As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell launches his re-election campaign with a new television ad claiming he's protecting Kentucky against Washington, he will attend at least two big money fundraisers with Washington lobbyists and well-connected donors.

Groups blast McConnell for gridlock in Washington that only serves to benefit his big donors

Louisville, Ky.—A new report by money-in-politics watchdog Public Campaign Action Fund criticizes Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for abusing the filibuster over the past six years while reaping campaign contributions from corporate interests that benefited from his actions. The report was released today by four Kentucky organizations as the United States Senate began debate about new rules geared at reducing gridlock in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.—As Sen. Mitch McConnell is being pressured by Kentucky public health professionals and environmentalists to back legislation to protect Americans from chemical pollutants, a top aide to the state’s senior Senator is joining the lobbying shop of a chemical company, another example of McConnell’s close ties to Washington special interests.

Washington, D.C.— Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is preparing a “presidential-level” campaign for 2014 and is spending “hours dialing for dollars once the Senate wraps up nightly,” according to his own congressional staff, a sign that Kentucky’s senior Senator is more concerned about keeping his own job than creating new jobs for Kentuckians.

Press release from Energy Action Coalition and Public Campaign Action Fund

Washington, D.C.—Energy Action Coalition and Public Campaign Action Fund blasted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today for his legislation, S. 953, that would dramatically expand offshore oil drilling in the country, another handout to his Big Oil donors, just weeks after his push to gut the Clean Air Act and a day after he voted against ending subsidies for big oil companies.

Washington, D.C.--Public Campaign Action Fund released the following statement on the U.S. House passage of legislation to repeal the presidential financing system and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s introduction of companion legislation:

Statement from David Donnelly, national campaigns director: