News

Gov. Baker: ‘I Wasn’t Aware’ Of Wall Street Funding For Charter School Measure
Andrew Perez and David Sirota | November 02, 2016
After unions filed a formal complaint against financial firms whose executives have given money to support a Massachusetts charter school ballot measure, Gov. Charlie Baker, the initiative’s chief booster, sought to downplay the significance of those contributions.
Unions File Complaint Against Wall Street Firms Funding Charter School Measure
Andrew Perez and David Sirota | November 01, 2016
Two Massachusetts teachers unions filed a formal complaint Monday against financial firms whose executives have funded committees supporting a charter school ballot measure. The unions allege that in funding the groups -- which are running ads featuring Republican Gov. Charlie Baker -- the firms may be violating federal anti-corruption rules.
In $435 million ballot battle, four initiatives face no financial opposition
Chad Outler | October 31, 2016
While more than half of the $435 million contributed so far to California’s ballot measure campaigns has come from individuals and groups trying to defeat initiatives, four of the 17 proposals face no financial opposition.
Hillary Clinton’s Wall Street Fundraising Benefited From Loophole In Federal Anti-Corruption Rule
Andrew Perez, Avi Asher-Schapiro, David Sirota |
The SEC’s pay-to-play rule exempts federal agencies, allowing Hillary Clinton to raise cash from Wall Street firms managing federal retirement savings.
Teachers Unions Want Probe Of Wall Street ‘Influence’
David Sirota and Avi Asher-Schapiro |
The two largest teachers unions in Massachusetts asked federal and state law enforcement officials to investigate whether large donations to a charter school ballot measure backed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker violated anti-corruption rules.
Wall Street Firms Make Money From Teachers’ Pensions — And Fund Charter Schools
David Sirota, Andrew Perez, Avi Asher-Schapiro |
An International Business Times/Maplight investigation has found that executives at 8 financial firms contracted to manage Massachusetts state pension assets have bypassed anti-corruption rules and funneled at least $778,000 to groups backing a ballot measure which would expand the number of charter schools in the state.
As Election Day Nears, Drug Companies Pour $22 Million into Ballot Battle
Jiali Li |
Photo credit: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty ImagesOctober 24, 2016 - On Wednesday, 27 pharmaceutical firms contributed almost $22 million to fight Proposition 61, a measure that would limit the price California pays for prescription drugs. The one-day tally is more than the total amount of money raised for and against 11 of the 17 measures on the state’s November ballot, a MapLight analysis has found.