Billionaire privatization activists pushing 'neovouchers' for North Carolina
Conservative political activists connected to Wal-Mart and Amway are funding a campaign to funnel public money to religious and other private schools.read more
View ArticleNC business groups prepare to unleash big money in state elections
As expected, this week the Supreme Court reaffirmed its 2010 Citizens United decision. While the ruling's impact on federal races has been well-documented, the influence of shadowy money on state-level...
View ArticleFollowNCMoney.org launches to track flood of outside election money in NC...
Big spending by super PACs in federal races has grabbed headlines, but outside money can have an even bigger influence in state-level politics. Enter FollowNCMoney.org, a landmark project to track the...
View ArticleNC isn't a swing state? Somebody tell the Big Money donors
Some pundits say North Carolina's no longer a lead swing state in the 2012 elections. Big Money contributors don't seem to agree.read more
View ArticleNC judge takes public campaign funding, also gets backing from group that...
Conservative N.C. Supreme Court justice Paul Newby has taken $240,100 in public campaign funding to help run his re-election campaign. He's also getting support from a right-wing political group that...
View ArticleRaleigh businessman, Art Pope ally a key backer of group spending on NC...
New campaign finance reports offer a glimpse into the backers of the N.C. Judicial Coalition, one of several outside spending groups backing a conservative justice for a tie-breaking seat on the state...
View ArticleThey're back: Real Jobs NC unleashes money in North Carolina state races
A business-backed group that helped Republicans win the North Carolina legislature in 2010 is hoping big money can again translate into state-level victories.Listen to this story via SoundCloud: OR...
View ArticleJustice for sale? Backers of shadow groups pushing money into NC judicial...
The race for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court is turning out to be one of the state's most expensive contests, largely due to spending from conservative groups. Many of the special interests pouring...
View ArticlePetro powerhouse Koch Industries boosts investments in North Carolina politics
The Kansas-based oil and chemical conglomerate headed by billionaire financiers of the anti-regulatory right has dramatically increased its contributions to North Carolina politics as the state...
View ArticleINSTITUTE REPORT: Outside spending climbs to $14 million in NC state races
A new Institute for Southern Studies/Facing South report finds that money from outside groups is steadily climbing in state-level elections in North Carolina. What impact will they have on Election...
View ArticleDid Big Money really lose this election? Hardly.
Democrats are gleefully pointing to the failure of big-spending GOP donors to put Obama and Congressional Democrats out of office. But reports of Big Money's death are greatly exaggerated.read more
View ArticleBig Money plays big role in North Carolina elections
Outside groups unleashed more than $14 million into North Carolina state races, helping fuel Republican victories across the state.Listen to this story via SoundCloud: read more
View ArticleArt Pope rides again
Conservative donor Art Pope's money helped the GOP take control of North Carolina's legislature in 2010. In 2012, Pope's family, business and groups helped fuel even bigger Republican gains in the...
View ArticleBig Tobacco has a ball in NC
The parent company of Reynolds Tobacco is a key sponsor of events celebrating North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's inauguration this weekend, capping an aggressive year of political spending by the...
View ArticleCitizens United at Three: The fight for democracy continues
Besides being Inauguration Day and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, today also marks the three-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision opening the floodgates for political...
View ArticleBig Money in NC: Outside groups unleashed $14.5 million in state races
Super PACs and outside spending groups spent millions on state-level races in North Carolina. Who are these groups? Where did there money come from, and where did it go?read more
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INSTITUTE INDEX: A primary drenched in outside money
North Carolina's usually low-profile mid-term primary election drew a record-shattering $2.5 million in spending for state-level races from corporate-funded outside groups unconnected to candidates'...
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Art Pope, NC featured in national debate on campaign finance reform
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing this week on the corrupting influence of money in politics, and a North Carolina state lawmaker testified about the role of conservative political...
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Outside groups pumped $2.6 million into North Carolina's primaries
A new Facing South/Institute for Southern Studies analysis finds that super PACs and other outside groups spent more than $2.6 million targeting state races in North Carolina's 2014 primaries, with...
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Big Tobacco merger unites powerful NC political donors
The deal joining North Carolina-based tobacco giants Reynolds American and Lorillard also unites two of the state's biggest corporate political contributors. Besides donating directly to candidates and...
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