- Princeton Study Reveals “economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.” https://bulletin.represent.us/american-government-isnt-democracy/ 6 comments politics
- America’s criminal justice system is a for-profit business. It’s broken on purpose. https://bulletin.represent.us/justiceforsale/ 7 comments politics
- Gov. Scott Walker's Campaign Donors are Getting Lucrative State Contracts https://bulletin.represent.us/gov-scott-walker-contracts/ 18 comments politics
- Gov. Scott Walker Sells State Contracts for Campaign Contributions https://bulletin.represent.us/gov-scott-walker/ 15 comments politics
- This Lawsuit Could Stop Millions from Voting on an Anti-Gerrymandering Initiative https://bulletin.represent.us/this-lawsuit-could-stop-millions-from-voting-on-an-anti-gerrymandering-initiative/ 10 comments politics
- Congress snuck a huge payoff for oil and gas companies into the tax bill at the last minute https://bulletin.represent.us/tax-oil-handout-alabama-special-election-money/ 11 comments politics
- Lawmakers who drafted the tax bill received $1.5 billion from corporate interests during their careers. https://bulletin.represent.us/corporate-money-behind-tax-bill-net-neutrality-comments-koch-brothers/ 41 comments politics
- Politicians Are Avoiding Jail Time For Corruption Due To Supreme Court Ruling https://bulletin.represent.us/menendez-corruption-mcdonnell/ 30 comments politics
- Tax bill will turn churches into dark money Super PACs https://bulletin.represent.us/tax-bill-turns-churches-dark-money-super-pacs/ 29 comments politics
- The Senate is trying to gut consumer protections while you’re not looking https://bulletin.represent.us/senate-trying-gut-consumer-protections-youre-not-looking/ 7 comments politics
- Meet the lobbyists Trump has appointed to run the government https://bulletin.represent.us/meet-lobbyists-trump-appointed-run-government/ 4 comments politics
- 3 Big Pharma Scandals That Will Make You Sick https://bulletin.represent.us/3-big-pharma-stories-will-make-sick/ 4 comments politics
- South Dakota GOP uses emergency powers to repeal anti-corruption act passed by voters http://bulletin.represent.us/south-dakota-gop-uses-emergency-powers-repeal-anti-corruption-act-passed-voters/ 669 comments politics
- For every 1 state lawmaker, there are now 6 special interests trying to exert their influence over public policy. And that’s just the average. Some states face a much higher ratio: In California, for instance, there are 30 lobbying entities for every 1 lawmaker. http://bulletin.represent.us/lobbying-growing-states 3 comments politics
- Big money fights to block marijuana legalization: "Our analysis of contribution data found that Wasserman Schultz and her leadership PAC have received $330,568 from the Beer, Wine, & Liquor industry since her first congressional election cycle in 2006" http://bulletin.represent.us/big-money-fights-to-block-marijuana-legalization 491 comments politics
- "In what’s become something of a sick annual tradition, members of Congress attached a multitude of riders to this must-pass piece of legislation in an attempt to sneak through deeply unpopular things they could never justify introducing or voting for on their own." http://bulletin.represent.us/5-horrible-things-congress-just-snuck-into-law 379 comments politics
- Even when 91% of Americans believe the influence of money in politics should be reduced, the two major parties are doing everything they can to stifle candidates who promise to do something about it. http://bulletin.represent.us/dnc-gop-lock-out-challengers 248 comments politics
- Boehner got caught red-handed distributing tobacco company checks to fellow members mid-vote. Astonishingly, Boehner’s behavior was completely legal — and it worked: The industry got to keep its multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded subsidy. http://bulletin.represent.us/boehner-tobacco-lobby-checks 3 comments politics
- When elections are decided by money, as 91% are, it means that donors to political campaigns have the power voters ought to. Donors decide who can launch a campaign and who can’t. They decide who gets traction and who doesn’t. In the end, they decide who wins and who loses. http://bulletin.represent.us/infographic-money-wins-congress-again 146 comments politics
- So why then are we still living in a world with a 73,954 page tax code? Who could possibly oppose a simplified system of return-free filing, saving taxpayers energy, time and money? http://bulletin.represent.us/every-wonder-taxes-damn-complicated 83 comments politics
- 5 Ways the Last Congress Screwed You Before Skipping Town http://bulletin.represent.us/5-ways-the-last-congress-screwed-you 3 comments politics
- 5 Awful Things Congress Snuck Into the Omnibus Budget Deal: $479 Million for warplanes that the Pentagon didn’t ask for; 70 of the 85 lines in the new House bill reflect recommendations made in a piece of model legislation drafted by lobbyists for Citigroup http://bulletin.represent.us/5-awful-things-congress-snuck-omnibus-budget-deal 880 comments politics