lobbying ethics
August 21, 2015 -
A two-year investigation by North Carolina's elections board found no campaign finance violations by indicted video poker owners and their lobbyists, but questions remain about other possibly illegal activity by the industry — and about its relationship to Gov. Pat McCrory.
December 6, 2013 -
The American Legislative Exchange Council lost members and money after the 2011 shooting death of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his assailant under the state's Stand Your Ground law, which the corporate interest advocacy group helped craft and promote nationwide.
November 14, 2013 -
The State Policy Network -- a national alliance of right-wing think tanks funded by businessmen including the Kochs of Koch Industries, the Waltons of Wal-Mart, and Art Pope of Variety Stores -- is driving a corporate agenda in state legislatures. So why they aren't reporting their lobbying activities?
October 23, 2012 -
Just-released documents reveal two members of the Republican faction that ended Wake County schools' desegregation policy were involved in an extramarital affair. When it ended, one blamed the other for a burglary -- and now both are running for higher office despite claims the affair was widely known among political insiders. We look at the big conservative donors supporting their campaigns.
August 27, 2012 -
The North Carolina General Assembly's Republican leaders are raising more money from special-interest political action committees than their predecessors, despite promises to end the state's "pay to play" political culture.
April 27, 2012 -
Want proof that the corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council has a powerful say in state government? Look no further than South Carolina, where lawmakers specifically exempted the group from a lobbying ethics bill.
December 16, 2005 -
After months of attempting to run from the scandals surrounding Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed -- a GOP candidate for Georgia Lt. Governor, with an eye on the governor's mansion -- says he agrees the connection was unsavory: