Democracy

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Why Don't We Know How Much "Dark Money" Groups Have Spent On the Election?

by Brendan Fischer — November 5, 2012 - 9:04am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy, Politics

    • "Dark money groups" that do not disclose their donors not only refuse to be transparent about where they get their money, in many cases they are not transparent about how they spend it. Dark money only accounts for about one-quarter of the over $1 billion in outside election spending reported to the Federal Election Commission, but because of gaps in reporting requirements, the actual percentages -- and the actual totals for outside spending -- are certainly much higher.

    News

    Koch's AFP Complains about Gas Prices, but Koch Speculation Helps Fuel High Prices at the Pump

    by Will Dooling — November 3, 2012 - 9:38am
  • Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Energy, Politics

    • At the Mt. View gas station in Wausau, Wisconsin last week, some motorists were able to secure a gallon of gas for $1.84, thanks to a subsidy from David Koch's Americans for Prosperity. These astroturf publicity stunts have taken place at gas stations around the country in recent weeks as part of AFP's effort to mobilize votes for Mitt Romney by drawing attention to an alleged rise in gas prices since President Barack Obama took office. But since most experts attribute the rise in gas prices to long term trends and crude oil commodity speculation, AFP's hijinks only underscore the role of Wall Street speculators -- including the Kochs themselves -- in jacking up critical commodity prices on average Americans.

    Op-Ed

    Hurricane Sandy Endorses Obama: Storm Provides a Counter-Narrative to the Hundreds of Millions in Fossil Fuel Campaign Contributions

    by Mary Bottari — November 2, 2012 - 10:33am
  • Topics: Democracy, Energy

    • -- Mary Bottari and Sara Jerving

    The fossil fuel industry has paid a hefty price for the privilege of framing the political discourse about America's energy future. Hundreds of millions have flowed into campaign coffers from energy companies attempting to purchase complete freedom to drill, frack, and burn. Huge "dark money" groups, the Koch's, Karl Rove, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, join dozens of oil and gas industry associations in pouring money into television ad campaigns demanding "energy independence," while trashing wind and solar.

    Press Release

    "Money Out, Voters In" a New Joint Effort to Protect Democracy Is Launched

    by PRW Staff — November 2, 2012 - 9:31am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Campaign Finance, Corporations, Democracy

    • Press Release: The Center for Media and Democracy is joining with more than fifty other organizations to address two critical threats to our democratic system: the distorting effect of money in U.S. elections and the wave of efforts to make it harder for Americans to vote. Under the banner "Money Out, Voters In" the organizations announced that they would be jointly working to mobilize after Election Day to challenge dark money in elections and restore Americans' voting rights.

    News

    Bradley Foundation Bankrolls Controversial Billboards, Treading onto Controversial New Ground

    by Brendan Fischer — November 2, 2012 - 8:04am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Election 2012, Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • Although the Einhorn Family Foundation admitted to being the "private family foundation" behind the controversial "Voter Fraud is a Felony!" billboards that recently appeared in neighborhoods of color in Milwaukee and two Ohio cities, news broke Wednesday they secured the funds for similar billboards in 2010 from the Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation, a major funder of right-wing organizations that push the voter fraud myth.

    News

    Can Democrats Hold on to Hard Won Wisconsin State Senate?

    by Rebekah Wilce — November 1, 2012 - 1:02pm
  • Topics: Election 2012, Campaign Finance, Democracy, Wisconsin Protests

    • Democrats have a one-seat majority in the Wisconsin Senate after three Republicans lost seats in historic recall elections, but 16 seats are up for grabs in November, and with them the balance of power. In recent weeks, many have focused on the race between Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and former governor Tommy Thompson, which may determine who holds the majority in the U.S. Senate, but the state Senate races are significant because many Wisconsinites are concerned about having a firewall against embattled Governor Scott Walker's 2013 legislative agenda.

    News

    Control of U.S. Senate May Depend on Close Wisconsin Race

    by Brendan Fischer — November 1, 2012 - 7:16am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Politics

    • New polls show Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's vacant U.S. Senate seat, with a four-point lead over her Republican challenger, former governor Tommy Thompson, in a race which may determine control of the Senate and had previously been considered a lock for Republicans. If Baldwin is elected she would likely follow in the footsteps of Wisconsin's Russ Feingold and be one of the more independent and progressive members of the U.S. Senate.

    News

    Koch-Walker Fundraiser Sunk by Superstorm

    by Rebekah Wilce — October 31, 2012 - 11:30am
  • Topics: Campaign Finance, Democracy, Politics

    • A Scott Walker-David Koch fundraiser has been sunk by "Superstorm Sandy."

    Walker was scheduled to headline a New York Republican State Committee fundraiser tomorrow in New York City hosted by Koch, among other well-heeled GOP bigwigs. A New York State Republican Party notice today informed participants that the event has been postponed.

    News

    Did Romney Shift Climate Change Stance to Appeal to Kochs?

    by Brendan Fischer — October 31, 2012 - 8:09am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Democracy, Environment, Politics

    • With millions of Americans feeling the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is comparing the massive recovery effort to cleaning up "rubbish and paper products" from a high school football field. But don't expect him to discuss how Sandy's severity is directly linked to climate change. Romney shifted his position on climate change in October 2011, around the same time he was seeking support from billionaire industrialist David Koch, a major funder of climate change denial groups and whose profits could be impacted by limits on carbon emissions.

    Press Release

    CMD and Common Cause Prevail in Open Records Lawsuit Against ALEC Legislators in Wisconsin

    by PRW Staff — October 30, 2012 - 12:43pm
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • Lawmakers Acknowledge That They Cannot Evade the Open Records Law by Shifting Official Correspondence to a Personal E-Mail Account

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2012
    CONTACT: Brendan Fischer, Brendan@prwatch.org; Nick Surgey, nsurgey@commoncause.org

    Five Wisconsin state legislators have agreed to turn over any correspondence and documents with or related to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and held on their personal email accounts; the action settles a lawsuit brought by the Center for Media and Democracy and Common Cause.

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