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Spotlight on Congress

MapLight research on the influence of money and politics in U.S. Congress.

House Passes Bill to Revise Time Off Rules for Non-Union Employees

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May 9, 2013—By a vote of 223-204, The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H.R. 1406, a bill that would allow private-sector workers to trade in overtime hours for requests for unpaid time off.

Under the bill, employers would have flexibility to decide whether to allow nonunion employees to trade overtime hours for time off, and they would have final say in providing time off to workers who have echewed their overtime hours. 

How much money have members of the House received from interest groups that support the bill?

Internet Sales Tax Bill Passes Senate - Contributions from Key Stakeholders

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May 8, 2013—By a vote of 69-27, the Senate yesterday passed a bill that would require online retailers to collect and distribute sales taxes according to the tax laws of the fifty states. The bill is supported by national brick-and-mortar chains and the large online retailer Amazon.

How much money did senators voting in favor of the bill receive from interest groups in support of the bill?

Obama's Pick to Oversee Fannie and Freddie Has Deep Ties to Banks

May 3, 2013—Rep. Melvin Watt, D-N.C., has been nominated by President Obama to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees the quasi-governmental mortage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. One key question facing the FHFA right now is whether to allow struggling mortgage borrowers in the private market to refinance with a reduced principal through Fannie and Freddie.

How much campaign money has Rep. Watt received from companies with an interest in the mortgage market?

Funding Profiles: MA Democratic Senate Candidates Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch

May 7, 2013 — Tomorrow in Massachusetts, voters will go to the polls to choose between Representatives Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch as the Democratic candidate for the Senate seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry.

 What interest groups have been funding the campaigns of Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch?

Big-Box Retailers Have a Big Advantage in Internet Sales Tax Debate

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April 26, 2013—The Senate is moving forward with the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 743), a bill requiring all sales made over the internet to be subject to sales taxes. Under the bill, all businesses that do more than $1 million in online sales annually would be responsible for collecting and remitting sales taxes in accordance with the tax laws of all states in which their customers reside.

How much money in campaign contribution have Senators received from interests supporting passage of the bill?