money in politics

April 22, 2016 - 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 pattern held in North Carolina, which is embroiled in controversy over its own anti-LGBT law.

April 14, 2016 - 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 the trip north to take part in rallies, marches, and nonviolent civil disobedience.

April 5, 2016 - 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 outside political groups that helped elect state lawmakers who sponsored and voted for the legislation.

April 1, 2016 - North Carolina's carcinogen-contaminated drinking water near Duke Energy's coal ash dumps — and the political fight over what to do about it — should serve as a warning for problems to come in other historically coal-dependent states due to a lack of federal oversight for drinking water and coal ash disposal.

March 24, 2016 - 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 different story: In the 32 contested state House and Senate primary races that drew outside spending, more than 80 percent of the candidates with the most outside support won.

March 11, 2016 - 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 $1 million into races, mostly supporting Republicans and conservative Democrats.

February 19, 2016 - 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 events in states nationwide to demand reform.