Nearly $1 billion spent during 2012 election due to Citizens United
The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision unleashed nearly $1 billion in new political spending in the 2012 elections. Records released by the Federal Election Commission show that throughout this election, corporations, unions and individuals that could take advantage of the high court's ruling were responsible for about $933 million of the estimated $6 billion spent during the contest. And nearly two-thirds of the new money - about $611 million - went to 10 political consulting firms, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis. All but one of the top 10 recipients bought advertising in various media markets on behalf of super PACs and nonprofits. Eighty-nine percent of the expenditures made to the top 10 went to spots attacking candidates, the data show.
See the Top 10 recipients of Citizens United spending.
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'Internet' ammunition sales under fire
Proposed legislation to regulate online purchases of ammunition and high-capacity magazines is bringing new attention to a growing cyberspace ammo market that has operated with little government oversight. Under federal law, firearms dealers must obtain a federal license and keep records of their transactions, but there's virtually no federal regulation of ammunition suppliers or sales - though there was prior to 1986. Adults who currently want to stockpile large amounts of ammo - say 1,000 rounds of rifle fire or more - can buy it from dozens of web sites that specialize in bulk sales, often at low prices. Some sites also hawk magazines that fire up to 100 rounds without reloading, which critics argue have repeatedly been tied to deadly mass shootings and should be outlawed. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., re-filed a bill from last summer that would put an end to online and mail-order sales by requiring that ammo transactions take place "face to face."
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U.S. plans 'what-if' scenarios for Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons
 | The Obama administration has quietly arranged for thousands of chemical protective suits and related items to be sent to Jordan and Turkey and is pressing the military forces there to take principal responsibility for safeguarding Syrian chemical weapons sites if the country's lethal nerve agents suddenly become vulnerable to theft and misuse, Western and Middle Eastern officials say.
As part of their preparations for such an event, Western governments have started training the Jordanians and Turks to use the chemical gear and related detection equipment, so they have the capability to protect the Syrian nerve agent depots if needed - at least for a short time, U.S. and Western officials say.
Washington has decided moreover that the best course of action in the aftermath of Assad's fall may be to get the nerve agents out of the country as quickly as possible, and so it has begun discussions not only with Jordan and Turkey, but also with Iraq and Russia in an effort to chart the potential withdrawal of the arsenal and its eventual destruction elsewhere.
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'Revolving door' in America's statehouses
When a former Illinois-state-representative-turned-lobbyist signed on as a client the same utility company that had benefited from a bill he pushed through while in office - it turned some heads, but it didn't break any laws. It's simply common practice for many state lawmakers and other officials to cash in on their expertise and connections by lobbying or consulting for the private sector immediately after leaving state offices. Ethics experts say this "revolving door" erodes public trust in government and corrupts policy-making. In the most egregious cases, legislators or regulators have written laws or set policy that helps a business or industry with whom they have been negotiating for a job once they leave office. Some states do not ban this practice.
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Center story to be featured on Nightline
ABC's Nightline plans to feature a story Friday night that The Center for Public Integrity co-reported last November with the Center for Investigative Reporting about workers at a Southern California warehouse suing for wage theft. One of the main defendants: Walmart. Jorge Soto, a former lead worker at the warehouse, says that for years he was instructed to falsify time sheets by his supervisors, so they could keep worker hours low. Walmart says it's taking the allegations seriously, but says it does not employ these workers and should not be held responsible for the actions of its contractors. However, the judge in the case recently ruled that Walmart can be included as a defendant, having found that it effectively controls what the workers do, what they are paid and how they are treated.
Check your local listings for when Nightline airs in your area.
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Adding investigative firepower
The Center for Public Integrity has added two exceptional investigative reporters to the staff, thanks to your increasing support for the Center's brand of investigative journalism.
Star political journalist David Levinthal has joined the Center's money-and-politics team, known as the "Consider the Source" project. Dave comes from the Washington political journal Politico where he reported on campaign finance and lobbying. He was also an editor at OpenSecrets.org, the website of the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the influence of campaign money. He will bring additional strength to the Center's reporting on the impact of the ever-increasing flow of money involved in lobbying and elections.
Veteran foreign correspondent and diplomatic and military editor Douglas Birch has joined the Center's National Security team. Doug was Moscow bureau chief and a Washington editor for the Associated Press. Before that he was an enterprise, feature and science writer for the Baltimore Sun newspaper. Doug will help the Center probe nuclear and proliferation dangers; hold federal officials accountable by uncovering and explaining waste, fraud and abuse in military spending; help us analyze or debunk national security threats; and investigate and explain how defense spending decisions are made on Capitol Hill.
I am delighted to have these two extraordinary additions to the Center for Public Integrity's growing cadre of highly esteemed investigative reporters.
With the inauguration on Monday, look for the Center's new report this Friday on how some of the largest companies that lobbied the White House last year are also chipping in millions in extra inaugural funds.
Until next week,
Bill Buzenberg
Executive Director
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