Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

1. How to easily set up a campaign finance database

   By Luke Rosiak Mar 26, 2010 2:34 p.m.

   No one does federal-level campaign finance better than the Center for Responsive Politics, and for the last year or so, they've outdone themselves by making all of their databases--millions of records that a staff of human beings tirelessly cleans up--available, for free, in their entirety. 

   Read all about it

2. Former health policy aides try to shape ex-employers' positions from K Street

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 26, 2010 12:43 p.m.

   At least 69 people formerly employed by some of the 40 or so Congressional leaders present at yesterday's healthcare summit have gone through the revolving door to lobby for the health industry, representing a combined 180 companies and trade associations, Center for Responsive Politics data shows. Many worked on health issues as Hill aides, garnering policy chops on the issues that matter to health insurance companies, medical professionals associations, and pharmaceutical companies. But they also have easier access to their former colleagues on Capitol Hill.

   Read all about it

3. Health industry lobbyists have hosted scores of fundraisers for summit attendees

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 25, 2010 5 p.m.

   An on-the-fly analysis by the Sunlight Foundation shows that 84 lobbyists who represent a combined 266 health care and medical association interests have hosted a total of 61 fundraisers--that we know about--benefiting the campaigns of 18 of the approximately 40 Congressional leaders in attendance at today's health care summit.

   Read all about it

4. SunlightLive covers health care summit

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 25, 2010 1:43 p.m.

   The Sunlight Foundation has all hands on deck today providing context for today's bipartisan healthcare summit in real time. Stay tuned all day for updates.

   Read all about it

5. More laws, longer sentences fuel explosive growth of federal criminal system

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 18, 2010 2:42 p.m.

   On Monday, Presidents' Day, Hamedah Hasan petitioned President Barack Obama to commute her 27-year sentence for the first-time, nonviolent offender's tangential role in a crack distribution conspiracy. She has already served 17 years of the sentence imposed under then-mandatory federal sentencing guidelines.

   Read all about it

6. Potential Murtha successor Norm Dicks knows the favor factory

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 10, 2010 3:56 p.m.

   The abrupt passing of Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) left many wondering who would replace the King of Pork as chair of the Defense Appropriations subcommitteebut anyone hoping his replacement might bring relief from a reputation for trading favors, rewarding campaign contributors and steering lucrative contracts to home districts would likely be disappointed by the pool of potential successors.  

   Read all about it

7. My dog ate my stimulus: Best of Recovery recipients' excuses

   By Luke Rosiak Feb 2, 2010 12:48 p.m.

   The Obama administration has made an unprecedented effort to use technology to publicly chronicle the flow of massive amounts of stimulus money, but government is slow to adapt, and not all of those who do business with it are so tech-savvy. 

   Read all about it

8. Ruling may free corporate influencers from contortions

   By Luke Rosiak Jan 25, 2010 4:25 p.m.

   The Supreme Court's Citizens United vs. FEC ruling undoes years of restrictions on the ability of corporations and labor unions to use their treasuries to attempt to sway elections.

   Read all about it

9. OGD: Justice

   By Luke Rosiak Jan 22, 2010 8:10 p.m.

   Radiation Exposure Compensation Program tallies per state from the Justice Department are pretty straightforward, but still intriguing. Manhattan Project fallout--so to speak--sixty years after the fact for these Los Alamos neighbors?

   Read all about it

10. OGD: Housing and Urban Development

    By Luke Rosiak Jan 22, 2010 7:28 p.m.

    How bad are the public housing projects where our nation's poorest live? A handful of tables from HUD released minutes ago may lend some insight. Here are some quick takeaways:

    Read all about it

11. 48 hours = six days?

    By Luke Rosiak Jan 20, 2010 10:24 a.m.

    Disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures hold candidates accountable -- but after the votes are in, it's often too late for the scrutiny of watchdogs (and opponents) to make a difference. That's why in addition to quarterly reports, candidates must report large contributions made in the final days of the campaign within 48 hours of receiving them.

    Read all about it

12. Chiropractics lobbied for special student loans, defaulted in droves

    By Luke Rosiak Jan 12, 2010 11:01 a.m.

    The chiropractic industry counted a win after it successfully lobbied for inclusion in a federal student loan program for those studying health-related professions. Decades later, though, significant numbers of chiropractors have defaulted on their loans, leaving Uncle Sam to make up the difference.

    Read all about it

13. A new year, a new look and a new URL: Reporting.SunlightFoundation.com

    By Luke Rosiak Jan 6, 2010 2:02 p.m.

    Nearly three years after the Sunlight Foundation's Bill Allison and Anupama Narayanswamy began sleuthing for the Real Time Investigations blog, we're unveiling a new look, a new name--the Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group--and a new Web address: Reporting.SunlightFoundation.com. Old links should still work, but you're encouraged to update your bookmarks and tell your friends!

14. Texas politico rapidly rises to No. 1 overall donor, now No. 1 bundler

    By Luke Rosiak Jan 6, 2010 1:52 p.m.

    What does the single largest donor in federal politics do when the maximum allowed by law just isn't enough? He collects contributions from others, becoming the single biggest bundler. What won't surprise you is that the person in question is a lobbyist. But what might surprise you is that he's based in Texas, and chances are good you've never heard of him.

    Read all about it

Investigations by Sunlight Foundation reporter Luke Rosiak