial PACs 'Invest' in Influential Freshmen
April 13, 2011 | Five House Republican freshmen who received substantial campaign contribution from the financial industry after the Nov. 2 election are taking the lead in trying to repeal or replace parts of the sweeping Dodd-Frank financial services reform law.
Prolific Fund-Raiser Mitt Romney Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee
April 11, 2011 | Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney today announced his intention to explore a presidential run in a video posted on his website. Romney, a Republican and proven political fund-raiser, was long expected to declare his intention to again run for president.
A New DNC Chair, a Super PAC for Obama and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 7
April 7, 2011 | Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is the new chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She succeeds former Virginia governor Tim Kaine who held the post since 2009.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election's Big Money, Kaine's Senate Bid and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 6
April 6, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Stephen Colbert's New PAC, SEC's New Shareholder Rights and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 1
April 1, 2011 | In a dispute with Home Depot regarding shareholders' rights to know about the company's political spending, the Securities and Exchange Commission has come down on the side of additional transparency. Shareholder activism has been a hot bed of activity since the U.S. Supreme Court, a year ago, overturned a ban on corporate independent expenditures in federal elections in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
Libya Defense Spending, T-Paw's Fund-raising and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 29
March 29, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Facebook Friending Robert Gibbs?
March 28, 2011 | Facebook is looking to hire Gibbs into a senior position within the company's global communications department. We want you to identify the site's other D.C. movers and shakers.
Bachmann Joins GOP Field, Mideast Troubles Hit K Street and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 25
March 25, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
Finance Sector Loves Tim Pawlenty, Whirlpool Loves Tax Credits and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 22
March 22, 2011 | Republican Tim Pawlenty, who yesterday launched a presidential exploratory committee, built a massive war chest during the 2010 election cycle to aid fellow Republicans. Who was fueling this money machine?
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Tim Pawlenty's Road to the Republican Nomination
March 21, 2011 | After months of publicly flirting with the idea, former-Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty officially announced today his intention to explore a run for president of the United States -- a half-step, if there ever was one, to an official, full-blown, full-steam-ahead run for the nation's highest office.
Using Facebook, GOP Upstart Tim Pawlenty Announces Presidential Bid Exploration After Months of Preparation
March 21, 2011 | Republican Tim Pawlenty, the former two-term governor of Minnesota, has decided to explore a run for the U.S. presidency. "Join the team," he said in a message on Facebook, "and together, we'll restore America."
Unions, Businesses Vie to Fill Democratic Pocketbook
March 16, 2011 | Even as many Democrats have stood in solidarity with workers whose collective bargaining rights have come under fire in Wisconsin and elsewhere across the country, at the federal level, Democratic candidates and groups have increasingly relied on the business community for support.
American Crossroads to Disclose Less Frequently, Chris Lee Returns Cash and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 14
March 14, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
DeMint's $15 Million Goal, A Corporate Boycott in Wisconsin and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 11
March 11, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
American Action Network Under Fire, Barbour's Hire and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 9
March 9, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Ensign Out, Scalia and Thomas Under Fire and More In Capital Eye Opener: March 8
March 8, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics
Study Examines Donation Patterns, Akaka Announces Retirement and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 4
March 4, 2011 | Which politicians do you decide to support with campaign cash? If you are part of the fraction of one percent of the country's population that donates money to politicians, researchers at Vanderbilt University suggest the answer is the "economically relevant" ones.
Republican Newt Gingrich Wants to Party Like It's 1995
March 3, 2011 | Former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich of Georgia, who served as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 through 1998, is testing the waters of a presidential run.
The Red Cross Lobby, Congressman Beats Jeopardy! Computer and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 2
March 2, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Ex-Sen. Chris Dodd Takes a Spin Through the Revolving Door to Motion Picture Association of America
March 1, 2011 | Former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) may not be legally allowed to lobby his colleagues on the Hill until 2013, but that hasn't stopped him from taking the job of Hollywood's top lobbyist.
Karl Rove's Comeback, 'Most Transparent' Congressman and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 1
March 1, 2011 | Karl Rove was once known by his boss, President George W. Bush, as Turd Blossom, but can his new nickname be the Comeback Kid? An article in New York Magazine explains that after numerous political setbacks, scandal and an ideologically divided party the former senior adviser to Bush "has a new lease on life" mainly in due to his political committees' fund-raising and electoral success.
Looking Back at the Political Past of Former AIG Executive Joseph Cassano, Financial Crisis' 'Patient Zero'
February 28, 2011 | Investor Joseph Cassano, who was fired from insurance giant AIG three years ago this week, has been called "patient zero" of the financial crisis. Before his fall from grace, Cassano generously supported a few favored politicians, especially former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who served as the chairman of the powerful Senate Banking Committee.
American Solutions for Winning the Future: Republican Newt Gingrich's Mighty Political Committee
February 22, 2011 | During the past five years, Republican Newt Gingrich has raised about $52 million for his tax-exempt 527 committee, including $28.2 million during 2009 and 2010, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.
Republican National Committee's Haul, Target's Contributions and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 22
February 22, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money and politics.
Valentine's Day Lobby and PAC Loving, Barbour's Baggage and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 15
February 15, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money and politics...
Rep. Chris Lee, Resigning Amid Sex-Tinged Scandal, Had Been Strongly Supported By Conservatives
February 9, 2011 | Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.), who resigned from Congress this evening after website Gawker published a shirtless photo of the married politico that he e-mailed to a woman he met on Craigslist, had previously enjoyed solid conservative backing, the Center for Responsive Politics finds.
Jane Harman Leaves Congress, Obama Meets the Chamber of Commerce and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 8
February 8, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money and politics.
Political Powerhouses Raise Millions with Leadership PACs
February 3, 2011 | Big-name political figures, including potential presidential candidates and party leaders, hauled in millions of dollars during the 2010 election cycle through their personal leadership PACs, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of campaign finance reports recently filed with the Federal Election Commission. And Republicans dominated.
Earmarks Banned, Parties In Debt and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 2
February 2, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Trial Lawyer Charlie Crist, Kent Conrad to Retire and More in Capital Eye Opener: January 18
January 18, 2011 | After his failed U.S. Senate bid, Florida Republican-turned-independent Charlie Crist has joined the law firm Morgan and Morgan, his top campaign contributor. Morgan and Morgan employees gave Crist more than $98,000 during his run for Senate, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Political Gifts From Beyond the Grave: Dead Woman Donates Thousands of Dollars to Tea Party Express
January 14, 2011 | For more than two years, the Tea Party Express' political war chest has been filled with thousands of dollars in donations from a dead woman. How exactly Joan Holmes, who died in 2007, made $7,500 worth of donations from beyond the grave is shrouded in mystery: Both Lee Holmes, her husband, and a Tea Party Express official deny that they're responsible.
Dusty Trails for Hutchison, Greg Craig Goes to Georgia And More in Capital Eye Opener: January 14
January 14, 2011 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Speaker Heath Shuler, Political Nonprofits and More in Capital Eye Opener: January 6
January 6, 2011 | Top Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) is not the new speaker of the House. But he did cast a protest vote for himself on Wednesday -- and so did 10 of his House colleagues, nine of whom are also Blue Dogs.
Senators Supporting Ethanol Subsidies Reap Riches From Corn Interests
January 3, 2011 | In habitually partisan Washington, D.C., a bipartisan group of senators last week helped extend contentious federal tax provisions designed to aid domestic ethanol production. The senators mostly shared common ground on two fronts: geography and contributions from the political action committees of ethanol producers, high-profile ethanol promoters and the leading industry groups for corn, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.
OpenSecrets.org's Top 10 Money-in-Politics Stories of 2010
December 31, 2010 | A review of the most notable money-in-politics events during 2010, as determined by the staff of OpenSecrets.org.
Capital Rivals: U.S. Chamber of Commerce vs. SEIU
December 28, 2010 | This edition of Capital Rivals takes an intimate look at two of the biggest big players in politics: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union.
No Text Message Campaign Contributions, A Movement to 'Fix the Senate' and More in Capital Eye Opener: December 14
December 14, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Bank of America Spending Riches to Influence Federal Government that Fined it $137 Million
December 8, 2010 | While being targeted by the government for consumer and corporate power abuses, Bank of America has spent millions of dollars attempting to woo state and federal officials through professional lobbying efforts and campaign contributions, an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics finds. The company even has two corporate political action committees that target the levels of government differently.
General Motors' Political Committee Cut Big Checks to Lawmakers Who Voted Against Company's Bailout
December 7, 2010 | GM's corporate political action committee waited until July of this year -- 19 months after it first got government aid to continue its operations -- to begin contributing again to lawmakers. And the PAC has made 184 individual donations totaling more than $330,000 between July and Election Day, with 52 percent benefiting Republicans, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of contributions to federal candidates, leadership PACs and party committees.
Casino Harry Reid, Freshmen Cash In and More in Capital Eye Opener: December 6
December 6, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Capital Rivals: Nancy Pelosi vs. John Boehner
December 2, 2010 | Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio) lawmakers have been in Congress for at least two decades, and have plenty influence to show for it. Political watchers are prepared for the rivals -- their positions switched -- to resume their sparring in January. OpenSecrets Blog, meanwhile, details who may have the key political advantages as the curtain opens on the 112th Congress.
'Bitching and Moaning' About Citizens United, RNC in Debt? and More in Capital Eye Opener: December 2
December 2, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Gay Rights Political Donations Plummet Amid Contentious Congressional Session
November 30, 2010 | The years leading up to the 2010 midterm election have been an important stretch for gay rights advocates, but you wouldn't necessarily know it by gauging the amount of money invested this cycle by gay and lesbian rights groups and their donors.
Mitt Romney's Creative PAC Strategy, Making Nice with the Chamber and More in Capital Eye Opener: November 23
November 23, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics...
Who's Backing the New Top Blue Dogs' Bark, Bite?
November 22, 2010 | The Blue Dogs have elevated Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), John Barrow (D-Ga.) and Mike Ross (D-Ark.) as their new leaders. Which donors and special interests have these men relied upon to fill their war chests?
FEC Clears Ensign, Dems Choose New DCCC Chair and More in Capital Eye Opener: November 22
November 22, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
In Life After Prison, Abramoff-Linked Bob Ney Utilizes Rival of Top Campaign Contributor UPS to Vote Absentee
November 20, 2010 | "I did vote this year by absentee ballot," ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), who is currently studying Buddhist mediation techniques in India, recently told the National Journal, "with the help of FedEx." Notably, while Ney was a member of Congress, FedEx's chief rival -- United Parcel Service -- was one of Ney's top campaign contributors.
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Suspended Over Political Donations, Has Political History of His Own
November 19, 2010 | MSNBC's newest suspension victim is former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.), the current co-host of the network's "Morning Joe" program. Scarborough's recent political contributions build upon a history of giving to Republican candidates.
The Wave of Unlimited Influence, 7-Eleven's Slurpee Summit and More in Capital Eye Opener: November 19
November 19, 2010 | A Center for Responsive Politics study finds that both the number of groups not disclosing their donors and the number of groups collecting unlimited amounts of money more than doubled since the 2008 election
Leadership Battle Between Nancy Pelosi, Heath Shuler Pitted Bankroller Against Beneficiary
November 18, 2010 | After losing more than 60 seats in the U.S. House, some Democrats balked at re-electing Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as their caucus' top dog. Former Washington Redskins quarterback and Blue Dog Rep. Heath Shuler went so far as to run against Pelosi, who has funneled $28,000 to Shuler over the years.
Convicted: House Panel Says Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel Guilty of Ethics Violations
November 16, 2010 | In a rare trial, a special House ethics committee panel today convicted Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), the once powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, on 11 counts of violating House ethics policies.
Which Industries Won and Lost in Election 2010?
November 10, 2010 | Imagine that every member of Congress represents the industry or special interests that have contributed the most to his or her campaign coffers. Which industries and special interests, then, lost or won seats in Congress during the 2010 midterm election?
EXCLUSIVE: Confidential JPMorgan Chase Memo Predicts Congressional 'Gridlock'
November 9, 2010 | JPMorgan Chase, the $2 trillion bank and financial services firm, predicts that the newly Republican-controlled U.S. House will clash with the still-Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate to the point where progress on large legislation is completely halted, according to a confidential memorandum dated Nov. 3 and obtained by OpenSecrets Blog.
Some Corporations and Trade Associations Hedged Bets on Winners of Midterm Elections
November 5, 2010 | Some corporations and trade groups seemingly believe that no political party is inherently better than another. And they donate as such.
Wall Street's Double Standard, What's New at OpenSecrets and More in Capital Eye Opener: November 4
November 4, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Michele Bachmann's Massive War Chest, Top Leadership PACs and More in Capital Eye Opener: November 1
November 1, 2010 | In her re-election bid, sophomore Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), the chair of the House Tea Party Caucus, has spent more than any other House candidate running for office this year. As of Oct. 13, she had spent a staggering $8.7 million -- that's one-and-a-half times as much as she spent in 2008 and nearly two-and-a-half times as much as she spent in 2006.
Will Political Cash Determine Next Senate Majority Leader?
October 31, 2010 | Behind the scenes, several current senators have been pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign coffers of fellow Democratic candidates. Could these big givers be positioning themselves to man the helm of the Senate Democratic caucus if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid falls to Republican challenger Sharron Angle?
Democratic Lawmakers Help Bankroll Blue Dog Gene Taylor, Who Voted For McCain Over Obama
October 29, 2010 | Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) collected $11,500 from fellow Democrats during his 2008 congressional bid, and he's collected $10,500 from Democratic leadership PACs and candidate committees since January 2009, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Gold's Gym Gay Rights Showdown, Top Races for Outside Spending and More in Capital Eye Opener: October 27
October 27, 2010 | Gay rights advocates have taken aim at Gold's Gym after its parent company and parent company's chief executive donated a combined millions to American Crossroads, the top conservative group, which is backing many Republican candidates unsupportive of gay rights. American Crossroads is a "Super PAC" which can raise unlimited amounts of money from individuals and corporations.
Nalco, Company Behind Dispersants Used in Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Clean Up, Ratchets Up Politicking in 2010
October 27, 2010 | The Illinois-based company that manufactured the dispersants used by BP after the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico spent exponentially more on federal lobbying in the disaster's wake than it has historically.
In Alaska, Special Interest Spending Could Affect Republican Lisa Murkowski's Political Fate
October 26, 2010 | Spending by outside groups may help determine the re-election chances of incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski who's battling for her political life in the nation's Last Frontier.
Led By George Soros' Son, Student Contributions Buoy Democrats in 2010 Midterms
October 20, 2010 | In the run up to the 2010 midterm elections, Soros joins a handful of young, emerging political heavyweights, many of whom are related to other prolific political donors. And they're helping tip the scales toward Democrats in the competition for students' campaign cash, the Center's analysis indicates.
Tea Party-Loving Republican Senate Candidates Propelled by Cash from Ideological Groups, Small Donors
October 7, 2010 | Thirteen Tea Party-backed Republicans want the U.S. Senate to experience a new brand of political brew after November 2. The question isn't whether they will or won't, but rather, how many of them will be in office? And donations from people making modest campaign contributions appear poised to play an integral role in propelling them into office.
Vulnerable Incumbents, Promising Upstart Candidates Reap Financial Benefits From Political Brethren
October 6, 2010 | The top beneficiaries of the generosity from party leaders and other politicians who donate with their leadership PACs and candidate committees are some of the party's most vulnerable incumbents and most promising challengers.
Sen. Jim DeMint, Adopting EMILY's List and ActBlue Tactics, Pumping Cash into GOP Pockets
October 5, 2010 | Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a Tea Party-loving conservative who wants to shake up and remold the institution he currently calls home, stands above other lawmakers in the frontier of creative uses of leadership PACs to aide fellow candidates.
Candidates' Ties to Lobbyists Pose Obstacles in 2010 Campaigns
October 4, 2010 | Dollars spent on lobbying are set to increase over all other years if spending remains on its current course. And in context of 2010 congressional campaigns, the top lobbyist-funded House and Senate candidates have received more than $9 million to fuel their campaigns.
Oil and Gas Contributions Still Rising in 2010, Republicans Receiving Bulk of Industry Cash
October 1, 2010 | This spring and summer, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil seeped into the Gulf of Mexico. Simultaneously, debate raged in Congress about ocean drilling, energy independence, cap and trade legislation and a shift away from fossil-fuel energy sources. Nevertheless, congressional candidates and federal political committees nationwide have raked in more than $17 million from the oil and gas industry so far during the 2010 election cycle -- a number on pace to easily exceed that of the most recent midterm election four years ago.
Candidates in Hotly Contested Races Collect Big Money from Wall Street Interests
September 27, 2010 | Ahead of the November election, top 20 House beneficiaries of the people and political action committees associated with the finance, insurance and real estate sector have together collected more than $16.2 million from Wall Street interests since January 2009. Meanwhile, the Senate candidates and sitting senators to receive the most from Wall Street interests raked in more than $41.3 million since January 2005 -- the beginning of their six-year election cycle.
Republicans' 'Pledge,' Stephen Colbert Comes to Washington and More in Capital Eye Opener: September 24
September 24, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Decreasing Gay Rights Donations, Crist Keeps GOP Cash and More in Capital Eye Opener: September 23
September 23, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics: GAY RIGHTS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS DOWN IN CONTENTIOUS YEAR: Gay and lesbian advocacy groups have had a chaotic week. Gay rights advocates won big Wednesday with Florida overturning a ban on gay adoption for infringement of Constitutional rights. But on Tuesday, despite Lady Gaga's best efforts, a Republican filibuster blocked the Senate from repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gay military members serving openly.
The Rise of 'Super PACs' Continues, Leaving Voters in Dark as Attack Ads Fill Airwaves
September 22, 2010 | The proliferation of "super PACs" -- political organizations armed with the ability to raise unlimited amounts of money from wealthy individuals and corporations and to spend huge sums explicitly advocating for or against candidates -- continues at a staggering pace.
Capital Rivals: Koch Brothers vs. George Soros
September 21, 2010 | OpenSecrets Blog is here to investigate the numbers behind these bold-faced names in our new feature, Capital Rivals.
Business Favors GOP, Poll Shows Tie Amongst Parties, and More in Capital Eye Opener: September 21, 2010
September 21, 2010 | The Wall Street Journal used data from the Center for Responsive Politics to show a clear swing in political action committee contributions throughout the business sector.
Obama Presses DISCLOSE Act, a New Airline Lobbying Force and More in Capital Eye Opener: September 20
September 20, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
Three Obama Administration Employees Fell Through Cracks of Lobbyist Deregistration Process
September 16, 2010 | The first lady's chief of staff. A top government official in charge of fair housing. A senior staffer at the Education Department. These three people share a common distinction: Not only did they each work as registered lobbyists prior to joining the Obama administration last year, but they were never officially deregistered as lobbyists before taking on their new jobs, a Center for Responsive Politics review of lobbying disclosure reports filed with the House and Senate indicates.
Lieberman Still Hearts Reid, A New Conservative Media Network Launches and More in Capital Eye Opener: September 9
September 9, 2010 | In addition to some famous friends, Reid has managed to collect campaign donations from an unlikely source back in Washington: Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
Follow the Money From Energy-Related Interests With New 'Fueling Washington' Tools
August 27, 2010 | Want to know which sitting member of Congress has received the most money from the oil and gas industry? Which lawmaker has received the most from environmentalists? The alternative energy industry? Now you can find that information in one centralized location on OpenSecrets.org -- presented with sort-able and down-loadable options for your convenience.
Harry Reid's Famous Friends, M-I-C-H-E-L-E PAC and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 27
August 27, 2010 | HARRY REID APPARENTLY HAS FAMOUS FRIENDS: And according to The Hill, they're bringing out their checkbooks on behalf of the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is fighting for his political life against Republican Sharron Angle in Nevada -- and that turns out to be a savvy pitch for several famous folks who have collectively committed thousands to Reid's campaign.
Recap of Tuesday's Primaries, John Boehner's Economic Interests and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 25
August 25, 2010 | Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Some Primary Knowledge
August 23, 2010 | Voters in Florida, Arizona and Alaska will head to the ballot box Tuesday to vote in primary races that have been particularly contentious. And expensive.
Beyond Tom DeLay: J.D. Hayworth, Roy Blunt, Others Reaped Financial Rewards From Disgraced Lobbyist Jack Abramoff
August 17, 2010 | J.D. Hayworth and Roy Blunt are not the only active politicians to have accepted donations from tainted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In all, 37 current congressional candidates and sitting members of Congress received money from Abramoff and his wife.
OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: A Politician to 'Believe' In
August 16, 2010 | Other than the actual act of legislating, perhaps no business in Washington warrants more thought for politicians than fund-raising. Raising money is, after all -- and as our readers know -- the lifeblood for any politician hoping to keep his or her day job. But that doesn't mean they can't have a little fun doing it,
527 Groups Find Big Donors, Resort Company Donates Big Despite Loss and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 12
August 12, 2010 | Individuals -- many of them wealthy CEOs and executives from some of the nation's more moneyed businesses -- contributed more than $20.5 million to 527 political action groups in the second quarter of 2010, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.
Wall Street-Related Political Contributions Shift Toward Republicans
August 10, 2010 | Financial firms and the people who work for them are increasingly donating their political cash to Republicans, a preliminary Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal campaign finance data indicates.
Gay-Friendly Companies: Is GOP Senate Candidate Sharron Angle Trying to Have it Both Ways With Their Money?
August 9, 2010 | Angle, to date, hasn't raised a dime from any corporate PAC, but according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis, she has taken at least $8,900 from leaders of companies known to offer employee benefits to same-sex spouses or that operate in jurisdictions that recognize marriage between same-sex couples.
Indicted PMA Group Boss Paul Magliocchetti Spread Wealth to Dozens of Politicians
August 6, 2010 | A Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates that indicted lobbyist Paul Magliocchetti and his spouses together donated more than $792,000 to federal-level candidates and political committees since the 1990 election cycle.
Partisan Politics and Journalism Intermingle as Sidney Harman, Husband of Democratic Rep. Jane Harman, Buys 'Newsweek'
August 3, 2010 | Thanks to her husband, billionaire industrialist Sidney Harman, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) ranks as one of the richest members of Congress. Now, this powerful federal official can add another element to her acumen: wife of a media mogul.
Vulnerable House Dems – But Not Obama – Divest Campaign Cash While Pressuring Embattled Charlie Rangel
August 3, 2010 | In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, President Barack Obama called ethics charges brought against Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) "very troubling" and said he hopes Rangel will be able to "end his career with dignity." The president's comments came three days after the House Ethics Committee, on Thursday, concluded a nearly two-year investigation and charged Rangel with 13 ethics violations.
Another Democrat Charged with Ethics Violations, Bachmann Starts PAC And More in Capital Eye Opener: August 3
August 3, 2010 | A slew of court ruling weakening campaign finance laws and vulnerability of Democrats in key districts is prompting conservative groups to hike their campaign spending far above 2008 levels.
Tea Party Caucus Members Bankrolled by Health Professionals, Retirees, Oil Interests
July 30, 2010 | A Center for Responsive Politics analysis shows that the biggest contributors to the 49 members of the newly-established congressional Tea Party caucus -- it so far includes only Republican -- are health professionals, retired individuals, the real estate industry and oil and gas interests. Furthermore, donations from health professionals, oil and gas interests and Republican and conservative groups are, on average, higher for Tea Party caucus members than for members of the House of Representatives in general and even their fellow House Republicans.
Few Seats in the 'People's House' for Rangel Hearing, Cantor the PAC Man and more in Capital Eye Opener: July 30
July 30, 2010 | Twenty-term Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) faces a world of political hurt now that the Democrat-controlled House ethics committee hit its own political kin with 13 ethics charges.
Politically Well-Connected Goldman Sachs Sees Slump in PAC Giving, Retains Hefty Balance For Future Contributions
July 21, 2010 | In June, the sole beneficiary of Goldman Sachs was House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), to whom the PAC cut a $5,000 check on June 8, according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of campaign finance documents filed Tuesday.
Millions of Influential Dollars Later, Senate Passes Wall Street Reform
July 19, 2010 | Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) voted against the Democrats' Wall Street reform bill because he thought it wasn't strong enough to prevent another economic meltdown. Feingold was in a position to stand up to Wall Street like few other senators. Contributions from the finance, insurance and real estate sector account for just 3.75 percent of Feingold's overall contributions over his career. Just two other senators have relied less on money from the financial sector.
Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner, a Long-Time Political Donor Once Pardoned by Ronald Reagan for Illegal Contributions to Richard Nixon, Dies After Heart Attack
July 13, 2010 | George Steinbrenner, who died after suffering a heart attack Tuesday morning, owned the New York Yankees since 1973. Steinbrenner's history with politics is as long as his history with baseball. In 1974, he pled guilty to making illegal contributions to President Richard Nixon's reelection campaign two years prior -- an action for which he later received a presidential pardoned. Additionally, he, along with his wife, contributed more than $196,000 to federal candidates and committees since 1989.
Lobbyists Tops Among Senator's Contributors, NRA May Endorse Harry Reid And More in Capital Eye Opener: July 7
July 7, 2010 | LOBBYISTS TOP LIST OF SENATOR'S BIGGEST CAMPAIGN DONORS: Now seeking her fourth term in office, the donor list for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) may reflect one of the benefits of incumbency: Lobbyists are the senator's biggest campaign supporters.
Lawmakers Go Out To The Ballgame, Sometimes For Campaign Cash
June 29, 2010 | At least a dozen lawmakers have held fund-raising events at baseball games at Nationals Park this year, including three slated to play in tonight's annual congressional baseball game, based on a Center for Responsive Politics review of invitations leaked to PoliticalPartyTime.org.
BP's Chief Executive Enjoys a Yacht Race, Romney Donates Big to Nikki Haley and More in Capital Eye Opener: June 21
June 21, 2010 | YACHT A GOOD IDEA?: BP's chief executive, Tony Hayward, came under fire once again on Saturday for spending the day off the coast of England watching his yacht compete in for the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, a yacht race around the Isle of Wight.
Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP — and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash
June 17, 2010 | Individuals or PACs associated with the oil and gas industry as a whole have been Barton's biggest patron since he entered Congress in 1999, donating more than $1,448,380. The figure puts him at No. 1 among all House members for donations from the industry, fifth among members of Congress and fourth among active members of Congress.
Congressional Ethics Watchdog Investigating Finance Sector Contributions to Lawmakers
June 15, 2010 | Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, political action committees within the finance, insurance and real estate sector contributed $276,750 to eight House members at the center of a recently launched ethics probe investigating whether lawmakers received money in exchange for votes, the Center for Responsive Politics has found.
Financial Reform Bill to Be Finalized by Members Who Benefit from Wall Street Cash
June 10, 2010 | Democratic and Republican leadership in both the House and Senate have named 43 individuals to a conference committee tasked with hammering out the final version of the Congress' financial regulatory reform legislation. These members comprise just 8 percent of Congress, but they have been far more likely to benefit from Wall Street's cash.
Jack Abramoff's Money Still Casts Shadows as Fallen Lobbyist Is Transferred from Federal Prison to Halfway House
June 9, 2010 | Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff is out of the slammer, CNN has reported. Four years ago, Abramoff pled guilty to several charges related to defrauding millions from Indian tribes he represented as a lobbyist and corrupting public officials.
Big Oil's Six-Figure Love for Congressional Candidates, Sarah Palin's Snub and More in Capital Eye Opener: June 3
June 3, 2010 | The oil and gas industry has funneled six-figure chunks of campaign cash to a dozen different candidates in all this election cycle, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.
Prominent Democratic Bankroller Steven Rattner Faces Stiff SEC Penalties as Kickback Accusations Swirl
June 2, 2010 | A preliminary Center for Responsive Politics analysis of Rattner's campaign donations since 2007 indicates he's donated tens of thousands of dollars to federal candidates and committees, including $36,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $14,250 to the Democratic National Committee, $4,600 to President Barack Obama and $2,300 to Vice President Joe Biden.
Senators Who Opposed Financial Reform Got More Cash on Average from Wall Street Interests
May 24, 2010 | Senators who voted against the sweeping financial regulatory reform bill Thursday have received about 16 percent more money from the finance, insurance and real estate sector over their careers than senators who supported the measure, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.
Insurgent Candidates See Electoral Success in Hot Senate Races
May 19, 2010 | Massive campaign war chests and establishment endorsements were not enough to be victorious in some of the country's most contested Senate primaries Tuesday night. One sitting Senator was defeated and another is heading to a run-off in three weeks, as candidates worked to distance themselves from Washington and position themselves as crusaders against special interests in charged anti-incumbent environments.
Will Anti-Establishment Candidates Oust Democratic Senate Incumbents?
May 17, 2010 | Despite long odds, insurgent candidates have challenged senators in Arkansas and Pennsylvania, and now these two sitting Democratic senators risk being ousted Tuesday by disgruntled voters. Challenges in each state have gained steam thanks to enthusiasm among the Democratic base, with some liberal activists and unions defying the Democratic Party establishment and bucking even the political operation of the White House.
Republican and Democratic Senate Challengers Take on Party Establishments in Kentucky
May 17, 2010 | Intra-party fights in both the Republican and Democratic parties in Kentucky will be settled tomorrow as voters head to the polls to select U.S. Senate candidates.
Hoosier Dems Nominate Ellsworth, Wall Street Parties With Congress and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 17
May 17, 2010 | HOOSIER NOMINEE: The Democratic Party of Indiana officially nominated Blue Dog Rep. Brad Ellsworth Saturday to be their party's nominee in the race to fill the Senate seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh. Ellsworth has about $960,000 cash on hand, including large sums from lawyers, lobbyists, labor unions and leadership PACs.
Republican Charles Djou Holds Cash Advantage Ahead of Special Election in Heavily Democratic Hawaii District
May 13, 2010 | Votes are already being cast in the free-for-all special election in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District, and a Republican candidate has emerged with the most cash on hand in the campaign's final stretch. Republican Charles Djou, a city council member in Honolulu, has nearly $170,000 more in the bank than the most well-financed Democratic candidate.
Democrat David Obey, Chair of Powerful House Appropriations Committee, To Retire at End of Term
May 5, 2010 | The loss of Obey, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is a blow to Democrats in a year when anti-incumbent sentiment seems to be on the rise. The Appropriations chairmanship is one of the most powerful positions in Congress, and Obey's retirement may kick off a fierce fight between potential successors.
Charlie Crist Stands to Lose Significant Money From Republican Party Defection
May 1, 2010 | A Center for Responsive Politics analysis of Crist's campaign finances indicates he stands to lose a six-figure sum even when only his most overt Republican contributions are considered.
Push for Disclosure, Charlie Crist Plans to Leave GOP and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 29
April 29, 2010 | FIGHT TO DISCLOSE: Campaign finance observers are expecting Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to introduce a bill designed to mitigate the effects of the Supreme Court's decision in its January Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling. The Citizens United decision cleared the way for corporations to spend without limit on ads designed to influence elections.
Celebrating Earth Day, Gumming Up the Revolving Door and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 22
April 22, 2010 | REVOLVERS, BEWARE: The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is calling on retiring members of Congress to pledge to not immediately become lobbyists after leaving their current positions. The group asked 47 lawmakers to sign a promise, but so far, not a one has made the commitment.
Fund-raising with "The Boss," White House Taxes and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 16
April 16, 2010 | After one of the most grueling political battles in recent history, health care reform still won't go away. According to the Los Angeles Times, the historic passage of health care reform has become a rallying cry for Democratic fund-raisers, particularly President Barack Obama, who has recently touted the victory at dinners where attendance can run as high as $30,000 a table.
Politicians Contribute Big Money to Protect Their Partisan Brethren
April 13, 2010 | Particularly vulnerable or especially promising politicians often receive financial help from their fellow partisans who want success on election day. Toward this end, party leaders and others may transfer or contribute money from their candidate committees and leadership PACs to these targeted candidates.
Murtha's Still Got it, More Trouble for Massey Energy and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 8
April 8, 2010 | Recent filings with the Federal Election Commission show Murtha's leadership PAC is still active in donating cash to Democratic campaigns. Majority PAC also cut a notable $10,000 check to the campaign of Mark Critz, Murtha's former district director...
Sunshine Week Report Card on Government Transparency
March 25, 2010 | As the Center for Responsive Politics celebrates Sunshine Week this year, we commend the steps taken by the White House and Congress for greater government transparency. Neither the White House nor Congress, though, should rest on their laurels. Despite the good progress made via some specific steps, there remains much to be done. Here are a several matters that require attention this year.
Dreaming of More Accessible Data
March 24, 2010 | In observance of Ada Lovelace Day, Center for Responsive Politics Research Director Jihan Andoni shares thoughts on her work making government more transparent.
Big Labor Gave Big Support to Health Reform Supporters, Health Interests Lent More Support to Opponents
March 22, 2010 | President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats achieved a major legislative victory last night as members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to adopt the version of health insurance reform legislation passed in December by the U.S. Senate. Supporters of both measures received out-sized support from labor unions, the Center for Responsive Politics found, based on an examination of contributions to lawmakers' campaign committees and leadership PACs going back to 1989.
Financial Carrots, Sticks Offered in Final Push for Health Care Reform
March 17, 2010 | Democratic congressional leaders, President Barack Obama and their reform-supporting allies are this week aggressively wrangling the necessary votes to pass health insurance reform legislation.
Rep. Eric Massa's Bankrollers: Angry, Disappointed and Disassociating Themselves from Him
March 11, 2010 | How do former Rep. Eric Massa's legion of bankrollers, who supported him during times less lascivious, feel about his sex scandal? Alternately disappointed and angry, with an undercurrent of bamboozlement.
Campaign Cash Linked to Earmarks, Eric Massa Quits Amid Scandal and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 8
March 8, 2010 | CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS EQUAL FEDERAL EARMARKS? Perhaps.
Democrat Rep. William Delahunt to Retire, Philly-style Ethics Reform and more in Capital Eye Opener: March 5
March 5, 2010 | Citing a grueling U.S. House schedule and family commitments, Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) will today announce he's not seeking reelection.
OpenSecrets.org Announces Winners of Money-in-Politics Oscars
March 4, 2010 | OpenSecrets.org is pleased to announce the first-ever money-in-politics Oscars!
Barack Obama's Debt Commission Appointees No Strangers to Cutting Checks for Big Political Contributions
March 1, 2010 | President Barack Obama announced new appointees to the Bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform on Friday. All of the nominees are successful and influential in their respective fields, as well as politically connected and well acquainted to the world of money-in-politics. Combined, Obama's six appointees to the commission have contributed nearly $750,000 to federal candidates, parties and political action committees over the last two decades, the Center for Responsive Politics has found.
Politicians Have Numerous Options for Unused Campaign Cash After Leaving Elected Office
March 1, 2010 | Now that Sen. Evan Bayh and other congressional members are leaving elected office when their terms end early next year, where does all their campaign money go?
Charlie Rangel Admonished, Timothy Walz Joins PAC Club and more in Capital Eye Opener: February 26
February 26, 2010 | Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) broke U.S. House rules by accepting corporation-funded trips to the Caribbean, a congressional ethics committee ruled Thursday.
J.D. Hayworth Readies for Republican Rumble with a Well-Heeled John McCain
February 16, 2010 | J.D. Hayworth's Republican primary challenge to Sen. John McCain will be a difficult and expensive endeavor. McCain benefits from a war chest of more than $27 million as well as a host of Republicans both young -- Sarah Palin, Scott Brown -- and veteran -- Dick Armey, Grover Norquist -- ready to campaign on his behalf.
Rep. Patrick Kennedy Headlines Week of Prominent Political Retirements
February 12, 2010 | This week has seen a string of high-profile retirements in Washington D.C., including Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and lobbyist Billy Tauzin, the president of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). In addition, last month Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) announced his retirement under allegations of ethics transgressions. To cap the week off, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, announced today in a video on his website that he would not seek re-election after 16 years in the U.S. House.
Democrats and Lobbyists Party in Miami, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Gets Bombed and More in Capital Eye Opener: February 4
February 4, 2010 | MONEY IN MIAMI: Democratic senators and K Street lobbyists hit the beach over the weekend at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee retreat at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach Resort, an event with the purpose of raising money for Democratic Senate candidates in the 2010 election.
OpenSecrets.org Offers 2010 Legislative Preview Ahead of Barack Obama's State of the Union Address
January 27, 2010 | The past year proved to be a legislative whirlwind in Washington, with a new administration, and expanded Democratic majorities in Congress, tackling an ambitious legislative agenda against the backdrop of two wars and an economic meltdown. Twelve months later, the story is much the same.
Harold Ford's Cash For Gillibrand, AHIP's Cash Against Health Reform and More in Capital Eye Opener: Thursday, January 14
January 14, 2010 | FORD DONATED TO CAMPAIGN HE NOW SEEKS TO DEFEAT: Former Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.), who once headed the Democratic Leadership Council and lost a 2006 bid for U.S. Senate, has been making waves for his public comments regarding a potential Senate bid against incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). But back in June, Ford himself contributed $1,000 to Gillibrand's war chest.
Stakeholders in Health Insurance Reform Debate Gave Big to Senators
December 24, 2009 | Senators who opposed the health insurance reform bill passed on Christmas Eve received an average of nearly 30 percent more political donations from political action committees and individual employees of health and health insurance-related groups and companies since 1989, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis has found.
Campaign Cash From Wall Street Favored Representatives Who Opposed Finance Reform Bill
December 12, 2009 | Lawmakers in the House who voted against the finance reform bill collected an average of about $849,200 from Wall Street interests over their careers, while lawmakers who supported the bill collected an average of about $694,000, the Center for Responsive Politics found. This means members of the House who opposed the bill received an average of 22 percent more from the finance, insurance and real estate sector since 1989 than supporters.
Down But Not Quite Out: An Examination of Insurance Giant AIG's Waning Clout
December 3, 2009 | Insurance giant AIG's political clout is waning as fast as its finances. Since its near-collapse and government bailout last fall, AIG disbanded its lobbying team. It hasn't donated a dollar from its political action committee this year. Furthermore, contributions from individual AIG employees since January are merely a sliver of what they've been in previous cycles -- although a few notable politicians retain financial or political ties to the embattled company. Among these lawmakers is Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, who pledged to return contributions from AIG employees who got post-bailout bonuses but has nonetheless retained tens of thousands of dollars from them given before the bailout.
Hedge Funds, Private Equity Firms, Payday Lenders Seek Financial Security from Congress
November 30, 2009 | Legislation aimed at regulating the securities and investment industry is as complex as the industry itself. But the trade groups representing these interests all seem to have at least one thing in common: they fear additional government regulation will damage their business, which especially concerns them given the ailing economy.
Watchdog Groups Detail Political Campaign Contributions in Ways Never Before Documented
November 23, 2009 | Thousands of U.S. companies and special interest groups attempt to influence government through campaign donations in ways never before documented, a joint project by two of the nation's premier government watchdog groups now reveals. The project, conducted by the National Institute on Money in State Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics, also provides an unprecedented resource: Profiles of these organizations' political giving patterns during the 2008 election at both the state and national level.
Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, a Favorite of Wall Street, Leads Regulatory Reform Fight
November 23, 2009 | Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) chairs the powerful Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Dodd is now spearheading new efforts to tackle financial sector regulatory reform. Over the past 20 years, Dodd's most generous campaign supporter has also been the finance, insurance and real estate sector, which is filled with companies directly affected by legislation shepherded by the Banking Committee.
Republican Senator Robert Bennett Seeks to Permanently Sunset TARP Program
November 20, 2009 | Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) originally supported of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) enacted by President George W. Bush in October 2008. He later opposed the second TARP authorization under President Barack Obama, and he now believes that the TARP program has served its purpose and should expire at the end of this year.
Finance and Credit Companies Lobby Lawmakers As Congress Moves to Aggressively Regulate Them
November 19, 2009 | The various companies and trade groups within the finance and credit industry have contributed about $62.4 million to federal candidates, committees and leadership PACs since 1989, with 62 percent of that sum going to Republicans. In the 2008 election cycle, however, the employees and political action committees of these organizations directed a majority of their money to Democrats for the first time since the 1990 election.
Spencer Bachus: 'No More Bailouts'
November 19, 2009 | Although Bachus isn't new to the House Financial Services Committee, he's relatively new to the committee's ranking member position, which he assumed in 2007. Since 1992, employees and political action committees associated with the financial sector have given Bachus $4 million -- exponentially more than any other sector during that time.
Capital Eye Opener: Thursday, November 19
November 19, 2009 | Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) revealed his version of a health-care reform package last night, hoping to win over three moderate Democrats who are on the fence -- Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. All three have collected at least $1.3 million from the health care sector.
Insurers Seek Cover From New Federal Regulations
November 18, 2009 | Risk and uncertainty are as certain as death and taxes. So, to share the burden of risk and hedge against the full financial liability, companies have long offered consumers a variety of insurance products. Facing the prospect of new regulation, the insurance industry is on pace to break a record $154 million it spent on federal lobbying efforts last year. During the first nine months of this year, insurers spent $122 million and hired 953 lobbyists.
Two Dozen Bankrollers-Turned-Ambassadors Bundled At Least $10 Million For Barack Obama
November 18, 2009 | Like Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton before him, President Barack Obama continues to reward donors, fund-raisers and other loyalists with plum diplomatic posts. The two-dozen bundlers elevated by Obama to serve as ambassadors raised a minimum of $10.7 million for Obama's committees, the Center for Responsive Politics has found.
Democratic Sen. Jack Reed Envisions New Financial Regulations
November 17, 2009 | Viewed as a champion of regulatory reform, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) is an advocate of new regulations regarding financial markets, products and institutions -- including new regulation regarding credit derivatives, "dark pool" markets and hedge funds. Within the Banking Committee, he is chairman of the securities, insurance and investment subcommittee.
Financial Policy Tools Help You Follow the Money During Reform Debate
November 17, 2009 | Sure, our "Crossing Wall Street" series this week is going to be comprehensive, answering your questions about which financial industries are spending big bucks to influence the outcome of financial regulation legislation. But you might want to do some snooping around of your own. So we're providing the tools you need to do so.
Blue Dogs and New Democrats Find Friends on Wall Street
November 17, 2009 | Like the health care reform debate, financial regulation legislation has divided members of the same party, opening a rift between liberal and moderate Democrats. But unlike the health care reform debate, where the moderate Blue Dog Democrats have been rabid in their opposition to a public insurance option, a different group has emerged to voice moderates' concerns over financial regulation -- but both are magnets for cash from the financial sector.
Capital Eye Opener: Tuesday, November 17
November 17, 2009 | On Monday night, the Obama administration announced its intent to nominate Beatrice Wilkinson Welters to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Welters and her husband, Anthony, an executive with UnitedHealth Group, co-founded the AnBryce Foundation in 1995, which provides academic and leadership programs for underserved youth. They also bundled at least $300,000 for President Barack Obama's committees and have been prolific campaign contributions to federal candidates and committees.
Crossing Wall Street
November 16, 2009 | As the United States continues digging itself out of a recession, the nation is poised to re-emerge in a dramatically altered financial climate. And after years of enjoying relatively little regulation, commercial banks, credit companies, hedge funds and securities and investment companies are facing the most extensive overhaul by the federal government since the Great Depression. Over the next seven days, Capital Eye will be following the special interest money in our "Crossing Wall Street" series as both the House and Senate tackle financial regulation.
Commercial Banks Hope for Return on Investment in Congress
November 16, 2009 | Congress often acts as a type of bank for bankers themselves -- a place executives can direct their cash, perhaps hoping to collect interest in the form of a legislative favor. The interest rate on that premium appears to be low these days, however, as commercial banks could face a sweeping regulatory overhaul in the coming months.
Sen. Richard Shelby a Formidable Foe for Democrat-style Financial Reform
November 16, 2009 | Name: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.). Positions: A fifth-generation Alabamian and University of Alabama alumnus, state loyalty flows through Shelby's crimson blood. So do conservative politics. Party loyalty is another matter.
Supporters of Moderate Republican in NY-23 Special Election Weigh Where to Place Their Loyalties After Candidate Quits
November 2, 2009 | With Republican Diedre Scozzafava ending her bid in for Congress and endorsing her Democratic opponent Bill Owens, Owens and Conservative Party nominee Doug are now vying to win over Scozzafava's supporters, including those who lent financial support to her campaign.
'Round and 'Round They Go: Lawmakers Leave Congress for Lobbying Posts
October 29, 2009 | At least 44 lawmakers have left their congressional seats mid-term since 1990, and at least 16 of them went on to work at lobbying firms or at companies that hired lobbyists, CRP has found. Here, we take a closer look at a few of these individuals, examining which industries and clients they're now representing and the campaign cash they received while in Congress.
Big Donors Ramp Up to Fight FCC Net Neutrality Decision
October 28, 2009 | The Federal Communications Commission's decision last week to begin developing open Internet regulation has left a few big-time political donors and lobbying forces in the telecom industry wondering whether their message got lost in transmission.
When Playing Politics, Major League Baseball Favors New York Over Pennsylvania
October 28, 2009 | Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig would never – never! -- think of rooting for the New York Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2009 World Series, which begins tonight at Yankees Stadium. But Selig is hardly agnostic when politics are concerned. The political action committee controlled by his office finds itself in a decidedly New York state of mind, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal campaign finance data.
Capital Eye Opener: Wednesday, October 28
October 28, 2009 | LIEBERMAN OPTS OUT OF OPT-OUT PLAN: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) didn't win any fans among liberal democrats yesterday in announcing that he'd back a Republican filibuster of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) health care reform proposal. Since 1989, only 10 other current senators have brought in more cash from the health sector than Lieberman.
Congressional Opponents of Consumer Financial Protection Bill Got Big Money from Wall Street Interests
October 26, 2009 | On Thursday, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 3126, which would create a new executive branch agency to oversee consumer financial protections, on a 39-29 vote. CRP has found that $527,500 is the average amount a committee member who voted "no" received from financial groups' PACs and employees between January 2007 and June. The average amount a member who voted "yes" received was $438,900.
Patton Boggs Partner Anne Slaughter Andrew, Wife of Former DNC Chair, Named Ambassador to Costa Rica
October 20, 2009 | Lobbyist. Lawyer. Democratic donor. Wife of a presidential superdelegate. To these titles, Anne Slaughter Andrew will soon add the title ambassador. On Thursday night, President Barack Obama tapped Andrew, who along with her husband has given about $88,000 to federal Democratic candidates and committees over the past twenty years, to represent U.S. interests in Costa Rica.
Barack Obama Nominates Politically Connected Ambassadors for Hungary, New Zealand
October 15, 2009 | Politically connected ambassadors will soon represent the United States in Hungary and New Zealand. President Barack Obama has nominated philanthropist and real estate developer Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis to be ambassador to Hungary, while he nominated lawyer David Huebner to serve as the nation's top diplomat in New Zealand and Samoa. The Center for Responsive Politics has found that both Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis and Huebner have been active donors to federal politicians over the past 20 years.
Support for Charles Rangel Wanes In Midst of Alleged Ethics Scandals
October 15, 2009 | Republican members of the House last week attempted to oust Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) from his powerful chairmanship of the House Ways & Means Committee for the duration of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged ethical misconduct surrounding his real estate investments and dubious personal financial disclosure reports. And although the effort failed and Rangel can sit tight for now, signs that he's sustained political damage are emerging.
House Financial Services Committee Considers Regulating Industries That Heavily Fund Members' Campaigns
October 14, 2009 | The House Financial Services Committee today begins marking up a bill that would create a new consumer protection agency and increase regulation of a number of financial products. Even as members of the committee consider how to prevent another economic collapse, they may have another financial issue in mind -- the industries opposing the measure have contributed $77.6 million to the 71 members of the committee since 1989.
With Little Health Sector Cash Supporting Her, GOP's Snowe Backs Finance Committee Bill
October 13, 2009 | The Senate Finance Committee today passed its version of comprehensive health care reform after weeks of marking up the bill. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Washington was the only Republican to vote against the measure. She has also collected less money than all other GOP members of the committee from the health sector, CRP has found.
Aides, Lobbyists and Contributors Among Those Left in Wake of Sen. John Ensign's Alleged Ethics Scandal
October 8, 2009 | Despite a lack of support from key leaders in his own political party, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) said resolutely this week that he has no plans to resign from Congress in the face of accusations that he's deeply embroiled in an ethics scandal. But it's not just his own party's support at risk -- campaign contributors, current and former staffers and even lobbyists may be re-considering their ties to a man who once served as the GOP's primary fund-raiser in the Senate.
Capital Eye Opener: Wednesday, October 7
October 7, 2009 | CASTLE ON A (SENATE) CLOUD: Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) announced yesterday that he intends to run for the Senate seat left vacant by Vice President Joe Biden, turning the race into "one of the top races in the country," said National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas), according to The Hill. Cornyn also hinted that the race would be expensive.
Medical-Device Makers Take Senate Finance Bill to the Surgical Table
October 6, 2009 | As the Senate Finance Committee continues to hash out the final version of its health care reform legislation, medical-device makers are lobbying against $40 billion in fees the industry will have to pay over the next 10 years if the bill remains as is.
Capital Eye Opener: Tuesday, October 6
October 6, 2009 | CLUSTERS OF CONTRIBUTIONS DISCUSSED ON MSNBC: On Monday morning, CRP Executive Director Sheila Krumholz and Sunlight Foundation Engagement Director Jake Brewer appeared on MSNBC's Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan to discuss our recent collaborative investigation about the one-two punch of contributions from health industry clients and their lobbyists.
Apple Approves Health Care App That Uses CRP Data, Plays Politics Itself
October 5, 2009 | Apple reversed course over the weekend and approved an iPhone app that uses CRP data that the company called "politically charged." Apple itself is not apolitical -- it spends cash on lobbying and its employees contribute money to lawmakers.
Lawmakers Get One-Two Punch of Money From Health Industry Special Interests
October 1, 2009 | A new collaborative investigation between the Sunlight Foundation and Center for Responsive Politics shows that since January 2007, more than 500 individual lobbyists donated roughly $2.8 million to 61 members of Congress who took money from at least 10 lobbyists and also received money from their clients' PACs or employees. Among the recipients were 11 senators who sit on the Senate Finance Committee.
Hidden 'Bundles' of Lobbyist Giving Show Full Court Press by Health Care Donors
October 1, 2009 | A month-long collaborative investigation by the Sunlight Foundation and the Center for Responsive Politics has uncovered never-before-seen webs of campaign contributions from outside lobbyists and their clients, who are all important players in the healthcare reform, to key members of Congress.
Key Senate Democrats Opposing Public Option Get More Cash from Insurers and Pharmaceutical Companies
September 29, 2009 | Lawmakers who sided with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies today when they voted against a government-sponsored health insurance option have received more money, on average, from these industries than those who supported the measures.
Capital Eye Opener: Monday, September 28
September 28, 2009 | "CO2 IS GREEN" FLUSH WITH GREENBACKS: The men at the helm of two new energy advocacy groups trying to derail the climate change bill in the Senate have been consistent campaign donors throughout the years.
Paul Kirk, Massachusetts' Interim U.S. Senator, Intimately Tied to Business, Lobbying and Democrats
September 24, 2009 | The U.S. Senate vacancy created by the death of liberal lion Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is prompting another trip through the revolving door of political influence for longtime Kennedy ally Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Kirk was an aide to Kennedy from 1969 until 1977. He subsequently went on to join the law firm Sullivan & Worcester, where he has worked as a partner and lobbyist. Since 1989, he and his wife have also given $65,325 to Democratic candidates and committees.
Sallie Mae Finds Friends As Major Student Loan Bill Moves Through Congress
September 23, 2009 | Although Sallie Mae didn't get the result it wanted out of the House last week, the lawmakers who sided with Sallie Mae by voting against a bill to create a direct federal loan program have collected more money, on average, from the company than those who supported the bill.
WWE Chief Executive Linda McMahon Brings Strong Democratic Ties to Her Attempt to Smackdown Chris Dodd
September 16, 2009 | Linda McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, announced today she's seeking the Republican Party's nomination to upset incumbent Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). But McMahon's history is hardly that of a hardcore Republican. She and her husband have contributed nearly $90,000 to federal candidates and committees since 1989, with 51 percent going to Democrats.
Republicans Give Rep. Joe Wilson Support — and Campaign Cash — As House Sanctions Congressman's 'You Lie' Shout
September 15, 2009 | All but seven Republicans stood by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and voted against a Congressional resolution to disapprove of his "you lie" outburst last week. Several of them, including much of the House Republican leadership, have also backed Wilson with financial support in recent years.
Insurers On Alert Have Given $4 Million to Committees Grilling Them
September 15, 2009 | A number of lawmakers have requested that insurers disclose their financial records, including details on executive pay and entertainment expenditures. Members of three of the committees to receive this information have also collected millions from these companies for their campaigns.
George LeMieux, Newest Republican Senator from Florida, Has Close Ties to Governor/Senate Candidate Charlie Crist
September 11, 2009 | Florida's Republican governor, Charlie Crist, tapped his former chief of staff and long-time adviser, George LeMieux, to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by the early retirement of Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). Over the years, LeMieux, and wife, Meike, have also occasionally made campaign contributions to Crist.
Senate Democrats Appoint New Leaders on Agriculture and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees
September 10, 2009 | Leadership of two committees in the U.S. Senate has gotten a shake-up with the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will take the reigns of the HELP Committee, which Kennedy had chaired. Then, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) will be the new head of the Agriculture Committee.
Lawyers, Doctors, Give Cash to Sway Tort Reform Elements in Health Care Debate
September 8, 2009 | When President Barack Obama gives his much-anticipated speech about health care Wednesday night before a joint session of Congress, he won't likely address medical malpractice reform, much to the chagrin of the country's doctors. Given that health professionals are the second largest contributor this election cycle to candidates and party committees, they might feel slighted by the president's omission.
Capital Eye Opener: Friday, August 21
August 21, 2009 | O, SAY, CAN YOU TWEET: There's nary a member of Congress who isn't busy tweeting on Twitter and posting Facebook status messages. These two social networking tools are now an integral part of the campaign arsenal -- but the companies responsible for our daily dose of instant chit chat are also making some political moves of their own.
Health Insurers Continue to Woo Blue Dog Democrats in Congress
August 20, 2009 | The 52 fiscally conservative House Democrats known as the Blue Dogs and playing prominent roles in the nation's health care reform debate continue to collect campaign funds from health insurers at a greater rate than their non-Blue Dog counterparts, tCRP has found.
Liberal PACs Trouncing Conservative Counterparts in Political Donation Race
August 20, 2009 | It's a glorious time to be a Democrat if you're hoping for some serious advocacy action from the nation's monied liberal establishments. Through the first half of 2009, left-leaning political action committees have obliterated their right-leaning competition in spending, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal campaign finance data indicates.
Health Interests, Lobbyists Rank High Among Industries Increasing Campaign Contributions
August 19, 2009 | Political action committees and individuals associated with health industries, each of which are intimately involved in the nation's ongoing health care reform debate, are donating more to federal candidates during the second quarter of 2009 than the first quarter, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis.
Capital Eye Opener: Wednesday, August 19
August 19, 2009 | CAMERA ROLLING: As we've been gearing up for the Sept. 9 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, we've come across some interesting (and sometimes quirky) YouTube footage that helps explain at least part of the story.
And They're Off: Congressional Fundraising Races Underway
August 17, 2009 | Nearly 1,400 candidates have filed campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission, indicating that they'll be vying for one of the 468 congressional seats that will open up next year. It won't feel like a quick sprint, however, especially for those candidates in particularly close races who've already raised millions of dollars. We know the final stretch is a ways off yet, but here are our early observations, including contributions reported between April and June.
Contributions from Health Sector to Lawmakers Increased 7 Percent in Second Quarter
August 14, 2009 | Federal lawmakers collected about half a million dollars more from the health sector between April and June of this year than they did in the first quarter of the year -- a total of $15.3 million for 2009. This slight boost is likely the result of the increased intensity of the health care reform debate.
Lawmakers Receive Forged Letters — And Some Cash — From Bonner and Associates
August 7, 2009 | While some lawmakers are grappling with the forged letters they received from embattled lobbying firm Bonner and Associates this summer, others might be considering their financial ties to the firm.
Obama Elevates Three More Bundlers & Big Donors in Latest Ambassador Picks
August 7, 2009 | President Barack Obama has picked three big bundlers and donors to fill diplomatic posts to Spain, Norway and the European Union. The three new ambassadors -- Alan Solomont, Barry White and William Kennard -- bundled more than $1 million combined toward Obama's election efforts, and have contributed nearly $2 million to federal candidates since 1989.
Rep. William Jefferson, convicted of corruption, received handsome donations from legal community
August 6, 2009 | Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) is now an infamous scofflaw who now faces decades in prison after a federal jury Wednesday convicted him of 11 counts of racketeering, solicitation of bribery and money laundering. An ironic footnote: Lawyers and law firms are by far Jefferson's largest campaign donors during his now ruined congressional career, which began in 1990 when he became Louisiana's first elected black congressman since Reconstruction, and ended in December when the embattled politico lost reelection.
Big Money Senate Race in Pennsylvania Heats Up With Joe Sestak Announcing Official Challenge to Arlen Specter
August 4, 2009 | One of the nation's hottest U.S. Senate contests is officially off to the races, as Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) today is officially challenging incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, a long-time Republican who switched his party allegiance to become a Democrat earlier this year.
Congressional Candidates Raised $168.5 Million During Second Quarter
July 31, 2009 | Since lawmakers filed their second quarter campaign finance reports earlier this month, our researchers have been busy coding and standardizing the data by organization and industry. Here are some of our overall observations--expect more in-depth analysis next week.
Capital Eye Report: Direct or Indirect Loans? Either Way, It's Win-Win Deal for Major Political Contributor Sallie Mae
July 23, 2009 | With deficit worries gripping Washington, lawmakers including House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) have proposed cutting taxpayer subsidies to private institutions that issue student loans. But groups such as Sallie Mae are spending big money in opposition to such proposals.
Democrats Aligned with Abortion-Rights Opponents Receive Money From Them
July 22, 2009 | Although abortion-rights opponents have given Republicans 95 percent of their $6.9 million in campaign contributions since 1989, several Democrats are among those pushing for an abortion funding ban in the health care bill. Many of the Democrats involved have collected money from pro-life groups but not pro-choice organizations, the CRP has found.
HELP Committee Members Opposing Health Bill Backed By Insurers, Pharma
July 15, 2009 | Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, who opposed a version of health care reform that the panel passed today, have on average received more money from the industries fighting against the measure's public health plan component than those who voted "yes."
Herb Kohl's Message to Telecoms: Break it Up
July 10, 2009 | At least one member of Congress -- Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) -- this week weighed in on whether telecom companies are violating anti-trust laws. Kohl sent a letter to various agencies asking them to investigate whether big wireless companies are engaged in anti-competitive practices. Unlike many other lawmakers, however, Kohl, does not rely on telecoms to fill his campaign coffers.
Committee Members Speak Out–Or Stay Mum–On Health Care
July 9, 2009 | Over the past three weeks, Capital Eye has contacted members of five Capitol Hill committees responsible for drafting health care reform legislation this summer. Here are their responses (and non-responses) and the money they're collecting from various industries.
Fence-sitting Senators Say the Darnedest Things About Health Care Reform
July 9, 2009 | Interest groups have filled lawmakers' campaign coffers with cash, and spent millions on lobbyists to promote their positions. So it's not entirely surprising that some lawmakers can't make up their minds on health care reform. Here are a handful of examples of members of the Senate, who have tried to position themselves on multiple sides of the health care debate.
Health Care Cheat Sheet (Money-in-Politics Style)
July 9, 2009 | If you've been following the money in the health care debate with us for the last month, you've probably got a pretty good sense now where it leads. As Congress continues debating the issue, we thought we'd make it even easier for you to keep track of the money by comparing the views of the big industries involved and some of the key players in each industry.
Democrats Chuck Schumer and Chris Dodd Stand Strong for Public Option
July 9, 2009 | Despite raising millions of dollars from the insurance and financial services industry during their careers, Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) rank among the Senate's most vocal champions of the public health insurance option.
Unions Lobby to Thwart Health Care Deal Breaker
July 8, 2009 | Union members can't strike if congressional lawmakers ignore their health care requests, but they've threatened to walk away from the bargaining table if Congress begins taxing employer health benefits.
Defense Contractor Charged With Kickbacks Helped Fund Murtha's Campaigns
July 7, 2009 | Richard Ianieri, the defense contractor charged today with accepting $200,000 in kickbacks from a subcontractor, was the president of a company that gave more money to Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) than any other lawmaker--including the years after Ianieri left Coherent Systems International and Argon ST bought it.
Rep. Boustany, Ex-Heart Surgeon, Hearts Market-Based Health Reforms
July 7, 2009 | Former heart surgeon Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) has raised more than $971,000 from health professionals since 2003 -- his No. 1 industry backer. He is also a member of the House Republican Health Care Reform Working Group and a vocal advocate for private market reforms.
Big Business Lobbyists Clash in Health Insurance Debate
July 6, 2009 | The first sign of fissures in the business community over health care reform arrived last week when big-box retailer Wal-Mart announced its support for a proposed federal requirement that employers provide health coverage for their workers. This pits Wal-Mart against the preeminent lobbying powerhouse, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Ron Paul Prefers Free Market Approach to Health Reform
July 1, 2009 | Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is an OB-GYN who has delivered more than 4,000 babies. Since 1995, he has also collected $1.1 million from the health sector as he advocates for market-based reforms for health care.
Could Minn. Court Ruling Bring Closure to 2008's Most Expensive Congressional Race?
June 30, 2009 | The Minnesota Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Democratic candidate Al Franken won more votes last November than Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, in what was the cycle's most expensive congressional race.
Nursing Homes Fear Job Loss With Medicare Cuts
June 30, 2009 | The nursing home care industry is focusing the bulk of its attention--and likely money--on thwarting a rule supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and originally proposed by the Bush administration.
Legislators Opposed to Climate Bill Get Double the Funds from Energy Sector
June 29, 2009 | The climate change bill that the House of Representatives passed 219 to 212 late Friday night flew in the face of some of the special interests fighting against the legislation's cap-and-trade provision and its more stringent limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Although the industries that opposed the bill ultimately didn't get their desired legislation, it seems their politicking efforts weren't entirely for naught.
Keeping Tabs on PMA Group's Clients
June 26, 2009 | As the House Ethics Committee continues its investigation of the lawmakers financially connected to the defunct lobbying firm PMA Group, we want to make sure you've got updated tools to do some of your own detective work.
Blue Dog Bark Backed by Insurers
June 25, 2009 | There's a particular breed of lawmaker on Capitol Hill that is pushing hard against a public health care plan, much to the delight of two seriously moneyed special interest groups-insurers and pharmaceuticals. They're the Blue Dogs: moderate, vocal and funded in part by the industries trying to protect their bottom line.
Tracking Your Representatives' Health Care Cash
June 25, 2009 | Here's a cool tool that brings together data from various parts of OpenSecrets.org to show how much money each current lawmaker has raised from various health-related industries and the health sector overall since 1989 (including President Obama's haul).
Dentist-Congressman Advocates Private-Sector Health Care
June 25, 2009 | The ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Linder is also a former dentist and businessman. A former member of the American Dental Association, the group is also his No. 2 campaign donor.
The Price Isn't Right: Doctor-Turned-Lawmaker Opposes Public Option
June 24, 2009 | A former doctor, Rep. Tom Price's top contributors reads like a roster of America's medical groups. Out of the Georgia Republican's 20 all-time leading donors, only five aren't related to the medical field. Follow along as Capital Eye profiles some of the lawmakers who were health professionals in their past lives.
Hospitals Take a Scalpel to Reform Proposals
June 24, 2009 | The president of the American Hospital Association has asked its members in recent weeks to "push back" on any proposals from Washington that involve cuts to hospital payments. That could be quite the push--behind the interest group's effort is a history of powerful lobbying and a constant stream of considerable campaign contributions.
Health Professionals Stand Divided
June 23, 2009 | Health care providers may have the same basic goal in mind--to provide quality care to the sick--but the group splinters when determining the best way to do that and cut costs. The debate over health care reform pits doctors against nurses, primary care physicians against specialists. And each group is spending plenty of cash to ensure Congress understands their diagnoses
Senators Opposed to "Public Option" Haul in Health Care PAC Dollars
June 22, 2009 | Twice in the past week, statistician and blogger Nate Silver has used CRP data to analyze the relationship between political spending by the health care industry and key Senate players' stances in the debate over health care reform. While CRP cannot vouch for Silver's methodology, his research has yielded some interesting observations.
Insurers Fight Public Health Plan
June 18, 2009 | Health care reform could be the insurance industry's greatest nightmare or sweetest dream, depending on the fate of some of the most sweeping proposals. And insurers are hoping that the $765.2 million* they've spent on lobbying since 1998 will pay off now.
Drug Makers Cash In On Lobbying Efforts
June 18, 2009 | Pharmaceutical companies, like the insurance industry, strongly oppose any proposal to create a public health insurance option, fearful that private insurers would be marginalized and government price controls would limit what the industry can charge for its products. And with drug companies as the No. 1 all-time spender on lobbying, at $1.6 billion since 1998, Congress is bound to at least entertain their concerns.
Recently Re-Elected Senators Get Early Fundraising Boost
June 11, 2009 | For some lawmakers it is never too early to start greasing the money machine. Capital Eye takes a look at some of the new and re-elected senators who are already raising big bucks, even though they won't face another election for six years.
Some Lawmakers' 1st Quarter Haul Focused on PACs, Out-of-State Donors
June 10, 2009 | Lawmakers trying to build up their war chests tap a variety of financial resources and walk the fine line of balancing their constituents' needs and their need for money to run a re-election campaign. Find out here who the Members of Congress that relied most on out-of-state donors and PAC giving during the first quarter of 2009 are.
Murtha's Warchest Includes Cash from Embattled Defense Contractor Kuchera
May 29, 2009 | While Kuchera Defense Systems' recent troubles may not have anything to do with Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), the congressman can't deny a strong financial connection to the contractor: In addition to the millions he's secured in earmark funds for the company, he has also collected more political funds from employees at Kuchera than any other current member of Congress since 1992.
Visclosky's Office Subpoenaed in Connection with PMA Group
May 29, 2009 | The feds have issued subpoenas to the congressional office, campaign committees and employees of Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) in the FBI's continuing investigation into whether now-defunct lobby shop PMA Group violated campaign finance laws. Do a little investigating yourself using these OpenSecrets' resources.
Where Are PMA Group Lobbyists Now?
May 11, 2009 | A number of former PMA Group lobbyists have started their own firm, Flagship Government Relations, which collected $210,000 from clients in the 1st Quarter of 2009. Here's a full list of where PMA's lobbyists have wound up so far.
Capital Eye Report: Congress Barks Back at Society's Watchdogs
May 5, 2009 | A Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing tomorrow will take a look at the future of newspapers and what, if anything, Congress can do to help the struggling industry. But journalists are at a disadvantage compared to other industries that can give campaign contributions and aren't publicly scrutinizing the lawmakers.
CRP Posts Enhanced Member Profiles for More OpenSecrets
April 14, 2009 | Want even more access to OpenSecrets? Sure thing. Not only did CRP launch its OpenData initiative on Monday, giving you access to our most popular data archives, we've also enhanced our campaign finance profiles for members of Congress, providing a more comprehensive look at lawmakers' two primary pots of money.
OpenSecrets.org Goes OpenData
April 13, 2009 | Politicians, prepare yourselves. Lobbyists, look out. Today the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics is putting 200 million data records from the watchdog group's archive directly into the hands of citizens, activists, journalists and anyone else interested in following the money in U.S. politics.
Indiana Congressman Says He's Giving Back PMA Group's Money–Some of It
April 6, 2009 | Over the years, Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) has collected a total of $1.4 million from embattled lobbying firm PMA Group to his candidate committee and PAC, making the firm his most generous donor. Now that the FBI is reportedly looking at Visclosky's relationship to PMA, Visclosky has said he'd give away a mere $18,000 in "suspect" campaign contributions linked to the firm, according to the New York Times.
Health Insurers Owe Policyholders, But Pay Congress Instead
March 26, 2009 | Members of a Senate Committee that today held the first part of a hearing to examine whether health insurance companies are failing to fully pay reimbursements to policyholders haven't had any trouble themselves collecting money from these companies. In total, health insurance companies' PACs and employees have given members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation $3.3 million since the 1990 election cycle.
Power Players: Winning Union Cash Easy Work for Chair of Labor Committee
March 26, 2009 | Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) became chair of the House Education & Labor Committee in 2007, after serving as ranking member for six years before Democrats won control of the House. Whether it's because he has played a prominent role on the committee for years or because he has dedicated himself to workers' issues, unions are unabashed supporters of the congressman.
Power Players: Senate Health Committee Chair Gets a Large Dose of Finance, Health Industry Funds
March 25, 2009 | Even as he deals with his own health challenges, as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has committed himself to focusing on improving the quality and accessibility of American health care. Kennedy's interest in the country's health care issues has brought him money from various health-related industries.
Sunshine Week: Grading Your Government
March 19, 2009 | Happy Sunshine Week! In observance of the national government transparency initiative, CRP offers this money-in-politics disclosure report card, grading the federal government on its efforts to shed some light on the ties between its decisions and the private money affecting those decisions. Although the government has made strides in a few key areas since Sunshine Week 2008, it still has a whole lot of homework to do.
PMA Group and Clients Paid Out $40 Million to Current Congress
March 12, 2009 | This week we took yet another look at the contributions from embattled lobbying firm PMA Group, this time analyzing all donations from the firm and its clients back in time to all members of the 111th Congress, plus President Obama. Since 1998, the firm and its clients have given $40.3 million total to the candidate committees and leadership PACs of 514 lawmakers--nearly every member of the current Congress.
Millions of Dollars Later, Congress Introduces Unionization Bill
March 10, 2009 | For months business groups and labor unions have been campaigning for or against the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that was introduced in Congress just today and that has spurred what will be one of the fiercest--and most expensive--debates Capitol Hill has seen in years. Capital Eye recently explored the political spending strategies both adversaries have been implementing in preparation for today's bill and provide some highlights of that report here.
Power Players: Natural Resources Committee Chair Mines Support from Homestate Industry
March 5, 2009 | At 27, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.V.) was the youngest member of the first Congress he served in, landing spots on the Interior and Public Works committees in his first term in 1976. Now, as chair of the House Natural Resources Committee (formerly the Interior Committee) and the No. 2 Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (formerly Public Works), he's got the support of transportation unions, the mining industry and oil and gas companies.
Congressmen Overseeing Defense Budget Got $8 Million from PMA Group and Clients
March 2, 2009 | The FBI hasn't been the only group continuing to investigate lobbying firm PMA Group, which specializes in securing federal earmarks for its clients. At the Center for Responsive Politics, we've expanded our original analysis of contributions from the lobbying firm to lawmakers, specifically those on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, to include contributions from PMA's clients, as well.
Labor and Business Spend Big on Looming Unionization Issue
February 26, 2009 | President Obama's Tuesday address to Congress was entirely about jump-starting the economy, but he didn't even hint at a looming legislative battle between business and labor that both sides say could affect how quickly the country recovers. The two longtime adversaries may have different political strategies, but both sides have already spent plenty of cash trying to persuade lawmakers to side with them.
Power Players: Environmental, Women's Groups Place Faith in Boxer
February 26, 2009 | Capital Eye's Power Player series continues this week with a look at Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Boxer's top donors include environmentalists, women's rights groups and the entertainment industry.
UBS AG Helps Fill Lawmakers' Coffers
February 19, 2009 | Swiss bank UBS AG agreed today to pay $780 million to settle claims by the U.S. Department of Treasury that it helped American customers evade paying taxes by hiding their Swiss bank accounts from U.S. tax authorities. But that's not the only help that UBS has provided Americans. In the 2008 election cycle, the foreign bank contributed $3.1 million to federal candidates, parties and PACs.
Obama, Ney and DeLay Also Among Stanford's Investments
February 18, 2009 | As the story behind the embattled investment company Stanford Financial Group develops, we thought we'd take an even closer look at the seeds the company may have tried to plant in Washington via campaign contributions. When looking at ALL lawmakers to collect money from the company's PAC and employees (not just members of the current Congress), some additional, important names appear at the top of the recipient list.
Investment Manager Stanford Was Big-Time Campaign Contributor
February 17, 2009 | Money manager Robert Allen Stanford now has two things in common with embattled investment manager Bernard Madoff: both have come under scrutiny for allegedly defrauding their investors, and both have given significant funds to politicians. Between its PAC and its employees, Stanford Financial Group has given $2.4 million to federal candidates, parties and committees since 2000.
Embattled Lobbying Firm PMA Targeted Members of Defense Committees
February 12, 2009 | The close ties between Rep. John Murtha and a Washington lobbying firm raided by the FBI have put the powerful Pennsylvania Democrat under greater scrutiny. The lobbyists at PMA Group have been Murtha's fifth most generous campaign donor over time, but he is just one of 284 members of the 111th Congress who have collected money from the firm, which specializes in securing federal earmarks for its clients. In total, PMA Group's employees and its political action committee have given current members of Congress $3.4 million since 1989.
Power Players: Without Automakers' Fuel, Waxman Steers House Energy Committee in New Direction
February 12, 2009 | In a blow to the struggling auto industry that has financially supported Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) for years, the House Energy & Commerce Committee chairman was ousted this year, replaced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who hasn't received a penny from the industry. Instead, Waxman has collected money from doctors and health professionals.
New RNC Chair Brings Fundraising Prowess to Post
February 2, 2009 | The GOP has selected former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele to lead its fundraising efforts as the chair of the Republican National Committee. Although Steele lost his 2006 bid for Senate, he raised nearly as much money as his opponent, Congressman Ben Cardin.
Power Players: Embattled Congressman Leads Ways and Means with Finance Money Behind Him
January 30, 2009 | Fixing the economy is a huge undertaking for the 111th Congress, and any measures to cut or raise taxes will have to win the approval of the House Ways and Means Committee, which Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has chaired since 2007. This position has made Rangel a magnet for cash from the finance, insurance and real estate sector.
Power Players: Struggling Financial Firms Are Banking on Dodd
January 27, 2009 | Although Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is chair of one of the more powerful congressional committees, he probably isn't the envy of his peers these days with an economic crisis growing larger by the day. Dodd has put in two years as chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and is now charged with shaping legislation to jump-start the economy and help floundering companies, including those that have contributed to his campaigns.
Blagojevich Fundraiser Added to Obama, Biden, Jackson War Chests
January 26, 2009 | Although it's unclear to what extent businessman Raghuveer Nayak was involved in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell President Obama's Senate seat, what is clear is Nayak's commitment to funding the campaigns of the governor, the new president, the new vice president and others in Congress and the administration.
Power Players: With Health Sector's Money Supporting Him, Baucus Offers Prescription for Reform
January 23, 2009 | As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is a target for campaign contributions from Wall Street and the health sector. He's outlined his own vision for health care reform and his committee will have to decide if the overhaul is fiscally possible.
Power Players: Appropriations Chair and Organized Labor Have Strong Union
January 15, 2009 | Labor unions are enthusiastic supporters of Rep. Dave Obey, giving him a total of $2 million since 1989. A seat on the Appropriations Committee isn't enough to attract that kind of union support; a chairmanship on the subcommittee that controls Labor Department spending, however, is. Obey will continue to hold that post this year, in addition to his spot as chair of the entire House Appropriations Committee.
Power Players: New Appropriations Chair Popular with Defense
January 13, 2009 | As the chair of the defense appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) has been a popular target for the defense industry's campaign contributions. Capital Eye analyzes the money behind the lawmaker who recently replaced Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chair of the entire Senate Appropriations Committee.
Power Players: Cantor Whips up Support from Finance Sector
January 8, 2009 | A rising star among House Republicans from day one, Cantor will now replace Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri as House minority whip. In this position, Cantor is charged with corralling support among his colleagues for the Republican leadership's proposals. Capital Eye kicks its Power Players series off with a profile of Cantor's fundraising, industry support and personal investments.
Congressional Freshmen Bring New Industry Ties
January 6, 2009 | The 111th Congress started its first session today and the newbies will likely be the most overwhelmed. They will quickly learn what the veterans know so well: the donors and industries that helped you win your seat often expect payback. On OpenSecrets.org we've provided a full list of the freshmen with links to their money profiles.
While in Congress, Indicted Illinois Governor Supported Current Lawmakers
December 9, 2008 | Before he was the governor of Illinois who was taken into custody on corruption charges, Rod Blagojevich was a member of Congress relying on lawyers and law firms, unions, finance companies and fellow lawmakers to fund his campaigns. Blagojevich also helped pay for some of his colleagues' campaigns, including a few that are still in Congress.
Jefferson Loses Louisiana Seat to 2008's Lowest Spender
December 9, 2008 | Republican Anh (Joseph) Cao beat Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat, over the weekend for Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District seat despite Jefferson's incumbent advantage and financial help from his own party.
Parties Finance Louisiana Races
December 5, 2008 | Other lawmakers and party committees have whipped up a financial storm in the two Louisiana House races set to take place this Saturday. The party primaries in both the 2nd District and 4th were delayed in September because of Hurricane Gustav, pushing back the entire election schedule and giving interested parties more time to finance their candidates of choice.
Waxman's Money to Incoming Lawmakers Helps Win Him Energy Chair
November 21, 2008 | In a blow to the struggling auto industry that has supported Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) financially for years, the House Energy & Commerce Committee chair was ousted this week, replaced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who hasn't received a penny from the industry.
Waxman Vies for Chairmanship of Energy Committee
November 6, 2008 | California Rep. Henry Waxman wants Michigan Rep. John Dingell's position as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and following the money that has helped re-elect both veteran Democratic lawmakers could be a good indicator of how the committee's priorities would shift under new leadership.
Obama's Pick for Chief of Staff Tops Recipients of Wall Street Money
November 5, 2008 | A day after being elected president and acknowledging "the worst financial crisis in a century," Barack Obama asked one of the biggest recipients of Wall Street campaign contributions to be his chief of staff. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman who was an aide in the Clinton White House, was the top House recipient in the 2008 election cycle of contributions from hedge funds, private equity firms and the larger securities/investment industry--not the most popular of industries in the current economy.
PACs in 527's Clothing?
October 14, 2008 | Campaign finance reform group Democracy 21 filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission last week alleging that the American Issues Project (AIP), a pro-Republican group, and the American Leadership Project (ALP), a pro-Democratic group, broke campaign finance rules by not registering as political action committees, which are subject to contribution limits and reporting requirements.
Races to Watch IX: Wall Street's Favorite Candidates
October 9, 2008 | Not at all to the chagrin of oil and gas companies (and lawmakers who have received campaign donations from them), Wall Street is the new black for congressional candidates looking to link their opponents to an unpopular industry. As federal lawmakers have wrestled with an economic bailout plan worth $700 billion, candidates who have received contributions from the financial sector are on the defensive. Find out which candidates are filling their war chests with money from the finance sector in Capital Eye's final installment of Races to Watch.
Races to Watch VII: Where Cash Has No Competition
October 2, 2008 | Like reading tea leaves, one way to predict how a congressional race is going to go is by looking at the disparity in fundraising between the candidates. So far this election cycle, 280 House and Senate incumbents on November's ballot have collected at least 10 times more than the opponent they face in the general election. In this installment of Races to Watch, Capital Eye looks into why some of these incumbents have been such successful fundraisers.
Races to Watch VI: Candidates Backed by PACs
October 1, 2008 | More than a quarter of the money raised by congressional candidates on the November ballot has come from business and labor PACs, not from individual donors, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Capital Eye has profiled some races where labor union and business PAC money is playing the largest role.
Races to Watch II: Candidates Supported by Their Party
September 25, 2008 | Private interests and members of the public aren't the only ones betting their money on the congressional candidates they hope will win (or retain) congressional seats. Lawmakers in both parties have a vested interest in seeing their own candidates succeed this November, with Democrats wanting to strengthen their majority and Republicans hoping to minimize their losses. Here we look at some of the candidates getting the largest cash infusions from their own parties, indicating a close race.
Races to Watch I: Challengers Outraising Incumbents
September 24, 2008 | With few exceptions, incumbents will out-raise their challengers--so far this election cycle, incumbents for Congress have raised nine times more than their challengers, on average, and there is not a single Senate race where the challenger has raised more money than the sitting senator. Although challengers aren't winning the money race on the Senate side, the Center for Responsive Politics has identified 14 House races where the challenger surpassed the incumbent in fundraising after the most recent reporting period, through June.
While Other Pols Dump Tainted Donor's Money, Moran and Lieberman Hold Tight
September 16, 2008 | While other members of Congress rush to dump contributions from a California billionaire who has pleaded guilty in a massive stock fraud case, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) say they plan to keep thousands of dollars they received from the man, Henry Samueli, according to Politico. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found that Samueli and his wife, Susan, have given more than $250,000 to federal candidates and committees since the 2000 election cycle.
Update: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Lawmakers
September 11, 2008 | When the federal government announced two months ago that it would be seizing mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, CRP looked at how much money members of Congress had collected since 1989 from the companies. On Sunday the government proceeded with the takeover and we've returned to our data to bring you the updates, this time providing a list of all 354 lawmakers who have gotten money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (in July we posted the top 25).
Despite Indictment, Stevens is GOP's Pick
August 28, 2008 | What does it take to be your party's candidate-of-choice for the Senate even after you've been indicted in a scandal? Apparently it takes $4.2 million and 39 years in Congress already under your belt. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) won his party's primary race Tuesday, despite being indicted for allegedly failing to report $250,000 in gifts from the embattled oil services company Veco. Veco employees have given Stevens $28,500 for his re-election funds. Stevens's competitors in the primary were self-financed and came nowhere near bringing in his haul.
The Money Behind Biden
August 23, 2008 | Now that Barack Obama has announced his running mate, reporters will be scrambling to cover every aspect of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.)--his politics, his personal life, what he adds to the Democrats' presidential ticket and what aspects could make him a liability for the party. At the Center for Responsive Politics, we've strung together our own observations about Biden's campaign fundraising and personal finances.
Mystery PACs Put Under the Magnifying Glass
July 23, 2008 | We watchdogs can let our guard down just a little now that the Federal Election Commission has started to require leadership PACs to disclose their affiliations with politicians on their electronic filing forms. With your help, CRP previously identified dozens of Mystery PACs, revealing the political action committees that nearly got away with hiding such affiliations.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Democrats
July 16, 2008 | The federal government recently announced that it will come to the rescue of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two embattled mortgage buyers that for years have pursued a lobbying strategy to get lawmakers on their side. Both companies have poured money into lobbying and campaign contributions to federal candidates, parties and committees as a general tactic, but they've also directed those contributions strategically.
Data Update: Presidential and Congressional Fundraising
July 7, 2008 | The fireworks might be tucked away now until the next Fourth of July, but here at CRP we continue to illuminate the money-in-politics scene all year round. Just in the last few days we've been busy updating various parts of OpenSecrets.org using data available from the Federal Election Commission on June 30.
Lobbying Battle Brews Over Potential Beer Buyout
July 2, 2008 | When Anheuser-Busch rejected an unsolicited $46 billion buyout offer from InBev, a Belgian brewing company, reservations about the sale of an American icon to a foreign company quickly began brewing on Capitol Hill. While Anheuser-Busch put its lobbyists to work to keep its company locally owned, InBev's chief executive, Carlos Brito, also came to Washington to meet with lawmakers, hoping to soften some of their staunch opposition to the takeover.
John McCain's DINOs
June 23, 2008 | You've heard of RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) and now here come the DINOs-you guessed it, Democrats in Name Only. Trying to court independent voters and conservative Democrats, Republican John McCain last week put out a list of what he called "prominent Democratic and unaffiliated leaders and activists" who are supporting his bid for president.
Revolving Door: Hastert's New Gig
June 5, 2008 | Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert didn't have far to jump between Capitol Hill and K Street.
Leadership PACs Give Away Less Than Half of Funds
May 27, 2008 | A concert by a guitar legend. Trap and skeet equipment. A $45,000 party at an elegant New York club. These may not be the types of expenses we expect from our public servants, but increasingly members of Congress are using funds from their leadership PACs to pay for the unusual in the name of politics.
Superdelegates (Not) for Sale
May 20, 2008 | One of Hillary Clinton's most generous supporters has made the news for allegedly using money to entice superdelegates into Clinton's camp. According to the Huffington Post, media billionaire Haim Saban offered the Young Democrats of America (YDA) $1 million if the group's uncommitted superdelegates backed Clinton.
GOP Struggles to Build Party Amid Resignations
May 19, 2008 | Republicans have traditionally been far ahead of Democrats in fundraising, but now they're struggling to catch up, not only in collecting money from contributors but in money from their own party. Contributions from lawmaker to lawmaker in the name of party building is diminishing compared to past years.
Bob Barr Liberates Himself from GOP
May 13, 2008 | From campaign finance reform to foreign policy to budgeting for social services, former Republican Rep. Bob Barr blasted the two major parties yesterday while announcing that he's running for president on the Libertarian ticket.
Democrats Campaign for Superdelegate Support
April 3, 2008 | As Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battle for delegates in Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina, the race for superdelegates also continues to intensify.
Democratic Donors Send $24 Million Letter to Pelosi
March 27, 2008 | Prominent backers of Hillary Clinton sent a multi-million-dollar message to Capitol Hill this week: Watch out, Nancy Pelosi. In a letter to the Speaker of the House that urged her to stay out of the debate over how superdelegates should cast their votes, the 20 major Democratic donors didn't call direct attention to the $23.6 million that they've given to the Democratic Party since 1999, but they reminded her of their "enthusiastic" support over the years.
Washington Lets In More Sunshine, But Halls of Power Are Still Too Dark
March 20, 2008 | Since Sunshine Week 2007, a few rays of sunlight have lit up Congress and the Bush administration in the form of ethics legislation and other bills mandating fuller disclosure. As these changes are implemented, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics is examining their effects on the public's ability to know what's going on in campaign finance, lobbying and other areas related to money and politics.
Superdelegate Update
February 28, 2008 | In an update to Capital Eye's Feb. 14 report, campaign contributions from Obama and Clinton now total nearly $950,000 and have predicted endorsements about 80 percent of the time.
Retirement Funds
February 21, 2008 | For congressmen who have been in office for decades, fundraising is easy and campaigning is cheap. And when they decide to leave office, donors' contributions can finance an extended retirement party.
Seeking Superdelegates
February 14, 2008 | At this summer's Democratic National Convention, nearly 800 members of Congress, state governors and Democratic Party leaders could be the tiebreakers in the intense contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. If neither candidate can earn the support of at least 2,025 delegates in the primary voting process, the decision of who will represent the Democrats in November's presidential election will fall not to the will of the people but to these "superdelegates"—the candidates' friends, colleagues and even financial beneficiaries. Both contenders will be calling in favors.
Biggest Donors Are Digging Deeper for '08
November 15, 2007 | Top industries and interest groups have increased their giving over 2004 by 46 percent, Center finds. As money shifts to Democrats, giving from Republican strongholds is mostly flat.
Innovation Insulation
November 7, 2007 | As Congress debates patent reform legislation, a variety of industries are lobbying to ensure that damage awards for infringement don't deter innovation.
Can You Help Us Identify These Mystery PACs?
May 29, 2007 | Politicians set up so-called leadership PACs to raise even more money. But they don't want you to know what they're doing. __________________ Currently, a leadership political action committee, or leadership PAC, is not required to disclose the lawmaker with whom it is affiliated. North Carolina Rep. Walter B. Jones is hoping to shine more light…
Congressional Preview
April 7, 2007 | New leadership in the 110th Congress means newfound influence for interests friendly to Democrats By Miranda Blue and Lindsay Renick Mayer January 04, 2007 | With the changing of the guard on Capitol Hill comes a shift in lobbying efforts. In December, the Republican-led 109th Congress closed with a late-night flurry of bills to appease…
Hot-Button Interests Cooled Down in '06 Election
March 21, 2007 | Voters and candidates had their minds on the war, so PACs representing abortion and gun interests pulled back on their campaign contributions. By Lindsay Renick Mayer March 21, 2007 | Although political action committees across all industries increased their total contributions to candidates during the last election, giving by PACs tied to several hot-button political…
Price of Emission
March 15, 2007 | Fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles haven't changed since the 1980s, but the climate on Earth, and on Capitol Hill, has. By Lindsay Renick Mayer March 15, 2007 | After nearly two decades of static fuel-efficiency requirements, executives from leading auto manufacturers defended the current standards Wednesday and told Congress their companies are addressing global warming, rising…
Let the Sunshine In!
March 15, 2007 | Who's funding your elected representatives' campaigns, and how is that money being spent? What public policies are lobbyists trying to influence? It's your right to know, so speak up—here's how.
Heating Up
March 8, 2007 | Now that Democrats control Congress, the political dynamic of climate change has shifted. Many industries and interests have a stake. By Lindsay Renick Mayer March 08, 2007 | The earth is warming at an unnatural pace, but this isn't the only climate change that has multiple industries re-assessing their political strategy. As the debate over…
Barely Unpacked, New Members of Congress Start PACs
January 31, 2007 | With their parties demanding that they be team players, even the newest lawmakers form leadership PACs to give money to others. By Lindsay Renick Mayer January 31, 2007 | (This story has been corrected to reflect that Republican Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky established a leadership PAC in 2004 and Democratic Rep. Neil Abercrombie of…
State of the Union Preview
January 22, 2007 | Global warming, the Iraq war and balancing the budget are likely to be among the issues the president addresses. By Lindsay Renick Mayer January 22, 2007 | When President Bush takes the podium on Tuesday night to deliver his annual address, he will do so before a nation that is far less supportive of his…
To test the waters, White House hopefuls go to the well
December 5, 2006 | In 2008, presidential candidates will have to raise record sums, so talking now to donors—not just voters—is crucial. By Lindsay Renick Mayer December 05, 2006 | (Updated to incorporate 2004 inflation-adjusted grants and spending limits) As the 2006 midterm election moves from the headlines to the history books, the focus has already shifted to 2008…
The Price of Leadership
November 17, 2006 | The new majority leader was generous with contributions to fellow Democrats. By Center for Responsive Politics November 17, 2006 | In the contest to become House majority leader, John Murtha may have had the endorsement of Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, but Steny Hoyer had a more powerful ally—money. Hoyer, the Maryland congressman who decisively won the…
Power to These People
November 16, 2006 | Campaign finance profiles of Senate Majority Leader Reid, incoming House Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and runner-up Murtha By Lindsay Renick Mayer November 16, 2006 | (Updated to reflect Hoyer's win for majority leader) The message from voters in the 2006 midterm elections seems clear: Out with the old, in with the new. As the…
Center for Responsive Politics Predicts '06 Election Will Cost $2.6 Billion
October 25, 2006 | This year's intensely competitive election for control of the House of Representatives and Senate will be the most expensive midterm election ever, the Center for Responsive Politics predicts. Candidates, national political parties and outside issue advocacy groups will spend roughly $2.6 billion by the end of 2006 to influence the 472 federal contests around the United States and pad the war chests of incumbents not running this year.
In the Money Race, 'Third' is Dead Last
October 23, 2006 | Without cash to spread their message, independent and third-party challengers once again struggle to compete against Democrats and Republicans. By Lindsay Renick Mayer October 23, 2006 | Three-term senator Joe Lieberman finds himself as a third-party candidate in Connecticut this year. He has raised at least $15 million. Todd Chretien is also an independent running…
Foley Contributed Nearly $745,000 to Republicans
October 3, 2006 | Florida congressman in scandal was a major donor to the Republicans' effort to hold the House. Candidates in close races are dumping his money—but Foley has nearly $2.8 million left. By Massie Ritsch October 03, 2006 | At the center of an online sex scandal involving teenage pages, Rep. Mark Foley is the latest disgraced…
Challengers Can Draw Hope from Aug. 8 Upsets, but Incumbents Still Have the Money Edge
August 9, 2006 | Historically, nearly all incumbents in Congress win re-election. Does loss by Lieberman and others suggest 2006 will be different? ____________________ Primaries in three states on Aug. 8 each produced a rare event—the incumbent lost. The non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics offers the following "big picture" observations about the upsets in Connecticut, Georgia and Michigan, and…
Debate Over Internet Equality Is Hardly Neutral
June 23, 2006 | Senators take up the network neutrality issue, which pits entrenched telecom interests against the Internet's newcomers. By Neil Tambe and Eric Warren June 23, 2006 | The Senate is now considering legislation that would ensure the Internet remains based on a principle of equal and open connectivity. Opponents of so-called network neutrality legislation have contributed…
Clients of Lobbying Firm Under Investigation Contributed $6 Million to Lewis and Appropriations Committee
June 22, 2006 | Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White haven't just hired appropriations staffers to gain influence. The lobbyists and their clients have bankrolled committee members' campaigns and PACs. By Massie Ritsch June 22, 2006 | Clients of a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm under federal investigation have contributed at least $6.2 million to the campaigns and political action…
Lots of Cash Funds Contest to Succeed 'Duke' Cunningham
June 5, 2006 | A closely watched and expensive special election in California's 50th District will determine who takes the seat of the convicted congressman—at least until November. UPDATED June 6 to include the national parties' additional spending on this race By Massie Ritsch June 02, 2006 | As their longtime congressman sits in federal prison for taking bribes,…
Volz Spread Contributions Among Nearly 40 Republicans
May 8, 2006 | Latest Abramoff co-conspirator to plead guilty contributed the most money to his former boss, Rep. Ney, whom he has implicated in the lobbying scandal. By Center for Responsive Politics May 08, 2006 | Compared to his co-conspirators Jack Abramoff, Michael Scanlon and Tony Rudy, Neil Volz was a small-time political contributor. Volz, who is the…
The Hammer's Toolbox
April 5, 2006 | What Tom DeLay can—and can't—do with his leftover campaign cash By Center for Responsive Politics April 05, 2006 | Indicted in Texas for money laundering and embroiled in a lobbying scandal involving former aides, resigning Rep. Tom DeLay could use his leftover campaign funds to pay his ever-mounting legal bills. But what else could the…
Like Abramoff, Lobbyist Rudy Backed Republicans
March 31, 2006 | Reps. Doolittle, DeLay received the most from convicted Abramoff associate and wife By Center for Responsive Politics March 31, 2006 | Congressional aide-turned-lobbyist Tony Rudy, who went through the revolving door and now appears headed behind bars, was a generous political contributor like his co-conspirator Jack Abramoff. According to an analysis of campaign contributions by…
Making Hay Out of GOP Straw Poll
March 23, 2006 | GOP activists favor these candidates for the White House in 2008. But who will the money follow? By Courtney Mabeus March 23, 2006 | Republican Party leaders and activists gathered in Tennessee this month, and in a straw poll anointed native son Bill Frist as their chosen one to run for president in 2008. The…
Capitol Campaign to Remodel the Lobby
January 12, 2006 | UPDATE, Feb. 2: In an upset for acting Majority Leader Roy Blunt, House Republicans elected Ohio Rep. John Boehner 122-109 in a second-ballot vote to replace former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) dropped out after receiving 40 votes in the first ballot. By Center for Responsive Politics January 12, 2006 |…
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