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Big Oil and the U.S. Chamber Fight to Keep Foreign Bribery Flourishing

by Sara Jerving — October 19, 2012 - 8:36am
  • Topics: Corporations, International

    • by Sara Jerving and Mary Bottari

    In a new lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), big energy extractors are pushing for carte blanche in their interactions with foreign governments, making it harder to track whether their deals are padding the coffers of dictators, warlords, or crony capitalists. The United States Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Institute, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and the National Foreign Trade Council filed a lawsuit on October 10, 2012 against a new SEC rule, which requires U.S. oil, mining and gas companies to formally disclose payments made to foreign governments as part of their annual SEC reporting.

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    On NFIB Conference Call, Romney Urges Employers to Tell Employees How to Vote, Just Like the Kochs

    by Brendan Fischer — October 18, 2012 - 9:36am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy, Politics

    • GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney suggested to business owners they tell their employees how to vote on a June conference call organized by the National Federation for Independent Business (NFIB), an organization the Center for Media and Democracy has recently exposed as a partisan lobbying group advancing big business interests.

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    In Massachusetts, even the "People's Pledge" Can't Keep Out the Outside Money

    by Will Dooling — October 17, 2012 - 8:00am
  • Topics: Democracy, Politics

    • The U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts is currently among the closest in the country, with the most recent polls showing a razor-thin lead by Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren, who hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Scott Brown this November. The Massachusetts race is unique among national Senate races, as outside money is playing a significantly diminished role thanks to a pledge signed by both candidates that has helped keep outside spending on television, radio, and Internet ads in check.

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    Koch Social Media Policy May Be Unlawful; Employers Still Have Broad Leeway to Limit Employee Speech

    by Brendan Fischer — October 16, 2012 - 8:41am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy, Politics

    • The Koch Industries policy limiting employee speech on social media may be unlawful in light of recent decisions by the National Labor Relations Board, but employers still have broad leeway to impose their political views on workers and punish those who disagree.

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    Two New Documentaries Spotlighting Wisconsin Screening in Madison to Benefit CMD

    by PRW Staff — October 13, 2012 - 1:39am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed

    • The Center for Media and Democracy invites you to join us for a terrific evening Wednesday, October 24th, at Madison's Barrymore Theatre starting at 7pm. We are screening two recently released documentaries that put the spotlight on Wisconsin.

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    Four Takeaways on the VP Debate from Paul Ryan's Home State

    by Brendan Fischer — October 12, 2012 - 11:08am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Politics

    • The lively October 11 debate between Vice President Joe Biden and the GOP Vice-Presidential candidate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, has been widely analyzed and fact-checked. But from the Wisconsin perspective, a few statements made by our fellow cheesehead brought to mind some idioms used widely in his home state.

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    FEC Complaint Filed Against Rep. Paul Ryan Alleging Improper Use of Congressional Campaign Funds

    by Brendan Fischer — October 11, 2012 - 2:39pm
  • Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Politics

    • Progressive advocacy group One Wisconsin Now has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging U.S. Representative and Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan has improperly used his Congressional campaign funds to promote the GOP presidential ticket.

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    Close Ohio Race for U.S. Senate May Be Decided by Outside Money

    by Will Dooling — October 11, 2012 - 8:37am
  • Topics: Democracy, Politics

    • When it comes to campaign fundraising, Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, has recently pulled ahead of his Republican challenger, State Treasurer Josh Mandel. However, Brown has been the target of more outside spending than any other member of Congress and Mandel has enough support from outside "dark money" groups to close the gap.

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    Walkergate Trials Heating Up, Plea Deal Has State Buzzing

    by Mary Bottari — October 10, 2012 - 9:42am
  • Topics: Democracy

    • Since May 2010, the Milwaukee County District Attorney has been conducting a secret "John Doe" criminal investigation involving Scott Walker's former staff and associates during the time that Walker served as the Milwaukee County Executive and was running for governor. The wide-ranging investigation has included allegations of illegal campaign work on the public payroll, embezzlement of funds from a veterans' charity, and even child enticement. So far, it has netted 15 felony indictments and, at this moment, three people are awaiting trial.

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    Nationwide Presses for Distance from ALEC, although its Lobbyist Won Big ALEC Award when its Old Top Lobbyist Led ALEC in 2008

    by Rebekah Wilce — October 10, 2012 - 8:55am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Politics

    • Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, a "mutual" insurance and financial services company, published a press release last week distancing itself from the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). In the release, the company said it had not funded ALEC for over a decade.

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