Money in Politics

sheldon adelson

You Need to See These 5 Shocking Facts About Money in the 2012 Elections

The entire population of Anaheim would have to give $285 each to match the 2012 political giving of one man, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

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| Thu Jan. 17, 2013 12:15 PM PST
congressman chris van hollen

Congressional Democrats Unveil New Bills to Battle Big-Money Donors

Democrats play the long game with new reforms to encourage candidates to court small donors, not billionaire bankrollers.

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| Wed Jan. 16, 2013 3:12 PM PST
irs audit

Ex-IRS Director on Dark-Money Groups: "Investigate Them and Prosecute Them"

The IRS needs to crack down on political nonprofits, experts say—or risk looking weak and useless.

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| Mon Jan. 14, 2013 4:00 AM PST

Russ Feingold: Democrats Sold Out in 2012 and Need to Quit Big Money

The former liberal senator slams his party for embracing the new big-money politics.

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| Thu Jan. 10, 2013 10:00 AM PST

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Revealed: The Massive New Liberal Plan to Remake American Politics

A month after President Obama won reelection, America's most powerful liberal groups met to plan their next moves. Here's what they talked about.

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| Wed Jan. 9, 2013 4:00 AM PST
Karl Rove

Watchdogs to IRS: Reject Rove Group’s Tax Application

Crossroads GPS said it would stay out of elections. Then was one of 2012's biggest outside spenders.

— By Justin Elliot, ProPublica

| Sat Jan. 5, 2013 4:00 AM PST
voting booths

Dark Money Group Promised the IRS it Would Stay Out of Politics, Then Didn't

Americans for Responsible Leadership, which California officials have accused of "campaign money laundering," promised the IRS it would not engage in elections.

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| Fri Jan. 4, 2013 4:00 AM PST
FreedomWorks

Powerful Tea Party Group's Internal Docs Leak—Read Them Here

FreedomWorks bills itself as a grassroots outfit, but it's bankrolled mostly by big-money donors.

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| Fri Jan. 4, 2013 4:00 AM PST

The New Bipartisan Plan to Drag Dark Money Into the Daylight

The new plan's biggest obstacle: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Congress' defender of dark money.

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| Fri Dec. 28, 2012 9:28 AM PST
Jon Tester

How Dark Money Helped Democrats Hold a Key Senate Seat

In Montana, liberals bought ads for a libertarian candidate who likely siphoned crucial votes away from the Republican challenger.

—By Kim Barker, ProPublica

 | Fri Dec. 28, 2012 4:00 AM PST
Stephen Colbert Ham Rove SuperPAC

Video: Colbert Super-PAC Donates Its Leftovers

The Ham Rove Memorial Fund—rumored to be linked to the comedian's Super-PAC—donates over $270,000 to groups exposing money's influence in politics.

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| Mon Dec. 17, 2012 3:35 PM PST

No More Newtowns: What Will It Take?

How to change the unchangeable.

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| Mon Dec. 17, 2012 12:38 AM PST
Barack Obama

Obama for America's Magic Number: $1.4 Billion

The legacy of Obama: Public financing is dead. The billion-dollar candidate reigns king.

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| Mon Dec. 10, 2012 9:01 AM PST

Obama Inauguration Accepting Unlimited Corporate Cash

Bucking his decision four years ago to reject corporate money and "change business as usual in Washington," Obama's opening the floodgates.

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| Fri Dec. 7, 2012 2:28 PM PST

Will Big Oil Keep Its Subsidies in a Fiscal-Cliff Deal?

One of America's most profitable industries banks billions in subsidies—but there's little talk in Washington of putting these handouts on the chopping block.

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| Fri Dec. 7, 2012 4:00 AM PST
Texas secede

Texas Secessionists Have a Political Action Committee Now

TNM-PAC aims to change the system from within. Hey, it's better than armed rebellion.

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| Wed Dec. 5, 2012 9:03 AM PST

2016 Presidential Hopefuls Are Already Schmoozing Sheldon Adelson And Other Bankrollers

In the super-PAC era, it's never too early to start schmoozing the political moneymen.

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| Mon Dec. 3, 2012 8:03 AM PST
stack of hundred dollar bills

The Mystery of the Pro-Obama Dark-Money Group

The 2012 campaign's most secretive nonprofit wasn't Crossroads GPS or Americans for Prosperity—it was the Democrats' Priorities USA.

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| Sat Dec. 1, 2012 3:03 PM PST

2012's Most Loved and Hated Attack Ads

The votes are in: Which political ads did viewers think were winners and which ones were total fails?

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| Fri Nov. 30, 2012 4:00 AM PST

2012's Least Horrible Super-PACs

Colbert's funny dark money, grassroots organizers, and deep-pocketed reformers proved that super-PACs don't have to be mud-slinging attack machines.

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| Fri Nov. 30, 2012 4:00 AM PST