Last week, I blogged about a somewhat unusual event going down this Wednesday: DC Arts Advocacy Day. It’s an event... View Article
Continue reading2Day in #OpenGov 3/13/2012
Policy Fellow Matt Rumsey wrote this post. Here is Tuesday’s take on transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills... View Article
Continue readingCitizens United Decision Could Lead to Foreign Interests Influencing US Elections
It should come as no surprise that the trigger for foreign contributions possibly finding an inroad into US elections is none other than the Citizens United decision.
Continue readingOGE makes it easier to access public financial disclosure reports online
The Office of Government Ethics took an important step towards greater transparency yesterday when they launched an improved system for... View Article
Continue readingTracking the stealthy wealthy: How (and why) big donors give big
One of the questions we frequently hear in this brave new world of super PACs and the seven-figure donations made... View Article
Continue readingHow I Defeated Terminus
This Sunshine Week is bringing in a series of remarkable citizens around the nation — showing us that everyone can... View Article
Continue readingStealthy wealthy: How Harold Simmons’ political giving has benefited his business empire
 |
| Photo by the Dallas Morning News |
(This is the first in an occasional series that will shine a light on little known but highly influential donors.)
Even under the post-Citizens United campaign finance rules that unleashed a new generation of mega-donors, Harold Simmons stands out as old political money.
The Dallas-based billionaire, dubbed the king of superfund sites after acquiring an environmentally-challenged company, has gotten plenty of attention for the $10 million he’s given super PACs in the first four months of this year.
But a closer examination of the record shows that Simmons’ 2012 donations are just the ...
Continue readingSimmons-controlled company fights for protectionist measures
When Titanium Metals Corp., a defense contractor that's part of Harold Simmons's business empire, lobbied for protectionist policies designed to shield it from foreign competition, the fight allied the Texas billionaire and Republican mega-donor with some unlikely political bedfellows, including Sen. Sherrod Brown, a liberal Democrat from Ohio, and a union that overwhelmingly gives to Democrats.
Of the more than $34 million that Harold Simmons, his wife and daughters have contributed to politicians, parties and political organizations, just $520,000 has benefited Democrats.
Progressive groups threaten corporations on political giving
Today government reform groups put corporations on notice: Try to funnel political donations through entities that can hide them, and expect major public relations consequences.
Occupy Wall Street's Aaron Black speaks, with Tom Edgar (far left) and Bill de Blasio (second to right)
At a press conference in Washington, 15 organizations launched a national campaign to target corporations who try to influence the 2012 election by contributing to 501c4 and 501c6 nonprofits, thereby keeping their donations secret. Non-profits running the gamut from long-standing entitities such as the Chamber of Commerce to newer ones such Priorities USA, organized to help ...
Continue readingDepartment of Justice celebrates Sunshine Week
Earlier this afternoon the Department of Justice and Attorney General Eric Holder celebrated Sunshine Week by highlighting the federal government’s... View Article
Continue reading
59063
