Congress
Corporate Giants Mum on Chamber’s Lobbying Against Voting Rights Bill
As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spends big on lobbying against the For the People Act, some member companies earned low grades on a new voting rights scorecard.
Pharma Companies Spend Billions More on Stock Buybacks Than Developing Drugs, House Report Finds
The largest drugmakers spent $56 billion more on stock buybacks and dividends than on research and development from 2016 to 2020, according to a new House committee report.
Infrastructure Month in Congress, For Real, This Time, Maybe
Democrats have given themselves just a few weeks to pass a preliminary budget resolution for one of two infrastructure bills moving in tandem.
Publicly-Funded Weapons Companies Donate to Election Objectors
Top defense contractors have quietly restarted their PAC donations after a pause, including to Republican election objectors.
Former ALEC State Chair Joe Manchin Continues to Do the Group’s Bidding
Manchin echoes ALEC in calling the For the People Act too partisan.
Biden’s $6 Trillion Budget, in Context
The White House budget proposal, with its infrastructure and families plans, would only spend about a quarter of GDP, less than other wealthy countries spend.
Senate Republicans Propose Cuts to Rural Broadband Plan
Three lead negotiators of the Senate GOP's counter-proposal to Biden's infrastructure plan represent states ranked in the bottom 10 for broadband access.
Groups Call on Congress: Fund Your Staff
The average Hill staffer stays for only about three years, with many moving to become lobbyists.
Lockheed-Backed Reps Lobby Against F-35 Spending Cuts
As the F-35 fighter comes under Pentagon review for potential cuts, bipartisan groups of lawmakers are calling to continue high levels of spending on the troubled $1.7 trillion program.
Blue Dog Rep Jim Cooper Gets Progressive Primary Challenger
The Nashville Democrat, chair of the House subcommittee overseeing nuclear weapons programs, received max contributions last cycle from the PACs of several top defense contractors.
Blumenthal’s Spouse Stows Away Cargo Company Stock
As he serves on the subcommittee overseeing ports of entry, Richard Blumenthal’s wife is investing in a cargo security company that says it is the only company that can satisfy the scanning requirements recommended by Congress.
Congratulations, Senator Sinema!
Kyrsten Sinema got two awards from the US Chamber of Commerce recently.
