AT&T and its intended, DirecTV, gain DC clout via their contributions, fundraising and lobbying expenditures. Another way their power is revealed is in just how much they make themselves known before the FCC. The answer: a lot.
Continue readingIt’s time to improve access to influence data in California
Sometimes, hurdles along the path to transparency can come down to one thing: a lack of funding. That's why we've signed on to a letter asking California to allocate funding that would help improve access to influence data.
Continue readingSecret financing in Egyptian presidential elections
Next week, Egyptians are almost certain to elect as their new president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Unfortunately, Egypt’s current political finance regime is cloaked in darkness — and no one will be able to follow the money.
Continue readingOne day after primary, Kentucky super PAC sets sights on Alison Lundergan Grimes
Just one day after Kentucky's primary, a pro-McConnell super PAC spent half a million on a new ad targeting Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Continue readingGetting secrecy out of science
Last night, a congressional committee adopted an amendment that limits the NSA’s influence on NIST - the first step to getting the secrecy out of science.
Continue readingToday in #OpenGov 5/22/2014
Keep reading for today's look at #OpenGov news, events and analysis including dark money as a bipartisan affair, European accusations, and open data in Cincinnati.
Continue readingRep. Lofgren explains how secrecy undermines the USA Freedom Act and democratic process
The White House and other pro-surveillance advocates are relying on opaque negotiations that occurred behind closed doors in order to scuttle meaningful surveillance reform.
Continue readingParty committees on top, dark money still flowing FEC filings show
Monthly fundraising figures have landed at the Sunlight Foundation's Real-Time FEC tracker, and our tool shows national party committees leading the pack as well as dark money pouring into primaries.
Continue readingMoney can’t buy you the NRA
Michael Bloomberg recently committed $50 million to a gun control effort to “outmuscle” the NRA. But Bloomberg is ignoring the fact that money alone won't buy you the NRA.
Continue readingIn both the public and private sector, power is the power to hide
Power may be the power to influence others in public debate. But we also see that power being used to pressure us into allowing the powerful to remain secret — even as the rest of us become more visible.
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