Politics

“John McCain, who wrote the law banning corporate donations to the political parties, and Barack Obama, who refuses lobbyist money, will be nominated for president at conventions largely funded by industries whose Washington clout they’ve railed against on the campaign trail.” reports Bloomberg‘s Jonathan D. Salant. The corporate donations undermine both candidate’s interest in curbing…

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Cameron McWhirter and Megan Clarke report that former Congressman Bob Barr’s political action committee has raised $4.3 million since 2003 to promote conservative candidates and causes, primarily at the national level. But the PAC gave only $125,200 &#8212 about three cents of every dollar raised &#8212 to federal candidates and other campaign…

Ken Dilanian, of USA TODAY, reports members of the Congressional campaign committees are selling access to this summer’s political conventions in return for campaign contributions. This exploits a loophole in the ethics law meant to reduce special interests’ influence on members of Congress. “House Democrats are offering a ‘premier package’ at the Aug. 25-28 Denver…

A Newsday investigation delves into the long history between former New York City Mayor and current GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, and New York State democratic senator Chuck Schumer. The connections, which benefited both men politically, span everything from Giuliani’s appointment of Schumer’s wife to his mayoral cabinet, to the two politicians’ collaboration on the…