access and influence by ron nixon

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!