Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

1. From cigars to coins to repealing health care reform: GOP frosh pursue mostly expected legislation

   By Nancy Watzman Aug 20, 2012 12:12 p.m.

   They rode into office on a wave of disgust with Washington insiders whom the public perceived as catering to special interests. Yet among the roughly two dozen bills that congressional freshmen have rallied to support is one that would benefit an icon of political cronyism.

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2. Stealthy Wealthy: To Robert Rowling, political giving makes business sense

   By Nancy Watzman Aug 8, 2012 12:52 p.m.

   Texas-based billionaire Robert Rowling has given a total of $6.8 million to American Crossroads, the super PAC that has run ads criticizing President Barack Obama for, among other things, bailing out and bankrolling private businesses with public money. Yet Rowling, seen at right, a member of the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans who inherited his fortune, hasn't been averse to seeking taxpayer assistance in his own business ventures. And he's been willing to use his private fortune to seek public dollars. 

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3. Wisconsin's Ron Johnson defends gun ownership

   By Nancy Watzman Aug 6, 2012 5:32 p.m.

   Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican whose state is the site of the nation's most recent deadly shooting spree, this time at a Sikh temple, has benefitted from more than $1.3 million from gun rights groups, far more than any other member of Wisconsin's congressional delegation.

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4. Colorado politicians magnets for gun contributions

   By Nancy Watzman Jul 25, 2012 8:34 a.m.

   Despite suffering two of the worst gun killings in the nation's history--Columbine and now the "Batman" shootings--Colorado, with its cowboy swagger and reputation for independence, has long been home to supporters of gun rights. And its politicians, mostly Republicans, but some Democrats as well, have been magnets for contributions from gun rights groups, benefiting from more than $3.8 million in political spending since 1989, according to a search on Influence Explorer.

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5. On the floor of Congress, lawmakers lionized Penn State's Joe Paterno

   By Nancy Watzman Jul 23, 2012 3:52 p.m.
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6. After health care, what will happen to Dodd-Frank?

   By Nancy Watzman Jun 28, 2012 4 p.m.

   While the U.S. Supreme Court has now upheld the health care reform law as constitutional, conservative groups still are on a legal attack on the constitutionality of one of the other signature achievements of President Barack Obama’s term in office: the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

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7. CFPB launches public consumer complaint database

   By Nancy Watzman Jun 19, 2012 1:24 p.m.

   Despite opposition from the financial industry, the newly minted Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today launched a public database of consumer complaints about credit cards--including the name of the company issuing the card--received since June 1. The beta version of the database is available for viewing and downloading on the agency's website. The Bureau plans to add to and tweak it in the months ahead with complaints about other financial products, such as mortgages, student and other types of loans, and banking charges and fees.

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8. Ag, chemical interests lobby for farm bill to reverse pesticide rules

   By Nancy Watzman Jun 18, 2012 5:04 p.m.

   A host of pesticide and agricultural interests is lobbying for a farm bill amendment that would permit farmers and others to spray pesticides near U.S. waters without seeking a Clean Water Act permit first.

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9. Who's the money behind the farm bill?

   By Nancy Watzman Jun 14, 2012 9:51 a.m.

   As the Senate debates the farm bill this week, a once-every-five-years lobbying extravaganza that sets policy on farm subsidies, food assistance, nutrition, and myriad other agricultural programs, here's a quick look at some of the big money interests that are involved, as well as pressure points for transparency, or the lack of it.

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10. Guess who's giving to lawmaker trying to repeal tax on medical devices?

    By Nancy Watzman Jun 7, 2012 6:52 a.m.

    The Minnesota congressman leading the charge to repeal a medical device excise tax that is meant to generate a big chunk of funding for the health care reform law has taken the most campaign money--more than $64,000--from medical device manufacturers this election cycle. 

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11. Bloomberg sugary drink ban has powerful opponents

    By Nancy Watzman May 31, 2012 2:37 p.m.

    Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement that the city will pursue a ban on large sugary drinks sold at restaurants, movie theatres, and other locations is just the latest attempt in his campaign against obesity--one that has so far met with little success in the face of a powerful food lobby, one sometimes joined by odd bedfellows.

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12. More JPMorgan meetings with Treasury on Volcker rule

    By Nancy Watzman May 31, 2012 1:34 p.m.

    JPMorgan executives, including CEO Jamie Dimon, attended several meetings at the Treasury Department last month to discuss the controversial Volcker rule and other matters related to the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, according to new meeting logs released by the agency Thursday.

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13. Private equity invests in lawmakers

    By Nancy Watzman May 23, 2012 1:14 p.m.

    Whether or not the much-in-the-news private equity industry has been the bane of the economy or a job creator, one fact remains uncontested:  it has been very, very good for political fundraising, for Republicans and Democrats alike.

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14. 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.

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Investigations by Sunlight Foundation reporter Nancy Watzman