As state lawmakers in Texas and North Carolina move towards enacting tough new limits on abortions, Sunlight decided to use some of our data tools to see how far the trend is spreading nationwide. To do so, we lifted key phrases from four of the most restrictive abortion bills that have either been enacted or considered recently and ran those terms through our Open States database, which surveys activity in all 50 state legislatures.
Restrictive abortion bills on the move in 2013
Google under fire for Inhofe lunch
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla.
Thursday’s scheduled lunchtime fundraiser at Google’s Washington headquarters for Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., posted in Sunlight's Political Party Time, has raised a ruckus on the Internet. Lefty news outlets and environmentalists are slamming the tech giant for playing host to one of the Senate's most outspoken deniers of man-made climate change. Credo, the mobile phone company with a liberal agenda, has launched a petition asking Google not to support Inhofe.
The tech giant has cast itself as a leader in the promotion of 'green' business practices and who trumpets its highly efficient ...
Continue readingFEC asks Santorum about charges that he bought an endorsement
The Federal Election Commission is asking former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and an anti-gay marriage organization to tell the agency why it should not investigate an allegation that they violated campaign finance limits during the last election.
Continue readingIs a super PAC in Rick Perry’s future?
Rick Perry got permission last year to convert leftover presidential campaign funds to a super PAC, which could help the Texas governor win the kinds of friends he needs to mount a second bid for the presidency in 2016.
Continue readingNew EPA gasoline standards draw heated comments
As Americans gas up for the long holiday weekend, the Environmental Protection Agency is sifting through tens of thousands of comments on a proposed new rule that would set tough new standards for vehicle emissions and fuel quality.
Continue readingGoodies for big givers in immigration bill
Four defense contractors that would benefit from the immigration bill are getting a big return on their lobbying and campaign finance investment.
Continue readingThe $1 million dinner: When big donor Bill Dore meets Rick Santorum
Who told Rick Santorum's angel investor about the super PAC supporting the former (and perhaps future) presidential candidate?
Continue readingOil and environment groups buy ads after climate change speech
Environmental groups and the oil industry are buying TV ad time in the wake of Pres. Obama's speech this week outlining a plan to fight climate change, according to new federal documents.
Continue readingMysterious Rick Santorum super PAC donor speaks out
In the 2012 election 28 percent of all disclosed political contributions came from just 31,385 people. In a nation of 313.85 million, these donors represent the 1% of the 1%, an elite class that increasingly serves as the gatekeepers of public office in the United States.
William J. Doré, Sr., who rose from humble beginnings to make hundreds of millions in the energy industry, ended up as the biggest donor to the super PAC that kept Rick Santorum’s presidential bid afloat in 2012. Unlike another, Foster Friess, the well-heeled donor to the Red, White and Blue Fund whose comments occasionally led to embarrassing headlines, Doré kept a low profile. He gave no interviews to the press about his $2.25 million in donations. Continue reading
Gay rights supporters spending big politically
Today's Supreme Court decisions, both of which heartened proponents of gay marriage, come at a time when gay donors have become formidable players in the political money game. In the 2012 election cycle, gay rights groups and individuals associated with them spent nearly $17 million on campaign contributions and other political spending at the federal and state level, according to a search on Influence Explorer. Gay rights groups also reported spending more than $3.8 million on federal lobbying over the same time period.
Most of that campaign cash--57 percent--went to state level campaigns and issues, where gay marriage ...
Continue reading
59063
