Clik here to view.
NRA spent heavily on Southern senators who voted against gun safety
Twenty-two out of the South's 26 U.S. senators voted against two gun-safety measures the day after last week's massacre in San Bernardino, California. All but one Southern senator voting "nay" received...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Special interests ramp up outside election spending, but is it working?
Super PACs, "social welfare" nonprofits, and other outside groups are spending record amounts on ads in the 2016 presidential race, more than triple the total at this point compared to four years ago....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Koch brothers' super PAC rakes in millions from Southern businessmen
The only super PAC in the billionaire Koch brothers' conservative political network, which is set to spend almost $1 billion on this year's election, Freedom Partners Action Fund just submitted its...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Massive civil disobedience planned at U.S. Capitol to press case for fair...
With concern and anger growing over the corrupting influence of big money in politics, activists nationwide and across the South are planning to risk arrest in Washington and take part in solidarity...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business groups spend heavily on N.C. legislative primaries
Independent political groups representing business interests are spending big to influence this year's primary races for North Carolina state House and Senate. The outside groups have poured more than...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Outside money wins in North Carolina's legislative primaries
While outside groups involved in presidential politics don't have much to show for the money they've spent so far on this election, outside spending in North Carolina legislative contests tells a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Businesses opposing N.C.'s HB2 helped elect legislators behind it
Over 120 companies are speaking out against North Carolina's controversial new law striking down local anti-discrimination ordinances. But many of these same companies have donated considerable sums to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Southerners flock to Washington for Democracy Spring protests
Thousands of activists are in Washington, D.C. this week for Democracy Spring, a protest movement demanding that Congress rid politics of big money and ensure fair elections. Many Southerners have made...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Companies opposing Mississippi's anti-LGBT law helped elect its proponents
At least 24 companies publicly opposing Mississippi's law allowing discrimination against LGBT people have helped finance the election of the law's sponsors and the governor who signed it. A similar...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lawmakers call for hearings on bills demanded by Democracy Spring protesters
Following the arrests of over 1,200 people in Washington, D.C. during nonviolent protests against big money in politics, members of Congress are demanding hearings on legislation that aims to protect...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Art Pope's money helped create North Carolina's 'bathroom bill'
Where does North Carolina's leading conservative donor stand on the state's so-called "bathroom bill"? Art Pope hasn't publicly stated his position on HB2, but he has a long history of funding groups...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Art Pope denies funding backers of N.C. 'bathroom bill' despite clear record
In a recent National Public Radio interview, the businessman and conservative mega-donor denied funding anti-LGBT rights groups that support North Carolina's "bathroom bill." But the record clearly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business interests spend big on pivotal N.C. Supreme Court primary
After North Carolina lawmakers' attempt to help the reelection of a conservative state Supreme Court justice failed, a business group has spent nearly half a million dollars backing his campaign in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Secret money escalates in Southern politics, fueled by Koch brothers
MapLight has compiled a database of all politically active "social welfare" nonprofits, many of which formed after a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling loosening rules for political spending. It documents...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Secret-money groups, some with Southern ties, may have broken election laws
A watchdog group has filed complaints against 10 "social welfare" nonprofits for allegedly breaking campaign finance laws. Six of the nonprofits are also targets of a criminal complaint submitted to...
View Article