Public Campaign Action Fund - campaign contributions

Pumped Full of Cash

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:48:06 +0000

The oil industry is reporting record profits as consumers empty their wallets at the pump, so why is Senator John McCain (R-AZ) suddenly backing policies like offshore oil drilling that do nothing to help gas prices today (or the environment tomorrow), but stand to make Big Oil a handsome profit down the road? Public Campaign Action Fund's Campaign Money Watch project released a new report today that sheds some light on McCain's energy policy decisions, and what they have to do with the money from the oil industry that has filled his campaign coffers.

More transparency in Pittsburgh

Adam Smith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:37:58 +0000

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on the connections between city contracts and campaign contributions. According to their analysis 53 of the top 100 donors to city officials received contracts or special consideration from city officials. These 53 interests have donated $1.3 million to city campaigns since 2005.

Freshman Orientation

Adam Smith — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:51:15 +0000

There will be a lot of new faces on Capitol Hill come January and as The Hill reports this morning, their first few months will be like the first day you sign up for Facebook: friend requests galore.

I need $20k in campaign contributions stat.

Adam Smith — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:14:55 +0000

Like we've seen with the meltdown of the financial sector, a lack of regulation leads to problems. Too often, deregulation and lack of oversight are lobbied by the industries forking over big bucks in campaign contributions to make sure they get what they want. In a column from Iowa this weekend, an advocate for senior citizens looks at the nursing home industry in the same light.

Fair Elections for Fair Lawn?

Adam Smith — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:28:15 +0000

Campaign contributions from private contractors to elected officials are pretty common at the federal level, and it's something we've covered here in the past. This morning, the Trenton Times reports on pay-to-play ordinances with the Fair Lawn Borough Council in New Jersey.

Look at the facts

Adam Smith — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:29:24 +0000

This morning, the Star Ledger in New Jersey editorialized about the presidential public financing system, saying it’s a ”struggling initiative” and is “buried and left for dead.” While the 1974-version of public financing might be dead, there’s increasing support at the state and federal level to fix the presidential system and enact Clean Elections-style full public financing.

More money, more victories

Adam Smith — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:48:13 +0000

The Center for Responsive Politics reports today that the average cost of winning a House race in 2008 was $1.1 million. And that $1 million, more often than not, decided who was going to be victories on Tuesday.

A little excessive

Adam Smith — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:27:01 +0000

When you have to raise so much money to win an election, sometimes it's easy to let excess campaign contributions slide. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) will have to pay about $100,000 in fines for receiving more than $313,000 in excessive campaign contributions in his 2004 election bid.

Pardon me, Rep. Bachmann

Adam Smith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:13:01 +0000

The St. Cloud Times reported over the weekend that first-term Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has rescinded a pardon request for a friend and campaign contributor after his house was searched by the FBI.

$5 Billion?

Adam Smith — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:45:36 +0000

Our friends over at the indispensable Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) have made their prediction for the cost of the 2008 elections: $5.3 billion. Yes, that's a b. And that's a huge increase from the $4 billion raised in 2004.