There are 12,200 registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C. right now. And they earn $3.3 billion each year influencing Congress – mostly by way of talking with a silver tongue. Our friends at SofaPundit.com, Ryan and Sean Kleier, were incensed by the undue role lobbyists have over democracy, so they applied for a Fund for the Republic grant
Continue Reading >>>

Today, Republic Report announced that we are asking all 34 retiring members of Congress to make a simple, common sense commitment: “I will disclose any negotiations or offers for jobs on the front page of my congressional website.”  This afternoon we are delivering letters to all 34 congressional offices seeking this commitment. We want you
Continue Reading >>>

Yesterday I listened over the web to two CEOs of for-profit education companies make presentations at an investor conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Neither man had anything to say about the overwhelming evidence that for-profit schools have engaged in waste, fraud, and abuse with federal tax dollars.  Instead, both touted their companies, and one announced a startling
Continue Reading >>>

  Shakespeare’s Juliet told her Romeo, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  The star-crossed lovers could not have known that centuries later those words would be invoked by one of America’s most controversial industries in a manner more worthy of Orwell’s 1984. A
Continue Reading >>>

Earlier this week, Republic Report investigated legislation being pushed by Utah Rep. John Mathis (R) to criminalize the documentation of farm abuse in his state. Mathis has been rewarded lavishly by campaign contributors for the bill, and he even invited them to testify in its favor, calling them his “good friends.” Similar “Ag Gag” bills
Continue Reading >>>

 Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) runs the Mountaineer Political Action Committee (PAC). The Mountaineer PAC is a leadership PAC, and is used by Rockefeller to support fellow Democratic Party candidates. Last night, Rockefeller hosted a fundraising party for the Mountaineer PAC at his mansion in Rock Creek Park.  The Sunlight Foundation’s Party Time obtained a copy
Continue Reading >>>

A few weeks ago, Congressman John Kline (R-MN) was confronted by voters over congressional insider trading. Like many lawmakers who have tried to deflect the issue, Kline claimed that no such problem exists. “I don’t know that it’s being done,” said Kline, seemingly unaware of insider trading allegations against Spencer Bachus, Lamar Smith, and other
Continue Reading >>>

In the 19th Century, the term lobbyist was popularized to describe the professional political influence peddlers. As the story goes, President Ulysses S. Grant would often relax at the Willard InterContinental Washington, a Washington D.C. hotel. People hoping to gain special favors would stand in the hotel lobby, hoping to speak with Grant. Since Grant
Continue Reading >>>