In its first open meeting since the landmark SCOTUS decision, FEC Commissioners clashed over an op-ed on 501(c)4 spending — not aggregate limits.
Continue readingNo Justice Roberts, the Internet can’t do government’s job
Chief Justice John Roberts thinks the Internet can save democracy from big money. As some of the Internet's most devoted users, we disagree.
Continue readingWith filing deadline looming, use Real-Time FEC for easy, up-to-the-minute campaign finance analysis
On Friday all monthly and quarterly committees registered with the FEC have to turn in their financial reports. Sunlight's 'Real-Time FEC' lets you track the money going in and out. Here's a primer on how to use it.
Continue readingPresto! Stockman campaign finds some missing money
Amending a campaign finance return for a seventh time, Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, reports some donations his spokesman had denied getting.
Continue readingYes, Mr. Bauer, the McCutcheon case is a big deal
Bob Bauer argues that striking down the $123,200 hard money limit of campaigns — the goal of plaintiff Shaun McCutcheon — would not make much of a difference. Here's why he's wrong.
Continue readingThe FEC wants your input
Thursday's open meeting of the Federal Election Commission featured debate on the exemption of "banner" political ads on mobile devices from disclaimer requirements and a call for public comments on an interpretive rule on independent expenditures in presidential primaries.
Continue readingPolitical advertisers and TV stations ignore disclosure rules
A decade after the Supreme Court predicted the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law would help promote transparency by making public information on campaign ad buys, most political advertisers and TV stations aren't providing the information at all.
Continue readingThe FEC’s Christmas wish? To join the 21st century
Tuesday's open meeting of the FEC saw the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair and a plea to congress for campaign finance to enter the digital age.
Continue readingBarrage of political campaign spending follows shootings at Sandy Hook
Even in an "off" election year, groups on both sides of the gun debate spent millions to influence public opinion, and some have stockpiled big warchests for 2014.
Continue readingExtra! Extra!! Get your real time campaign finance data here!!!
As fundraising for the 2014 congressional contests heats up and filing deadlines loom this week, the Sunlight Foundation is unveiling a new tool - the Real-Time FEC tracker - that will allow users to search, sort, filter and get alerts for campaign finance reports as they land at the Federal Election Commission.
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