GRAPHIC: How The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Uses Its “Spooky PAC” To Funnel Corporate Cash Into Secret Attack Ads
As Stephen Colbert rightfully pointed out earlier this week, a 501(c) organizations — which he termed “Spooky PACs” — operate like Super PACs, except that they are completely secret organizations that do no reveal any of their donors. Like Super PACs, 501(c) groups can raise unlimited corporate and union donations, and can spend that cash
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Wall Street Doesn’t Think Michele Bachmann Is Fringe: Big Banks Like J.P. Morgan Support Her Bill To Repeal Financial Regulations
What do Jamie Dimon, chief executive of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Michele Bachmann, a conspiracy-obsessed representative from Minnesota, have in common? Both support H.R. 87, Bachmman’s legislation that would repeal all major Wall Stret reforms passed in the wake of the financial crisis. Though Bachmann has been cast as a fringe figure over
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What Do UFO Sightings And Super PACs Have In Common?
Just as many Americans who have personally witnessed a UFO think super PACs don’t corrupt democracy. I know, I know…it’s hard to believe anyone believes super PACs aren’t hurting our democracy, as they enable the mega-rich, corporations, and unions to pour unlimited amounts of money anonymously into our elections. And the vast majority of Americans do agree
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Michelle Rhee Says She’ll Tell For-Profit Colleges To Clean Up Their Act
Michelle Rhee writes in the Huffington Post that “some have questioned” why she would speak at the upcoming annual meeting of the largest trade group of for-profit colleges, APSCU, and she offers an answer. I first raised this question 10 days ago, so I want to evaluate Rhee’s response. First of all, Rhee, the former chancellor
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President Obama To Issue Order Protecting Service Members and Veterans From Abuses By For-Profit Colleges
Today, at Fort Stewart, Georgia, President Obama will sign an executive order to help active duty military members, veterans, and their families get the information they need to select college programs paid for with federal aid. The order also strengthens oversight and accountability for schools that offer these educational programs. Schools will be required to give
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Sen. Scott Brown Took Credit For Watered Down STOCK Act, But New Disclosures Show Brown’s Top Bundler Lobbied To Weaken It
Republic Report has been highly criticalof the watering down of the STOCK Act, the recently enacted law to curb insider trading in Congress. New disclosures show that a group of well-connected lobbyists helped weaken the bill. Senators talked a good game about reform, but managed to water down the legislation so much so that it
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Exclusive: Washington Post’s Kaplan and Other For-Profit Colleges Joined ALEC, Controversial Special Interest Lobby
Republic Report has learned that the Washington Post Company’s Kaplan for-profit college division, was, last year, a member of the controversial business advocacy group the American Legislative Exchange Council. Other major for-profit education companies also joined ALEC. Republic Report has obtained a July 2011 document showing Kaplan Higher Education and other for-profits as members of
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South Carolina ALEC Member Literally Exempted ALEC From State Lobbying And Ethics Laws
There have been complaints in states like Minnesota that the American Legislative Exchange Council violates state lobbying laws, particularly with gifts for state lawmakers and undisclosed meetings with corporate lobbyists. ALEC, as we’ve reported, is the secretive bill-writing front group responsible for risky privatization schemes, massive taxpayer giveaways to big business, and dozens of other
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