The Senate's Monday cloture vote on the 2013 iteration of the Senate Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is either an important political litmus test for a Republican party in search of a new, more inclusive image or a crucial referendum on American civil liberties -- depending on your viewpoint. The bill would extend federal anti-discrimination protections to workers discriminated against because of their gender or sexual orientation. While observers are skeptical of the legislation's chances in the House, outside groups have spent bucketloads on grassroots and traditional lobbying in support of the law. On the other side? Not so much.
Continue readingTV air wars in VA gov’s race? Not so much
A review of the race's top outside spenders -- compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project -- combined with political advertisements gathered by Sunlight's Political Ad Hawk and data from Influence Explorer, sheds a little more light on the strategies of the outside groups jockeying for Virginians' votes. These figures represent the ad money spent at the major news affiliates in the state's four biggest markets.
Continue readingFederal Election Commission returns to full strength
A full complement of commissioners presided over the Federal Election Commission's open meeting on Thursday, marking the first time the regulatory body was fully staffed since Cynthia Bauerly stepped down in February. Lee E. Goodman, a lawyer with a background in campaign finance, and Ann Ravel, the former head of California's electoral watchdog took their seats on the bench for the first time.
Continue readingBusiness groups back establishment pick over Tea Party candidate in AL special
In the Alabama special election clash between Tea Party and establishment Republican candidates, the US Chamber of Commerce is putting its money where its mouth is. The business group -- and political juggernaut -- made waves when it announced it would support longtime state legislator Bradley Byrne over Tea Party-favorite Dean Young. The financial reports from the Byrne campaign show just how much the financial backing of major special interest groups like the U.S. Chamber can tilt the playing field in one candidate's favor.
Continue readingFirst Lady enlists muppets, corporate interests in food fight
When First Lady Michelle Obama makes an announcement today about marketing healthier foods to children, she'll be accompanied by the popular Sesame Street characters Elmo and Rosita--and the less well known, albeit more powerful, representatives of the Produce Marketing Association, a trade group, and Partnership for a Healthier America, a nonprofit founded by Obama herself, which has strong corporate support.
The announcement comes on the heels of an industry summit and major speech Obama gave in late September, in which the first lady made her strongest statement in recent years about advertising practices aimed at children. "You know that ...
Continue readingLatest round of Obama bundlers claim ambassador posts
At a meeting Thursday, tucked between a resolution condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Kenya and a panel on the ongoing civil war in Syria, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the confirmation of 25 prospective diplomatic appointees, a number of them wealthy supporters of President Barack Obama.
Continue readingRestore America’s Voice raises money–to raise money
Through its nonprofit and political arms Restore America's Voice has successfully raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from small donors with promises of fighting Obamacare. However it is not clear how much -- if any -- of the group's funds are actually spent fighting the controversial healthcare act.
Continue readingObama-Sharif meeting: A look at the Pakistani lobbying that came before
As President Barack Obama prepares to welcome the sometimes controversial Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the White House on Wednesday, U.S. officials are quietly preparing to release some $1.6 billion in aid for the south Asian nation that had been frozen ever since U.S. forces captured and killed 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden living in comfort not far from the Pakistani capital.
That raid -- which resulted in widespread anger in Pakistan against the U.S. and suspicion in the U.S. against Pakistan -- is just one of a number of thorny issues between the two ...
Continue readingDespite Bloomberg funded ad campaign, Nevada’s Sandoval vetoed gun bill
In Nevada, where a school shooting school shooting today left two dead--including the shooter--and two injured, the governor vetoed a bill last June that would have strengthened background check laws.
Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, rejected the measure despite an advertising blitz by the pro gun control group funded largely by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
The pro-gun control group advertised early and often Las Vegas this year, according to a search on Political Ad Sleuth, the Sunlight tool that tracks spending on political ads. Ads began in March and the most recent one aired ...
Continue readingBiggest players in shutdown drama raised big bucks in Q3
Some of the biggest players in the shutdown drama also saw some of the biggest returns in the third quarter, Sunlight's new Real-Time FEC tracker shows.
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