Disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures hold candidates accountable -- but after the votes are in, it's often too late for the scrutiny of watchdogs (and opponents) to make a difference. That's why in addition to quarterly reports, candidates must report large contributions made in the final days of the campaign within 48 hours of receiving them.
In the Massachusetts special Senate election, Martha Coakley and Scott Brown were required to file reports for contributions larger than $1,000 between December 31 through January 16. As of today, January 20, however, the most recent contributions available were made on ...
Database used to track contractor fraud poorly managed, filled with inaccuracies
Congressional watchdogs have often criticized the online tool maintained by the General Services Administration to prevent the award of federal funds to banned individuals and companies. A Sunlight Reporting Group review of the sites data finds that it continues to be badly maintained, with rampant problems including omissions, inaccuracies and other data quality issues.
The Government Accountability Office examined the Excluded Party List System, which lists individuals and entities that are ineligible to receive federal contracts, some subcontracts and grants. The site allows procurement officers to check whether a potential contractor has been debarred, which can result from a contractor ...
FDA’s transparency effort has new features, old content
Chiropractics lobbied for special student loans, defaulted in droves
The chiropractic industry counted a win after it successfully lobbied for inclusion in a federal student loan program for those studying health-related professions. Decades later, though, significant numbers of chiropractors have defaulted on their loans, leaving Uncle Sam to make up the difference.
Fifty-three percent of healthcare providers barred from receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements from patients because they defaulted on Health Education Assistance Loans (HEAL) are chiropractors, according to an analysis of the Department of Health and Human Services' exclusion list.
The data shows people well into middle age--even in their 60s--saddled with debt, sometimes as much as ...
Continue readingOOIDA spells it out
The Real Time ticker kicked out this new filing with the Federal Election Committee--the OOIDA PAC, which stands for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Political Action Committee. I googled "OOIDA" and found the group's Web site -- it's a remarkable model of candor:
OOIDA is just one of hundreds of representative groups vying for the attention of lawmakers and candidates. In recent years, OOIDAs Washington office staff has made great progress in reaching out to members of Congress and their staffs, educating them on the needs of professional truckers and securing their support. The association follows a strategic plan ...Continue reading
TARP Money Funds More Politically-Savvy Banks
Under-performing banks that are politically connected received more bailout funds, according to a study by the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
According to the report, banks located in districts with House members serving on financial committees had a 26 percent increase in the funding they received under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Likewise, bank executives holding a board seat at a Federal Reserve Bank increased their likelihood of receiving bailout money by 31 percent.
Applications for the largest TARP initiative, the Capital Purchase Program, are reviewed by the Federal Reserve--presenting a potential conflict of interest when bank ...
Continue readingRemembering Dodd in headlines
A new year, a new look and a new URL: Reporting.SunlightFoundation.com
Texas politico rapidly rises to No. 1 overall donor, now No. 1 bundler
What does the single largest donor in federal politics do when the maximum allowed by law just isn't enough? He collects contributions from others, becoming the single biggest bundler. What won't surprise you is that the person in question is a lobbyist. But what might surprise you is that he's based in Texas, and chances are good you've never heard of him.
Democratic supporter Ben Barnes, who is from faraway Austin, Texas, has quietly and rather suddenly become the premier political financier in America. He appeared on the Center for Responsive Politics' list of top 100 ...
Continue readingFDA Holds Back Information on 9 of the 25 Most Prescribed Drugs
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