Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

In the Kentucky Derby of political giving, one horse laps the field

While bettors will be spending big on the 20 thoroughbreds racing to win Saturday's 139th Kentucky Derby, many of the horses' owners have been making their own high-stakes bets -- the kind that could pay off in much more than roses.

Mel Watt's ties to the banking industry

(CORRECTION: This post has been updated to eliminate the name of the American Bankers' Association's Michael Hunter, incorrectly identified in earlier versions as an alumnus of Watt's office. Hunter worked for former Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla.) 

There he goes again: Larry Flynt backs Mark Sanford

If Mark Sanford accepts the endorsement of Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and the $2,600 that goes along with it, the South Carolina Republican congressional hopeful will be joining a list of well-known Democrats and breaking a long streak for the pornographer-turned-political activist.

New appointees are long overdue but is the FEC broken?

Is the Federal Election Commission broken? That's the question a watchdog group asked a panel of experts on the day that the last of the current commissioners' terms expired, leaving the agency that oversees campaign finance law with one vacancy and five holdovers. Campaign finance reformers used the occasion to call on President Barack Obama to appoint new commissioners, something the president hasn't bothered to do since the Senate refused to act on his last nominee.

Stanley Cup runneth over with political cash: NHL owners scored big for GOP

The puck drops tonight for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and while hockey's bigwigs will be watching from afar in their box suites, they certainly took the ice during last year's election -- scoring big for the GOP. According to data from Sunlight's Influence Explorer, National Hockey League owners provided more than $3 million to politicians, PACs and independent expenditure groups during the 2012 election cycle.

Sanford continues to draw big money in S.C. race versus Colbert Busch

As summer growing season starts, produce safety rules delayed

As the nation's farmers enter a new growing season two years after 33 people died and 147 people were sickened in 28 states after eating listeria-infested canteloupe from a Colorado farm, the produce industry has effectively delayed implementation of a law intended to improve food safety.

11th Hour SC-1 Fundraising Plummets for Sanford

While the Republican establishment has deserted former Gov. Mark Sanford in his bid for South Carolina’s first district, a dedicated few are still giving thousands to his campaign at the 11th hour. Even with these last minute gifts, however, his Democratic opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch is still raking in double the cash in the days leading up to the special election on May 7. According to FEC reports covering April 18 to April 23, Sanford's campaign has received $40,600 in contributions while Colbert Busch has raised $85,400. Per FEC rules, candidates only need to disclose donations of $1,000 or more in these reports. And while the campaigns have disclosed some donations made in the last five days, the public doesn't yet know who donated throughout early April. Each candidate is set to file pre-general election finance reports today, which will include all contributions from the last day of February through April 17.

FEC denies same-sex appeal

The question of marriage equality for same-sex couples became a campaign finance issue on Thursday, as Federal Election Commission members addressed the application of a little-known rule that allows someone to contribute to a federal campaign from the checking account of his or her spouse.

Obama dedicates Bush library; will he disclose donors to his own?

As President Barack Obama attends today's dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, he's mum about fundraising for his own post-presidential library -- and whether he'll disclose names of donors.

Real estate investment trusts increasing lobbying profile

As more businesses opt for a legal status known as "real estate investment trusts" (REITS) to qualify for tax breaks, they have an active champion in Washington, the trade group known as the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Max Baucus announces retirement plans with $5 million in campaign bank account

The retirement of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus comes as a surprise because the veteran Montana Democrat appeared to be doing everything necessary to prepare for a tough race in a Republican-leaning state; from covering his right flank on gun control to amassing a nearly $5 million campaign warchest -- $1.6 million of it raised during the first three months of this year. 

Obama's 'voluntary' inaugural disclosure left out some big corporate checks

President Barack Obama's second inaugural committee promised to disclose who underwrote the festivities, but a new campaign finance report reveals that the now-defunct website of the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee, omitted the names of two million-dollar corporate donors -- Boeing and Chevron -- among others.

Democratic establishment betting heavily on Colbert Busch upset in S.C.