Luke Rosiak

Outspent on ads, Dems pay ‘trackers’ to tail candidates for dirt

A George Soros-funded super PAC is vowing to send operatives to stake out Republican campaigns to hunt for and to record any gaffes or controversial statements the candidates may make.

August 28, 2012

Outside cash finds a way in to the conventions

For lobbyists, unions and corporations with business before Congress, political conventions are the ultimate target-rich environment.

August 23, 2012

In July, Romney raises $24M more than Obama with help of super PACs

Showing increasing strength in the money race, Mitt Romney in July outraised President Obama in all but 11 states, and in all nine of the most likely swing states, chalking up his strongest support yet from small donors.

August 21, 2012

‘Social welfare’ funders sidestep rules of super PACs

The political groups that injected millions of dollars into political races over the past two years may already be giving way to the rise of a new class of politically oriented nonprofits, organizations that have most of the same powers as super PACs, and one major advantage: They don't have to meet the same strict requirements for disclosing where their money comes from.

August 20, 2012

On left and right, firebrands are hot on the Web

Thanks to the Internet, a revolution has occurred in the way local campaigns are financed. Outfits such as ActBlue on the left and Club for Growth on the right harness donations from partisans across the country, channeling them into campaigns where they are backing candidates who tend to be on the ideological wings of the two parties.

August 19, 2012

Va. Senate race tops nation in ‘secret money’

A "secret-money" political group connected to Republican operative Karl Rove spent $1 million Wednesday on television ads opposing Democrat Tim Kaine in the race for Virginia's open Senate seat, bringing total spending by the non-traditional groups opposing him to $2.3 million.

August 15, 2012

Conservative groups’ ad-buying binge eclipses Obama, Romney

Two conservative advocacy groups are in the midst of an ad-buying spree so intense that when combined, they have bought more commercials in the country's major markets than President Obama's campaign, according to new disclosure records analyzed by The Washington Times.

August 13, 2012

Proposal targets eligibility, fraud in food stamp program

A top Agriculture Department official Thursday announced an initiative to counter fraud in the $80 billion food stamp program, entering a campaign-tinged fray that has recently focused on abuse of entitlement programs for the poor.

August 9, 2012

Voters vs. cash: Races could be turned by out-of-state money

A Washington Times analysis of newly released Federal Election Commission records found 70 House races and two Senate races where one candidate raised the most money from within the state, but the opponent raised the most overall thanks to out-of-state donations.

August 8, 2012

Metro reimbursed questionable college courses for half-million dollars

One accountant at Metro took Federal Income Tax 1, a course at the University of Maryland University College described as "an introduction to federal taxation." Another took Intermediate Accounting 1. Several other Metro workers in financially sensitive positions — who help oversee million-dollar contracts — used the transit authority's tuition reimbursement program to enroll in introductory courses on contracts or business.

July 26, 2012

Households divided by campaign donations

Husbands and wives may share checking accounts, but they don't always share political preferences. So what happens when one-half of the marriage wants to donate to a candidate?

July 26, 2012

Chamber spends big in Senate races

The Chamber of Commerce Thursday spent a whopping $1.6 million on television ads opposing Bill Nelson in Florida's Senate race and $1 million attacking Democrat Tim Kaine in the race for a Virginia Senate seat against Republican George Allen, disclosures showed Thursday.

July 26, 2012

Super PACS get $8.6M from companies in June

Nearly 200 companies gave $8.6 million to super PACs in June, far more than in any month this year, new records showed.

July 22, 2012

Romney tops Obama fundraising total in June

Mitt Romney out-raised President Obama by $73 million to $66 million in June, disclosures showed Friday, as he doubled his small-donor base and capitalized on his newfound control over the Republican National Committee to hit up wealthy early supporters for the much larger contributions that vehicle can accept.

July 22, 2012

Cain’s post-candidacy PAC spending raises questions

With charisma and national name recognition but no imminent political prospects, onetime Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain is using the donor-fueled political action committee created in his name in unusual ways.

July 19, 2012

Obama fundraiser gets Energy Department post

Dozens of major fundraisers for President Obama's re-election campaign have been appointed to plum posts on advisory boards and humanities commissions and at embassies. The practice is not new to Mr. Obama, but it's generally viewed as unsavory.

July 18, 2012

Candidates from both parties benefiting from domestic oil boom

For many candidates in energy-boom states, support for increased oil and gas drilling isn't just sound policy — it's also good for their personal business.

July 14, 2012

Mass. legislators overrules governor to bar welfare from being spent on vices

Massachusetts state legislators have made it harder to spend welfare dollars on goods like alcohol and beauty supplies over the objections of their governor.

July 13, 2012

D.C. food stamp paybacks due for power outage losses

The D.C. government will pay food-stamp recipients who say they lost food because of recent power outages, officials said — even though the majority of stores doing business in food stamps sell almost no perishable foods.

July 10, 2012

SEIU boots join Democratic super PAC bucks

One of the nation's largest unions has teamed with a Democratic super PAC to run $20 million in advertising aimed at keeping House seats out of Republican hands, according to plans announced Monday.

July 2, 2012