Ethics

Op-Ed

Wisconsin Ethics Board Fails to Curb ALEC Shell Game

by Brendan Fischer — April 17, 2013 - 12:57pm
  • Topics: Ethics
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • In theory, Wisconsin has some of the strongest ethics and lobbying laws in the country -- legislators cannot accept even a cup of coffee from lobbyists or others who have an interest in the outcome of legislation -- but these laws are meaningless if the state ethics board does not take action to enforce them.

    News

    The Steubenville Case: Social Media Plays Role in the Prosecution of a Rape Case

    by Meher Ahmad — March 21, 2013 - 9:16am
  • Topics: Citizen Journalism, Activism, Internet, Ethics

    • Two teenage girls were arrested and detained this week for Tweeting threats to a rape victim. It appears that the young people of Steubenville have not learned much about the uses of social media even after the extraordinary trials and convictions of two young men for rape this week in a case that relied heavily upon the photos, videos, and Tweets taken concomitantly with the crime.

    News

    Sen. Sanders and Rep. Deutch Press for New Democracy Amendment

    by Brendan Fischer — March 20, 2013 - 9:50am
  • Topics: Campaign Finance, Election 2012, U.S. Congress, Corporations, Democracy, Ethics, Politics, U.S. Government

    • Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) have introduced a new constitutional amendment to overturn the damage done by Citizens United, Buckley v. Valeo, and other judicial decisions that have diluted the role of ordinary people in American democracy.

    News

    What Is Visa Hiding? Majority Shareholders Thwart Effort to Require More Disclosure of Money Spent on ALEC

    by Lisa Graves — January 31, 2013 - 7:08am
  • Topics: Right Wing, Corporations, Democracy, Economy, Ethics, Lobbying
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • A majority of Visa shareholders rejected an effort to require the company to provide more disclosure about its role in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and related lobbying activities. Boston Common Asset Management, an investment firm focused on socially responsible investing, and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA), a religious organization that affirms the inherent capacity for good in human beings, filed a resolution to require the company to disclose all payments used for lobbying purposes, including payments to groups like ALEC. In all, over 100 million votes were cast in favor of the resolution -- 37% -- but that substantial outpouring of support for greater transparency accounted for less than a majority of the votes cast by Visa shareholders.

    News

    Another Walker Aide Sentenced to Prison in Secret "John Doe" Investigation

    by Brendan Fischer — January 22, 2013 - 3:47pm
  • Topics: Ethics, Politics

    • Another top official to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker during his tenure as Milwaukee County Executive has been sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling funds intended for families of veterans. The sentencing appears to close a chapter in the ongoing "John Doe" investigation into corruption and misconduct in the Walker County Executive's office, but the book remains open.

    News

    Backgrounder: the History of the NRA/ALEC Gun Agenda

    by Lisa Graves — December 15, 2012 - 1:32pm
  • Topics: Right Wing, Corporations, Democracy, Ethics, Marketing
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • "We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years," President Obama said in response to horrifying shooting massacre of 20 little children and six of their educators in Connecticut.

    Press Release

    Wisconsin Legislators Jetting Off on Corporate-Funded Trip to Develop Special Interest Legislation

    by PRW Staff — November 28, 2012 - 12:22pm
  • Topics: Ethics, Politics, Secrecy
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2012
    CONTACT: Brendan Fischer

    MADISON, WI -- Several Wisconsin legislators are attending this week's conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington D.C., and likely doing so on corporate-funded "scholarships," which the Center for Media and Democracy believes violate state ethics and lobbying laws. The three-day meeting, held November 28-30, will bring state legislators together with corporate lobbyists and special interests to craft "model" bills -- many of which will likely be introduced in the ALEC-majority Wisconsin legislature in the session that begins in January.

    News

    New Report on ALEC’s Influence in Utah

    by Harriet Rowan — July 26, 2012 - 4:49pm
  • Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Ethics
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • As corporate lobbyists and state legislators from across the country meet in Salt Lake City for the 39th annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group of open government advocates has released a report called "ALEC in Utah: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests in the Halls of Utah's Legislature."

    News

    New Report Shows ALEC's "Unprecedented Influence Over Florida"

    by Harriet Rowan — July 26, 2012 - 9:43am
  • Topics: Corporations, Democracy, Ethics
  • Projects: ALEC Exposed

    • As corporate lobbyists and state legislators from across the country meet in Salt Lake City for the 39th annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group of open government advocates have released a report called "ALEC in Florida" that sheds further light on ALEC's "unprecedented influence over Florida."

    News

    It's Bucky v. Adidas: Indonesia Labor Rights Violations Head to Court in Wisconsin

    by Jonathan Rosenblum — July 19, 2012 - 7:03am
  • Topics: Ethics

    • A student rendering of Bucky Badger puts the University of Wisconsin-Madison's furry mascot in a lock-up formed by the Adidas three-bar logo.

    But in a historic test, it is the midwestern university that is now putting Adidas on trial.

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