Bad Medicine Report Details Influence of Pharma in DC Budget Failure

Released to the Press September 25, 2013   New Report Analyzes Interest Group Influence in Blocking Proposed Cost Saving Measures in Medicare Report Finds Influence of Pharmaceutical Industry as Major Impasse to Common Sense Budget Fixes Congress has failed to act on a commonsense, good-government approach to controlling health care costs. The significant resources theContinue reading “Bad Medicine Report Details Influence of Pharma in DC Budget Failure”

The Great Big PhRMA Medicare Heist

Part 1: Rigging the System is Profitable   While millions of Americans struggle to pay for their prescription medication, big pharmaceutical companies reap $600 billion in annual profits.  $116 million is spent on direct lobbying, and with a 77,500% return, the investment certainly pays off.  Profits have been bolstered by pharmaceutical companies’ myriad of policyContinue reading “The Great Big PhRMA Medicare Heist”

Food Stamps and Farmers: The House of Representatives Got it So Wrong

After failing to pass a Farm Bill that included farm subsidies and food assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) in June, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a skeleton of a Farm Bill on July 11—without the food stamps. The House effectively left 46 million Americans wondering how to feed themselves and theirContinue reading “Food Stamps and Farmers: The House of Representatives Got it So Wrong”

Montana Without Senator Max Baucus

  How do we want to handle his replacement?   Max Baucus assumed the position of US Senator from Montana on December 15th 1978. For 35 years he has been making decisions that affect the lives of not only people from Montana, not only people from the United States, but people from around the world. Continue reading “Montana Without Senator Max Baucus”

Oregon Affiliates Help Lead 2013 Legislative Victories

The Grassroots Meets the Inside/Out, and One-on-One Strategies   For advocates of health equity and immigrant rights in Oregon, the 2013 legislative session has been particularly sweet,

For Family Unity and a Path to Citizenship– the Time is Now!

  As I stood on the West Lawn of the Capitol this afternoon listening to Dolores Huerta, an idol of mine, I felt like I was experiencing the making of history. In the midst of her powerful speech I took a moment to observe those around me. I looked around at the thousands of facesContinue reading “For Family Unity and a Path to Citizenship– the Time is Now!”

Corporate Interests Dominate List of Top Super Committee Donors

Four banks, two large corporations, a conservative political action committee (PAC), and a law firm serving corporate, industrial, and financial institutions dominate the list of top 10 campaign donors that contributed to members of the bipartisan congressional “Super Committee,” setting the stage for a historic revenue showdown. These entities contributed a total of $4.5 million,Continue reading “Corporate Interests Dominate List of Top Super Committee Donors”

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