Last week, ThinkProgress and DeSmogBlog published internal documents from the Heartland Institute. The files contained information about Heartland donors, as well as plans to develop a school curriculum for children that denied dangers of pollution and global warming. While the Heartland Institute advertises itself as a “free market” think tank, the documents suggest that the
Continue Reading >>>

Later today, governors from both parties will gather at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington D.C. for an evening with powerful corporate lobbyists and businessmen to discuss a new free trade deal. Trade officials from the Obama administration are expected to brief attendees with information of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a new trade agreement that
Continue Reading >>>

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) just released new Defense Department data showing that the troubled for-profit college sector — which has left many American deep in debt — received half of all military Tuition Assistance dollars last year — $280 million out of $563 million for college grants for active duty military.  During their decade of explosive
Continue Reading >>>

Today, an especially sunny and warm day in Washington, D.C., citizens rallied on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to let the court know that it’s time to overturn its 2010 Citizens United decision, which opened the door for unlimited corporate spending in political races. This comes on the heels of the court’s decision to
Continue Reading >>>

We’ve covered how unlimited corporate money in elections transforms our democracy into a plutocracy. Billionaire donors, as well as politically active corporations, dump money into campaigns, buying not only access, but sway over important policy decisions. But the Los Angeles Times has a new piece exploring a different type of corruption created by the Citizens
Continue Reading >>>

Two weeks ago, Republic Report announced Sell Out Of The Week, a regular feature for the blog. President Obama gained the distinction for breaking his promise, and embracing unlimited corporate money for his super PAC, while refusing to take simple steps to clean up the system. Last week, we highlighted Democratic consultant Joe Trippi, who
Continue Reading >>>

What happens when you leave your job on the Hill? You’re welcomed with open arms on K Street. At least, that was the case for nearly 400 former House staffers who left Congress to register as lobbyists from 2009 to 2011, according to a new Sunlight Foundation study. Sunlight’s Leo Drutman writes: More than two
Continue Reading >>>

One of the ways that Big Money works to take control of the country’s political system is by enlisting former legislators to become lobbyists. These lobbyists, having passed through the “revolving door,” have wide access to their former colleagues in addition to the financial resources that lobbying firms command. While there are some laws regulating
Continue Reading >>>