Yesterday, Chris Frates of National Journal broke the story that health insurance companies secretly funneled over $100 million into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for advertising. The Chamber, during the period in which the money was accepted, orchestrated one of the largest electioneering outside money efforts in American history to help weaken health reform and
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Earlier this week, Republic Report exclusively reported on a $500,000 bonus awarded to a Northrop Grumman lobbyist, named Thomas MacKenzie, who was hired to become a top staffer overseeing the military budget in the House Armed Services Committee. The unusual size of the bonus, and MacKenzie’s role in deciding how billions of dollars in taxpayer
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Recently, former Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) sat down to talk about issues of the day with other politicians from Washington State. Asked by an audience member about the role of lobbyists, Gorton reminded the crowd that he is a lobbyist, and went on to complain that lobbyists are too “over-regulated.” He argued that disclosure requirements
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Republic Report will run a series of stories this summer on shadowy front groups seeking to influence elections with big money. Earlier, we revealed that a mysterious group called “New Models U.S.A.” received major funding from a lobbying association for CEO’s, while funneling undisclosed cash into ballot initiatives in Ohio, supporting Republican Super PACs active
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One of the biggest Super PACs this election cycle, American Crossroads (along with its sister group, Crossroads GPS), is airing ads across the country assailing Democrats for “bailing out the same banks that caused the financial meltdown.” The group has launched bank-bailout themed ads against Elizabeth Warren, who in fact has been harshly critical of
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Over the weekend, the Associated Press noted that there are increasing efforts across the country to reform our nation’s draconian laws outlawing marijuana. Colorado could be the focal point of this movement. Voters this year will decide on Amendment 64, which would legalize marijuana use and regulate and tax the drug in a similar fashion
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Northrop Grumman, the fourth largest weapons maker in the world, follows the actions of Congress very closely. The F-35, which may cost over $1.45 trillion because of unprecedented cost overruns, an expensive surveillance drone program criticized as unnecessary, and even a new fleet of nuclear bombers are among the Northrop Grumman products that may be
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Across the country, state lawmakers have pushed forward bills to lower democratic participation. State after state have adopted laws that criminalize voter registration drives, limit the ability of low-income people and college students to vote, and otherwise restrict qualified voters from casting a ballot. As Republic Report revealed earlier this week, the controversial purge of
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