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Real Time Investigations

  1. Romney Raising the Campaign Donation Bar By Breanna Edwards May 22, 2012 2:08 p.m.

    A little over a month ago, we reported that the Obama campaign had set a Party Time record requesting contributions of $75,800. We may have spoken a little too soon. Next Tuesday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney will be holding one of the the priciest receptions on...  

  2. Dinner and a show with Presidents Obama and Clinton and Bon Jovi By Lindsay Young May 21, 2012 2:54 p.m.

    Two New York City events for President Obama on June 4 combine the Broadway experience with a Bon Jovi Gala for the ultimate fundraiser duo. The president and former President Bill Clinton are featured at Jon Bon Jovi Gala Dinner. The gala begins at 6 p.m. at the Waldorf Astoria. Tickets for the...  

  3. This Week’s Fundraisers: Obama hits the road; GOP senators hit the chow line By Breanna Edwards May 21, 2012 9:09 a.m.

    Almost 40 events are scheduled for this week Party Timers! The highlights: Just Another Obama Spree: As has become its weekly norm, the Obama Victory Fund will be hosting an onslaught of events this week. On Tuesday, the campaign will be throwing a dinner with Vice President Joe Biden in Boston....  

  4. Obama looks for campaign donations from Denver to Dublin By Lindsay Young May 14, 2012 3:42 p.m.

    The four fundraisers that President Obama’s campaign is holding tonight kick off a busy month of fundraising from Denver to Dublin (as in Ireland) and beyond. As of this morning, there are 23 upcoming Obama Victory Fund fundraisers on the Party Time books. (See all of Party Time’s Obama...  

  5. This Week’s Fundraisers: Obama times five, Christie stumps for Wilson, and a smoke-filled room By Breanna Edwards May 11, 2012 3:39 p.m.

    It’s another action-packed week Party Timers, with almost 30 events in the database. Here are the highlights: More Obama: Another busy week for the Obama Victory Fund as they oversee five fundraisers this week. On Monday, the president is expected to be in New York for a reception with...  

  6. This Week’s Fundraisers: Obama to the West Coast, Republicans to the Chesapeake Bay By Breanna Edwards May 7, 2012 7:10 p.m.

    The nation’s lawmakers have returned from their week of rest and with them, of course, the parties. Sunlight has almost 20 events lined up for you. Here are the highlights: More from the Obama Victory Fund: You Party Timers can pretty much expect to see Obama presidential fundraisers almost...  

  7. This Week’s Fundraisers: Parties with Obama and Romney, Derby in Kentucky, Jazz in New Orleans, Baseball in Chicago By Breanna Edwards Apr 27, 2012 11:55 a.m.

    After last week’s many frivolities, the nation’s lawmakers shall be taking a break as they head out of town for “Constituent and State Work Periods.” PartyTime only about seven events lined up for you. Here are the highlights: Partying with the Presidential Candidates: Both...  

  8. @nancyscola @geocommons Excellent map! @Hatchjt will be so proud!

    bill_allison Apr 25, 2012 12:04 p.m.
  9. This Week’s Fundraisers: Obama’s fundraising spree, golfing or fishing and more By Breanna Edwards Apr 20, 2012 3:22 p.m.

    Get ready for a busy week Party Timers! We’ve got about 30 events lined up for you this week. The highlights: No Stopping Obama: President Obama’s campaign continues its fundraising frenzy this week with three events. On Tuesday, partygoers will have the opportunity to mingle with the...  

  10. Obama’s campaign fundraiser sets Party Time record By Lindsay Young Apr 17, 2012 4:23 p.m.

    Attention Obama donors: Here’s a chance to completely max out your gifts to the president’s campaign all at once: Even we jaded chroniclers of campaign cash grabs are dazzled by the ask for becoming a Conference Chair at the Annual National Women’s Issues Conference in DC . It’s...  

  11. Obama for America’s Fundraising Charge By Lindsay Young Apr 17, 2012 4:23 p.m.

    President Obama’s fundraising schedule has kicked in to high gear with a busy dance card of events, including one that breaks records for Party Time. Even Michelle Obama and Vice President Biden are busy with fundraisers. On Tuesday, the vice president is headlining a fundraiser in...  

there's more

Broadcasters sue to keep political ad files offline

By Keenan Steiner May 22, 2012 3:33 p.m.

The nation's broadcasters sued the Federal Communications Commission Monday over a rule that requires them to post political ads bought at some stations online.

At risk: a ruling designed to make information about political ad buys available via the Internet in time for the fall election. Sunlight has calls into both the FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters, the group suing the agency, for comment. So far, no response.

But Corie Wright, senior policy counsel for Free Press, and a longtime advocate of the ad buy rule, called the lawsuit "nothing more than an attempt by the NAB to stall an important and overdue transparency initiative" in a statement issued Tuesday.

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Super donors provide bulk of money to super PACs

By Anupama Narayanswamy May 22, 2012 12:07 p.m.

Super PACs have broken the $200 million mark in donations and $100 million in spending, with much of the money coming from a few donors with deep pockets whose largesse has changed the dynamics of political campaigning.

Some of the big players in the current cycle, many of whom have been big donors for decades, made their first super PAC contributions to support one of the major presidential candidates, then shifted focus to Congressional contests, with some pledging millions for tight races.

Harold Simmons, a major contributor to conservative super PACs, has been in the spotlight for his $13.5 million in donations to super PACs this cycle, but he and his family have been prolific donors over the years, contributing at least $34.8 million to campaigns, parties and political organizations. Jerry Perenchio, a right leaning donor who's also supported some Democrats, has contributed more than $50 million in the past few decades--through a trust, he's given $2 million to super PACs.

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SpaceX blasts off literally and politically

By Kathy Kiely May 22, 2012 10:34 a.m.

Space X's Falcon 9 at the Cape

The private rocket that made history early this morning when it blasted the first commercially-launched payload for the international space station into orbit also was fuelled by a decade-long, multi-million-dollar political effort to pry funding from a sometimes skeptical Congress.

Since its inception in 2002, SpaceX, the company behind Tuesday's successful launch, has spent more than $4 million lobbying Congress and given more than $800,000 in political contributions, according to data compiled from Sunlight's Influence Explorer. Many of the company's campaign donations went  to key members of Congress in charge of the budget for NASA, which has mothballed the space shuttle in favor of commercial rockets for carrying payloads to the space station.

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Dangerous medical device 'loophole' still wide open

By Nancy Watzman May 21, 2012 2:47 p.m.

Consumer groups are crying foul over bipartisan legislation to extend user fees for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They say that the bill, which the Senate hopes to pass this week, is missing a provision that would close a dangerous loophole in medical device safety.

Right now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the power to require medical device manufacturers to prove they've fixed  known safety flaws before they put a new device on the market. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., both introduced bills earlier this year that would give the FDA this authority. But these bills have gone nowhere.

"[F]or months, [medical device manufacturers] have been working to block Congress from giving the FDA the power to require this proof," reads a full page ad  taken out by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, Monday in Politico. "[T[housands of women have suffered devestating injuries from vaginal mesh products based on an older, recalled model. And device makers are also free to market hip implants and defibrillators based on recalled versions."

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