November 7, 2014

Hungarian Gov Hires Former Congressman Connie Mack

Connie Mack

On the heels of massive protests against a proposed Internet tax and an increasing crack down on ethnic minorities, the Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is looking for political support in Washington. And it’s no wonder why. Hungarian political leaders have been widely condemned for calling for a national list of Jews who may pose a “national
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November 7, 2014

Entitled For-Profit Colleges File Meritless Suit to Block Obama Rule

Steve-Gunderson-President-CEO-APSCU

On Thursday, November 6, the national trade association of for-profit colleges, APSCU, sued the Obama Administration in federal court in Washington DC to strike down the new 2014 “gainful employment” rule. The complaint repeats many of the claims from APSCU’s suit to strike down the 2011 gainful employment rule: that the U.S. Department of Education didn’t have the
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November 5, 2014

Sallie Mae Lobbyists Control Midterm Election Dark Money Groups

salliemae

In the midterm elections this year, tens of millions of dollars flowed from secret donors into pivotal races through nonprofits. We may never know who really paid for the election of a whole new class of politicians. Here’s a hint of where the money might be coming from: the lobbyists who control the gusher of money.
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November 5, 2014

Gerrymandering Rigged the 2014 Elections for Republican Advantage

The drafting of the Constitution. The House of Representatives was designed to be a voice of the people.

In the midterm elections, Republicans appear to have won their largest House majority since the Hoover administration. Republicans won on the weakness of Democratic candidates, a poor resource allocation strategy by Democratic party leaders, particularly DCCC chair Steve Israel, and an election narrative that did little to inspire base Democratic voters. That being said, in
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October 30, 2014

New gainful employment rule is weak, but predatory for-profit colleges remain on the ropes

empty classroom

The Obama Administration is releasing its “gainful employment” rule, aimed at curbing abuses by federally-funded career colleges, at 7 am Thursday.  I can’t fully evaluate the rule without seeing its details. But I have obtained a press release and fact sheet provided by the Administration to the media and also spoken to Administration and other
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October 28, 2014

VIDEO: Leading Politicians Dodge and Deny Climate Change Threat During Midterm Elections

We took a look at the ways in which leading politicians answered simple questions about climate change during the midterms this year and compiled a video. As coal, oil and gas interests have appeared as the primary sponsors of Republican candidates this election cycle, Republic Report has watched as an increasing number of candidates this year have expressed doubt
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October 27, 2014

2014 Campaign Shows Growing Public Disdain for Predatory For-Profit Colleges

hrc

In the 2o12 election campaign, when a reporter asked GOP candidate Mitt Romney what he planned to do about higher education and college affordability, Romney praised for-profit colleges, and particularly one school, Florida’s Full Sail University, for its ability to “hold down the cost of their education.” It was eventually exposed that: (1) Full Sail was perhaps the third most
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October 25, 2014

If GOP Takes Senate, Climate Change Deniers Will Control Key Committees

Sen. Mitch McConnell poses inside of a tank in 1985.

It wasn’t long ago that coal executives were openly discussing their dream of Republicans seizing the White House and making Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe — who believes climate change is a “hoax” concocted by greedy scientists — the head of the EPA. Now, they have a second chance. As dark money groups and SuperPACs backed by millions of
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