Minn. Rep. Peterson proposes jobs regulatory bill that has CEOs singing, others worried

Rep. Collin Peterson is pushing a regulatory reform package that has CEOs singing praises and good government groups concerned.

The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 would reform the way federal agencies make rules in order to “reduce unnecessary burdens on job creators.” Opponents of the bill, which was introduced More…

The Fanjuls: Koch brothers of South Florida?

Following revelations of their involvement in the war on public unions in Wisconsin, the once-anonymous Koch Industries executive vice president David Koch and his brother Charles have in short time become boogeymen of the left, the liberal answer to the center of so many conservative conspiracies, George Soros More…

Following Citizens United, Minnesota Democrats want constitutional amendment to clarify ‘natural person’

Following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, Minnesota Democrats are proposing a constitutional amendment to define an individual as a “natural person.” The 2010 ruling gave corporations certain rights as “persons” and allowed them to engage in new levels of political activity. Sen. Scott Dibble of Minneapolis More…

Are Businesses the Victims of Citizens United, Too?

Big corporations have been portrayed as the villains in the story of this year’s explosion in campaign spending, unloading vast sums of money to elect candidates who will then go to Washington to better their bottom line. Turns out a lot of businesses, however, feel like they’re the ones More…

Collins, Snowe Face Pressure at Home on DISCLOSE Act

In Maine, public interest groups in favor of the DISCLOSE Act are cranking up the pressure this morning on GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe:

Lacking Votes, Dems Press Ahead With DISCLOSE Act

On Monday afternoon, President Obama convened a press conference in the Rose Garden to promote legislation that would counteract the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which held that corporate spending on campaign ads can’t be restricted under the First Amendment. The DISCLOSE Act would require corporations, unions and nonprofit groups More…

Has Lobbying Derailed the DISCLOSE Act?

As House Democratic leaders raced to round up votes before the Memorial Day recess for a pivotal economic aid bill, trimming it by more than $70 billion to avoid a revolt by members of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition, the party made another concession on its agenda to far More…

A Legislative Fix to Citizens United

Since last week’s Supreme Court decision freeing corporations to spend unlimited sums to influence elections, there’s been a great deal of debate about what Congress, short of amending the Constitution, could do to prevent the nation’s big businesses from buying even more influence in Washington than they’ve already More…

If You Thought Big Business Ran This Town Before …

As Dave just mentioned, the Supreme Court this morning freed corporations to make unlimited donations to candidates for the White House or Congress. The decision hinges largely on two theories: (1) That a corporation, legally, is a person as it pertains to free-speech rights, and (2) More…

Which Candidate Does Exxon Have a Bigger Crush On?

Shock, surprise! Exxon Mobil Corp. reported record-breaking quarterly profits today. The oil company earned $14.83 billion in its fiscal third quarter, more than any company in U.S. history.

Hearing the news, Sen. John McCain accused Sen. Barack Obama of being in the pockets of Big Oil, a charge More…