Public- and private-sector experts from Mexico and the United States explored how laws granting public access to government information can be more effective at a recent Wilson Center event. Mexico's freedom of information law is hailed by some experts as a “gold standard” because it set a high bar: treating all information as public rather than secret. Those same experts agree, however, that legal and cultural changes are needed to make the system more effective. Mexico is still working to create a supporting set of laws for its freedom of information centerpiece. IFAI, the autonomous government body overseeing freedom of information in Mexico, is working to gain more enforcement power that will help it ensure government officials comply with the law. As the law stands now, IFAI has little power to tell a federal body that they must comply with freedom of information standards.
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 10/23/2012
NEWS ROUNDUP: Government
- DOJ, FBI ordered to pay up after denying FOIA: The FBI and Department of Justice owe a journalist nearly $500,000 in attorney fees after denying a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request he filed seeking information about former President Ronald Reagan. A judge ruled the two federal departments were wrong to withhold the information. (Courthouse News)
- Nonprofit challenges campaign contribution limits: Funders behind a Colorado-based nonprofit aiming to rewrite campaign finance laws in Montana remain a mystery. Links have been discovered, however, between the group and national Tea Party groups funded by the conservative Koch brothers. (Public Integrity)
- Campaigns choose target TV programs: Are viewers more likely to see Republican or Democratic ads when watching "The Andy Griffith Show"? What about "2 Broke Girls"? Yahoo has a breakdown of which party is dominating the ads for a variety of TV shows. (Yahoo)
Romney, Obama blitz Colorado with ads and visits
When GOP nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama arrive in this battleground state for campaign rallies over the next 24 hours, they'll be accompanied by a barrage of television ads on programs ranging from news broadcasts to The View to Jimmy Kimmel to General Hospital.
Continue readingA sketch of the Stealthy Wealthy
The nickname “Stealthy Wealthy” is Sunlight’s shorthand for the billionaires who seek to influence elections through large donation and whose... View Article
Continue readingCorporate, union and nonprofit giving to super PACs tops $167 million
Approximately one-third of the money that super PACs have collected so far in the 2012 campaign come from organizations such as corporations, labor unions and other political committees.
Continue readingA sketch of the Stealthy Wealthy
Here are some of the donors we've featured so far in our continuing Stealthy Wealthy series. Keep watching for more. Meanwhile, Sunlight will be watching to see what these business people are seeking as a return on their investments.
Continue readingMan behind Allen West super PAC remains secretive
It remains unclear why Richard H. Roberts, a New Jersey physician, contributed $1 million to help one member of Congress in south Florida, freshman Republican Allen West, win reelection.
Reached at his home last week, the main funder of a super PAC that has become the largest outside spender against West's Democratic opponent, construction executive Patrick Murphy, in one of the most closely-watched House races in the country, said he has retired from the pharmaceutical firm that he identified himself as heading in campaign finance forms. But he would say little else.
"I generally don't talk to press ...
Continue readingStealthy Wealthy: Who gave big in September?
It sounds like a scenario straight from central casting. A liberal Hollywood mogul and conservative Texas billionaire are among the exclusive 25-member million-dollar check writing club whose members forked over additional cash for super PACs in September, according to a recent Sunlight Foundation analysis.
Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Texas nuclear waste entrepreneur Harold Simmons are also among Sunlight's Stealthy Wealthy, our continuing series that looks at the giving habits of influential political donors. For the month of September, Katzenberg and Simmons were the only Stealthies who showed up as donating to super PACs -- but it's always possible ...
Continue readingTwo Midwestern states targets of gun violence and the NRA
Two states struggling with gun violence this fall, Wisconsin and Michigan, also have been targeted for campaign expenditures by the National Rifle Association.
The big gun rights group appears to have its biggest political footprint in Wisconsin, where a gunman on Sunday shot seven women -- three fatally -- before killing himself in state's second mass shooting this year. Of the $5.9 millon the NRA Political Victory Fund, has spent so far to defeat President Barack Obama, at least some has gone to Wisconsin. While the Federal Election Commission does not require independent expenditure groups to identify ...
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 10/22/2012
NEWS ROUNDUP: Government
- WhiteHouse.gov's new wardrobe: The White House launched a refreshed web portal that aims to provide clear paths to information and improve ease of use. Macon Phillips, White House Director of Digital Strategy, noted that the changes were an attempt to apply lessons learned through previous updates. (FedScoop)
- Federal websites need some work: A new survey found that most federal websites make significant errors when it comes to usability, accessibility, and search engine optimization. According to the study, the FAA, CIA, and Homeland Security scored highest over a variety of categories. (Government Technology)
- Companies disclose their Chamber contributions: The US Chamber of Commerce pledged to spend $100 million this election cycle to support pro corporate candidates, but it isn't required to disclose the sources funding this push. More than 2 dozen companies have chosen to place the onus of disclosure on themselves and announced their donations to the Chamber of Commerce. (Washington Post)
- Pelosi raised $7 million for Democrats in September: Speculation has been rampant about Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) future as House Minority Leader. But, her continued fundraising prowess makes it likely that she can hold on to the job if she wants it. (National Journal)
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