Tag Archive: Investigations

The list: who gave to Obama’s new political non-profit

by Reporting Group

investigations

Apr 12, 2013 5:39 pm

(Updated: 6:44 p.m. ET)

Organizing for Action, the committee formerly known as Obama for America, released its first list of donors today, inconveniently organized alphabetically on 26 separate pages.

Sunlight has parsed the data and put this in table format for your convenience. Click here to see a Google spreadsheet of reported donors. The second tab gives you state-by-state totals for the committee's contributions.

We have done this quickly to be helpful and we are reasonably confident that this data is correct. If you see any errors or problems, email us here.

The list includes some familiar ...

FEC deadlocks on whether fundraising firm gave improper benefit to California GOP

by Keenan Steiner

investigations

Apr 12, 2013 9:11 am

Members of the Federal Election Commission deadlocked Thursday on whether a fundraising firm's decision to forgive an estimated $138,000 in interest owed by the California Republican Party constituted an improper political contribution.

The failure to reach a decision, which means the California GOP will not be penalized, came despite a finding by the commission's professional staff that the write-off by the Minnesota-based Strategic Fundraising Inc. (SFI) was not "in its ordinary course of business," which would amount to breaking campaign finance law.

The commission deadlocked, as usual, along partisan lines: The two Democratic commissioners found that it ...

Gun legislation in states forecasts close fight in Congress

by Anu Narayanswamy

investigations

Apr 11, 2013 12:01 am

As the Senate opens debate on gun control after a last-minute bipartisan deal, a review of legislation now before state lawmakers gives a striking evidence of how difficult it will be to enact restrictions on firearms into law, even given the political momentum such measures have received following the December shooting tragedy that left 26 people -- most of them young children -- dead at the Sandy Hook elementary school at Newtown, Conn.

A review of nearly 1,500 firearms-related bills introduced in the 50 state legislatures since the beginning of the year by Sunlight reveals that the post-Newtown push for stronger ...

Obama phones go by another name in Congress

by Reporting Group

investigations

Apr 10, 2013 11:06 am

Washington Post reporter Karen Tumulty's intriguing story today about the coining of a term and its political impact got us to wondering just how far the term "Obama phone" had embedded itself into the political culture. We've written before about how compounds of President Barack Obama's name have become politically charged.

We took a look via Capitol Words, Sunlight's tool that scans the Congressional Record and allows users to analyze speech patterns.

So far, no recorded mentions of "Obamaphone" or "Obama phone" on the floor of the House or Senate.

However, we did find a number ...

Progressives campaign online, on paper and on the Hill against chained CPI

by Keenan Steiner

investigations

Apr 9, 2013 6:47 pm

Liberal groups have launched a multifaceted campaign to oppose a Social Security cut expected to be included in the president's budget Wednesday, coordinating online activism, old-fashioned petition signing and traditional lobbying. It's an all-hands-on-deck approach in an attempt to send a loud message to the administration, and to congressional Democrats.

Obama taps Romney donors for labor board

by Kathy Kiely

investigations

Apr 9, 2013 3:16 pm

Logo of National Labor Relations Board Whether it's a sign of post-partisanship or sheer exasperation is hard to say, but two of the three nominees that President Barack Obama today tapped for seats on the National Labor Relations Board donated to the Republican who wanted to take his place.

Harry I. Johnson donated $1,500 to Mitt Romney's unsuccessful presidential campaign last year and Philip Miscimarra gave Romney $1,000, according to data downloaded from Sunlight's Influence Explorer.

Both are Republican labor attorneys who, while not prolific donors, have also made other contributions to GOP committees. To view Johnson's donations, click here ...

People’s splurge: Outside spending in Bay State Senate race tops $1 million

by Keenan Steiner

investigations

Apr 5, 2013 10:56 am

Despite candidates' signatures on the so-called "People's Pledge" to keep outside big money groups out of a special Massachusetts Senate election, the Democratic primary has attracted nearly $1.3 million in outside spending so far.

Super PACs next for Sanford and Colbert Busch?

by Keenan Steiner

investigations

Apr 3, 2013 4:49 pm

With the race for a special House election in South Carolina now set, and polls showing it could be close, the outcome may partly hinge on who has the most money.

Start your engines: GOP makes first 2014 ad buys against Democratic House members

by Kathy Kiely

investigations

Apr 3, 2013 2:03 pm

(Updated: 2:25 p.m.)

The National Republican Congressional Committee is making its first ad buy of the 2014 season with a blitz against seven vulnerable House Democrats.

Sunlight's Ad Hawk, which allows mobile phone users identify the sources of political advertising, picked up new spots aimed at the incumbents overnight. The early ads underscore the already-intensifying battle for the House, which President Barack Obama has vowed to put back in Democratic control. The president is travelling to the West Coast today for a series of fundraisers benefiting the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Read the details on Political Party ...

The real scam: Don’t let broadcasters shut down FCC political ad database over online ripoff

by Kathy Kiely

Apr 2, 2013 10:09 am

A story which had been making the rounds in broadcast trade publications, broke into the mainstream media Thursday, when NPR reported that scammers have been taking advantage of the Federal Communications Commission's online political ad file to rip off political consultants. Hold the no-honor-among-thieves jokes. Let's just stipulate that stealing is not a good thing, even if the victims are political consultants. More worrisome than what the latest developments on the FCC database mean for advertisers' information is what they could mean for yours.