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Spotlight on Congress

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

Sen. Daniel Inouye Sworn in as President Pro Tem

June 28, 2010 - With the passing of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), Daniel Inouye of Hawaii was sworn in on Monday as the Senate President pro-tempore.

Rep. Patrick Murphy Introduces Transparency Rules for Out of District Political Spending

June 24, 2010 - An amendment to the DISCLOSE Act will allow local voters to know if political expenditures are being made by donors outside their district.

House Dems Exempt the NRA From DISCLOSE Act

June 15, 2010 - Threatening to derail the passage of a campaign finance transparency bill, the National Rifle Association has managed to lean on  House Democrats enough to force an exemption for the pro-gun group.The NRA has contributed over $200,000 to House Democrats over the last two years.

HR 4173 Conferees Received Nearly $6 Million from Wall Street Over Last 2 Years

June 10, 2010 - House members selected to represent their chamber during the conference negotiations on the Wall Street reform bill (HR 4173) received $5.6 million in campaign contributions from financial and non-health insurance interests over the past two years.

US Chamber of Commerce and Industry Coalition of Major Donors Oppose DISCLOSE Act

June 2, 2010 - The US Chamber of Commerce was joined by a coalition of industry trade organizations in opposition to a bill that would establish new campaign finance disclosure rules. In the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, legislators - expecting unprecedented levels of spending by special interest groups -  are seeking to require organizations running political ads to disclose their donors.