The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "candidates" ...
-
Buying the Election
“Never Mind the Super PACs: How Big Business Is Buying the Election” investigates previously unreported ways that businesses have taken advantage of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which overturned a century of campaign finance law and allowed corporations to spend directly on behalf of candidates. The piece debunks a common misperception that businesses have taken advantage of their new political spending powers primarily through so-called Super PACs. In fact, most Super PAC donations have come from extremely wealthy individuals, not corporations. The investigation shows how corporations have instead used a variety of 501(c) nonprofits, primarily 501(c)(6) “trade associations,” to direct substantial corporate money on federal elections. As one prominent advisor to GOP candidates as well as corporations points out, "many corporations will not risk running ads on their own," for fear of the reputational damage, but the trade groups make these ad buys nearly anonymous. In 2010, 501(c)(6) trade associations and 501(c)(4) issue-advocacy groups outspent Super PACs $141 million to $65 million. The investigation shows that the growth of trade association political spending has had a number of significant ramifications, such as increased leverage during beltway lobbying campaigns. Most troublingly, legal loopholes allow foreign interests to use trade associations to directly influence American elections. One of the most significant revelations in the piece was that the American Petroleum Institute, a trade association for the oil and gas industry, had funneled corporate cash to groups that had run hard-hitting campaign ads while being led in part by a lobbyist for the Saudi Arabian government, Tofiq Al-Gabsani. As an API board member, Al-Gabsani was part of the team that directed these efforts, which helped defeat candidates who supported legislation that would move American energy policy away from its focus on fossil fuels. Federal law prevents Al-Gabsani, as a foreign national, from leading a political action committee, or PAC. But nothing in the law stopped him from leading a trade group that made campaign expenditures just as a PAC would.
Tags: Elections; campaign finance; corporations; Super PACs
-
Port Authority: Battle at the Waterfront
This investigation was about lies and obfuscation, and the stakes were enormous: A mayor’s election, a growing media empire and potentially billions of dollars in development. Our reporting revealed how within months of purchasing the largest media operation in San Diego County, the new owners of U-T San Diego were using their power and status to influence -- and even threaten -- government officials into helping them realize lucrative plans for developing the downtown waterfront. It also illuminated an insidious practice suspected nationwide: use of private electronic accounts to conduct the public’s business. Our reporting defined much of the discussion around the mayor’s race in the weeks before the election. In the end, the candidate at the heart of the probed was defeated.
Tags: Mayoral election; fraud; government officials; San Diego
-
"Full Disclousure"
In this investigation, ABC Action News revealed a political scandal the included a county commissioner and candidate for the state senate. Commissioner Jim Norman failed to disclose several personal properties, including two boats and a lake front vacation home. As a result of the investigation, Norman was removed from the state senate race.
-
PolitiFact: The States
PolitiFact, a project of the St. Petersburg Times, is an effort to expand political fact checking to the state and local level. The site published over 1000 articles in 2010 that studied claims made by politicians and then rated them on their accuracy.
Tags: fact checking; accuracy; candidates; elections; campaign
-
Big Money Slides From WFP To City Campaigns; All In The Family
“The Working Families Party is an increasingly powerful third political party in New York which, due to quirky state election laws, is able to cross-endorse candidates and get involved in other parties’ primaries.” The question that everyone has been asking is how WFP (Working Families Party) finances its extensive operations. The first article reveals this very question. The WFP owned a secretive political consulting company, which uses the same resources as WFP and in apparent opposition to New York City’s campaign finance laws. The second article reveals that WFP not only has two arms, but there are in fact four arms. These four arms show the benefits received by WFP are of a political party, a non-profit, and a for-profit.
Tags: Working Families Party(WFP); New York; Data and Field Services(DFS); Campaigns; Politics; Politicians
-
Getting Change
Murphy take a comprehensive review of 20 years of campaign finance reform in New York City and its impact on elections in the city. While aiding in avoiding campaign finance scandals, its done little to level the playing field for those running.
Tags: campaign finance reform; New York City; Campaign Finance Board; incumbent; candidates
-
Angry White Man
"An expose of nearly two decades worth of conspiratorial, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic newsletters published by Republican Congressman and erstwhile presidential candidate Ron Paul."
Tags: re-election; Worldcat; extremist; libertarian; bigotry;
-
Buying off the Boss
Employees in Illinois are found to give political contributions to candidates that may be their future employer.
Tags: Cook County State Attorney; patronage; lobbyist; Anita Alvarez; Tony Peraica;
-
Buddy Johnson series
Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson was scrutinized for flawed elections occurring in Hillsborough County since he was elected in 2004. Precincts moved without notifying the voters and votes were lost do to poorly trained workers.
Tags: election chief; campaign; candidate; voting polls; tax bills;
-
Rejecting the Vote
The right to vote may have been illegally taken away from thousands of qualified citizens in Harris County, Texas. A Republican politician was found to prevent potential voters from getting on the voting rolls in an attempt to stop Democratic candidates from winning.
Tags: Paul Bettencourt; Vote Registrar; re-election; drivers license; polling; fixed election; voting;