access and influence by ron nixon
DESCRIPTION
Ron Nixon presents during the free business journalism workshop, "Follow the Money -- Tracking Companies' Influence on Politics." For more free resources on business journalism, please visit businessjournalism.org.TRANSCRIPT
Access and Influence: A guide to following the money and legislative
or regulatory outcomes.
Money: The Mother’s Milk of politics.
There are two things that are important in poli1cs. The first is money and I can't remember what the second one is. -‐-‐ Ohio poli)cal boss and U.S. Senator Mark Hanna, 1895 and fundraiser for President William McKinley.
Tracking the Money In:
� Campaign Contribu.ons � Personal Financial disclosures � Lobbying disclosure forms � Nonprofit/527’s � Property/Real Estate � Adver.sing/Consul.ng � Super PACs
Tracking the Money Out:
� Federal/State/Local Contracts � Earmarks/Tax benefits/Regula.ons � Vote for/against legisla.on/regula.on � Revolving Door (Jobs, consul.ng, hiring spouse, former staffers)
� Trips and GiPs � LeQers of Support/LeQermarking � Appointments � Giving to Founda.on/nonprofit linked to lawmakers
Tax me if you can!
Documents Used
� Joint Tax Committee in Congress � U.S. Tax Code � Senate and House Member Websites � Senate Office of Public Records � Campaign Finance reports
Axis of Evil Business?
Documents Used
� Office of Foreign Asset Control license database obtained through lawsuit against Department of Treasury.
� Letters in OFAC files written by members of Congress in support of companies seeking permission to operate in Iran.
Pizza as a Vegetable?
Documents Used
� Lobbying Disclosure records � Federal Register � Comments on proposed regulations written by
members of Congress and industry obtained through regulations.gov website.
The End of Earmarks?
Documents Used
� Lobbying disclosure records � Appropriation bill � Committee reports
Lettermarking!
Documents Used
� Letters obtained under Freedom of Information Act to various agencies
It just won’t die!
Documents Used
� Cuts, Consolidations and Saving budget report from the White House
� Lobbying disclosure reports � Campaign finance reports
It won’t die either!
Documents Used
� Cuts, Consolidation and Savings budget report from the White House
� Lobbying disclosure reports � Campaign finance report � The Congressional Record
Charitable Contributions
Documents Used
� Campaign Finance reports � Lobbying Disclosure reports � Annual Reports � Foundation tax forms
Not for Profit!
Documents Used
� Congressional Earmark requests � Lobbying disclosure records � Campaign finance reports � Godaddy.com website � I.R.S.
I’m a Business, Man!
“Disregard the Man behind the Curtain!”
Documents Used
� Congressional Records � Lobbying disclosure reports
We are the Champions!
� Campaign Finance reports � Thomas.gov � Congressional websites � Congressional votes database
All in the Family!
Documents Used
� LegiStorm database � Lobbying disclosure reports
Regulators! Mount Up!
Documents Used
� Agency travel records � Office of Government Ethics private sponsored travel
reports
A Seat at the Table.
� Agency websites � State Campaign finance records � Meeting notes � Legislative audits
Bad Medicine
Documents Used
� State and Federal Campaign Finance Records � State and Federal Lobbying disclosure records � Political ad records from local TV stations � Corporate annual reports � I.R.S. tax form 990
Tying Contributions to Outcomes: Resources
� The Congressional Record � Lawmakers websites � Regulations.gov � FOIA � Lobbying disclosure forms � Office of Government Ethics � Federal Register � Guidestar/IRS 990s
Resources Cont:
� Appropriation bills and committee reports � Authorization committees (House and Senate) � Letters/Communications between Agency staffers
and former employers. � Thomas � GovTrack � LegiStorm � Federal Advisory Committees � Congressional Tax Committees
So Damn Much Money!