Prior to joining the Obama administration as the director of the White House National Economic Council, Larry Summers faced a barrage of criticism after it was exposed that he received hundreds of thousands of dollars from major banks for a series of speeches he gave in in 2008. Despite this conflict of interest, the administration expressed full confidence in
Continue Reading >>>

During the Super Bowl yesterday, the Center for Union Facts ran an ad in support for Senator Orrin Hatch’s “Employee Rights Act,” a bill that would make it much harder for workers to join unions, and easier for union-busting campaigns to decertify currently organized work places. The Center for Union Facts is one of two
Continue Reading >>>

We know from a front-page New York Times story that Mitt Romney thinks the world of for-profit colleges, especially one school whose executives have contributed money to the Romney campaign and Super PAC. But a key for-profit college trade group, APSCU, probably just ensured it will also enjoy warm relations in the event of a
Continue Reading >>>

Earlier this week, the House and Senate Ethics committees released their report summarizing activity from 2011. Roll Call reports that the committees looked into very few ethics issues. In the Senate, out of the five that were pursued, none resulted in any disciplinary action: The Senate’s annual report shows that its Ethics panel received 77
Continue Reading >>>

Last August, two teenagers handling a large grain auger had their legs severed while working at the Zaloudek Grain Co. in Oklahoma. The Department of Labor has proposed rules that might have prevented this tragedy. The rules, designed to curb dangerous child labor in agriculture, were finally unveiled after a long delay. The labor changes
Continue Reading >>>

Two days ago, the STOCK Act, bipartisan legislation to ban insider trading by members of Congress, passed the Senate by 96-3. The Senate bill now includes a provision to cover some federal employees, a 30 day disclosure requirement for lawmakers, and forces covered officials to disclose the details of their mortgage. Senator Tom Coburn of
Continue Reading >>>

Wealthy private equity managers pay a lower tax rate than many middle income Americans because of the “carried interest” tax loophole. With the revelation that Mitt Romney, through his investments in private equity firm Bain Capital, receives a windfall profit every year that benefits from the loophole, Wall Street lobbyists are stepping up the campaign
Continue Reading >>>

Most child labor was prohibited in 1938, but there are a few exceptions for certain industries where children are still allowed to work. One of the biggest loopholes is the agricultural industry. The Department of Labor recently issued new proposed regulations restricting child labor on farms, regulations which are drawing intense opposition from politicians and
Continue Reading >>>