When California politicians talk about “juice,” they don’t always mean citrus. In Sacramento, the state capital, “juice” often refers to campaign cash and political clout. Our new animated video takes a look at how the speaker of the Assembly, John A. Pérez, squeezes the juice. Guess what? California’s Assembly Democrats pumped $5.8 million into 2012 […]
Money and Politics
Posted inMoney and Politics
Gender doesn’t give LA mayoral contender a boost with women donors
Los Angeles mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel have raised almost equal amounts of money from women. In total contributions for the primary and runoff elections, Greuel has raised .45 million from women compared with Garcetti’s .4 million, according to campaign finance records through May 4.Associated Press photo, Wendy Greuel campaign file photo The […]
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California speaker gives Assembly’s juiciest jobs to biggest fundraisers
Assemblyman Chris Holden (left), D-Pasadena, talks to Speaker John A. Pérez during a legislative session at the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The freshman legislator donated 9,000 to Pérez’s targeted 2012 campaigns, and the speaker chose Holden to be majority whip.Max Whittaker / Prime In May 2012 and again in June, Speaker John A. Pérez […]
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Interest groups play major role in Democrats’ campaign funds, analysis finds
When they needed political money – to make donations urged by Speaker John A. Pérez and to pay for their 2012 campaigns – Democrats in the California Assembly turned to interest groups with a big stake in state government decisions, a Center for Investigative Reporting analysis shows. For last year’s state elections, Assembly Democrats together […]
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How we analyzed Democratic legislators’ fundraising
When Speaker John A. Pérez asked Democrats in the California Assembly to make political donations, how did lawmakers respond? Were lawmakers who gave large sums rewarded with powerful positions in the new Legislature? What were the outcomes for lawmakers who didn’t give? For this report on campaign finance dynamics during the 2012 state election, the […]
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Error claims cast doubt on Bank of America foreclosures in Bay Area
Joji Thomas was desperate to save his home. The San Francisco mechanical engineer sold his car, tapped into his wife’s savings and begged friends for money. In July, to stave off foreclosure, he bought a $27,777.85 cashier’s check and mailed it to Bank of America. Joji Thomas (right) directs movers as he packs up his […]
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Subsidiaries handling foreclosures pay off for Bank of America
Bank of America has found a way to make money through foreclosures by using a complicated web of subsidiaries. The process begins with a company called ReconTrust, which handles 1 in 5 Bay Area foreclosures. Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America plays the largest role of any bank in Bay Area foreclosures. From July 2008 through October, […]
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Map: Bay Area foreclosures, county by county
Since mid-2008, more than 184,000 Bay Area properties have entered default. This map shows the number of foreclosures for each of the nine Bay Area counties. Click on the county to see foreclosure information. Source: RealtyTrac Inc., 2010 U.S. Census
Posted inMoney and Politics, National Security
Government secrecy orders on patents keep lid on inventions
This photo illustration is based on James Greer’s patent application for technology that could detect objects, including stealth aircraft. He lived under a secrecy order for eight years.Jaena Rae Cabrera/Center for Investigative Reporting More than 10 years ago, Robert Gold sought to do what many Americans have dreamed of their whole lives: patent an idea. […]
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Corporations, free-market nonprofits foot bill for judicial seminars
Conservative foundations, multinational oil companies and a prescription drugmaker were the most frequent sponsors of more than 100 expense-paid educational seminars attended by federal judges over a 4 1/2-year period, according to a Center for Public Integrity investigation. Among the seminar titles were “The Moral Foundations of Capitalism,” “Corporations and the Limits of Criminal Law” […]