Does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce speak for small business? Maine small business owner says: “No!”

Melanie Collins, a small business owner and leader with the Maine Small Business Coalition, traveled to Washington, DC on October 19 to speak at a press conference outside the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Her message was simple: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce doesn’t speak for small business, and it doesn’t speak forContinue reading “Does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce speak for small business? Maine small business owner says: “No!””

Does the NFIB represent small business…or big special interests?

Cross-posted from Public Campaign website. Analysis by Public Campaign and Alliance for a Just Society The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), heralded as the “voice” of America’s small businesses, has received renewed scrutiny due to its role as the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit to throw out the Affordable Care Act, which awaits aContinue reading “Does the NFIB represent small business…or big special interests?”

Move to Amend is Moving In Oregon

From the Main Street Alliance Website: Main Street Alliance of Oregon has been surveying business owners throughout Oregon and is finding strong interest in electoral reform. Currently around eight in ten business owners feel the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, freeing corporations to spend unlimited sums of money in elections, is bad for small business.Continue reading “Move to Amend is Moving In Oregon”

We Don’t Have to be United States, Inc.

Photo by ToGa Wanderings   A couple of days ago, the New York Times reported that the super PACs backing President Obama had fallen far behind on fundraising, and it’s not clear they’re going to catch up with their Republican counterparts. According to the Times, “Mr. Obama’s backers on Wall Street are leery of theirContinue reading “We Don’t Have to be United States, Inc.”

Connecticut Citizen Action Group

This is part fifteen in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) has used money in politics dirt to escalate a fight against waste incinerators, whichContinue reading “Connecticut Citizen Action Group”

Democracy North Carolina

This is part fourteen in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. Democracy North Carolina released a series of “Highway Robbery” reports available at

Hitting the Jackpot

This is part thirteen in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. In a state known for excess and wealth that does not extend to most of its residents, the ProgressiveContinue reading “Hitting the Jackpot”

Project Vote Smart

Role in the Landscape This is part twelve in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. Project Vote Smart (PVS) is a transparency/data organization with a vast collection of data onContinue reading “Project Vote Smart”

Disinfecting Banker’s Day on the Hill

This is part eleven in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. In February 2011, on “Bankers’ Day on the Hill,” grassroots organization Washington Community Action Network confronted corporate bank lobbyistsContinue reading “Disinfecting Banker’s Day on the Hill”

Good Jobs First

This is part ten in a series of posts that will explore some of the leading organizations from around the country that are engaged in unearthing and combating the influence of money in the political process. Role in the Landscape Good Jobs First focuses on corporate subsidies and works to promote corporate and government accountabilityContinue reading “Good Jobs First”