Fossil Fuel-Funded Think Tank Takes Tonko to Coal Country
The Bipartisan Policy Center is a D.C. think tank that presents itself as being above the fray of petty politics and concerned instead with the very serious business of crafting policies built on “the best ideas from both parties.”
Top Stories
Manchin’s Proposal Cuts Campaign Finance and Ethics Reforms From S1
By David Moore Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
Laws Preventing Dark Money Disclosure Are Sweeping the Nation
By Donald Shaw Democracy Primary category in which blog post is published
Dems Pass on Using Key Power to Kill Trump Rules
By Donald Shaw Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
Former ALEC State Chair Joe Manchin Continues to Do the Group’s Bidding
By David Moore Brick House Cooperative Primary category in which blog post is published
With Endless Muck to Rake, Sludge Turns Three
Our nonprofit newsroom has stayed paywall-free, allowing our money-in-politics stories to be shared widely. We're asking more of our readers to help by becoming Sludge members.
To ‘Electrify Everything,’ Blockchain Projects Dial Up Green Energy
Decentralized technology is being used to swap carbon offsets internationally, create peer-to-peer energy trading, and promote greater renewable energy in power grids.
Politicians Can Raise Unlimited Money to Repay Themselves, Court Rules
In a case brought by Ted Cruz, a D.C. court determined that capping loan repayments violated donors’ free speech rights.
Joe Crowley Will Lobby for RIAA Front Group
Crowley's first client is a RIAA front group.
Biden’s $6 Trillion Budget, in Context
The White House budget proposal, with its infrastructure and families plans, would only spend about a quarter of GDP, less than other wealthy countries spend.
Tom Perez Revolves to Corporate Law Firm
The firm where Perez is now a partner advertises anti-union work and lobbies for companies including Lockheed Martin.
Senate Republicans Propose Cuts to Rural Broadband Plan
Three lead negotiators of the Senate GOP's counter-proposal to Biden's infrastructure plan represent states ranked in the bottom 10 for broadband access.
Clyburn’s Corporate Foundation
Donors include PhRMA, Altria, and Fluor.
Conservation Caucus Gives ‘Green Cover’ to Fossil-Friendly Lawmakers
The International Conservation Caucus Foundation's partners include ExxonMobil, the National Audubon Society, and Coca-Cola.
GOP Megadonors Fund Andrew Yang Super PAC
Almost all of the PAC's money comes from finance industry billionaires who have given millions to national GOP groups.
Frontera Spent $1 Million on Lobbying While Its Georgian Workers Went Unpaid
The Texas-based oil and gas company donated to multiple members of Congress who made public statements in the company's defense as it faced international arbitration over a breach of contract.
Fossil Fuel Industry Lobbied Against Pipeline Cybersecurity Regulations
In the years before the Colonial Pipeline incident, the company’s trade group lobbied the government against mandatory cybersecurity regulations.
Groups Call on Congress: Fund Your Staff
The average Hill staffer stays for only about three years, with many moving to become lobbyists.
Dems Signaling Opposition to Pelosi’s Drug Pricing Bill Got 2.5x More Pharma Money
On average, the signers received $93,275 from the pharmaceutical & health products industry in the 2020 cycle, far more than the average for House Democrats of $37,788.
Lockheed-Backed Reps Lobby Against F-35 Spending Cuts
As the F-35 fighter comes under Pentagon review for potential cuts, bipartisan groups of lawmakers are calling to continue high levels of spending on the troubled $1.7 trillion program.
Biden’s Likely Ambassador to China Is Entangled In Tech and Defense
Nicholas Burns’s senior position with the Cohen Group consultancy blurs public service and private-sector work.
Koch Group Fights Drug Price Reforms After Taking Big Pharma Money
Americans for Prosperity is hitting six key moderate House Democrats with digital ads opposing reintroduced drug pricing measures.
Facebook Runs Hate Group’s Ads Attacking Campus Anti-Racism
The "Jew Hatred on Campus" page, which is sponsoring the ads, is a project of anti-Muslim hate group the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
