Money for Nothing

Staff / Truthdig Mar 16, 2007 The news that the Treasury will once again sheepishly release a small batch of dollar coins raises the question: Why are Americans so hung up on paper money when countries like Britain and Canada have enjoyed the benefits of coinage for years? Don't scoff -- the Government Accountability Office estimates potential savings at $500 to $747.5 million annually. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Lost in the Lobbying

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Mar 1, 2007 Merck raised suspicions about its cancer-fighting HPV vaccine with a cluelessly aggressive lobbying campaign, but a lifesaving drug is still a lifesaving drug. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bill Moyers on Defiling Democracy

Staff / Truthdig Dec 9, 2006 Bill Moyers offers this gripping and comprehensive analysis of corruption in Washington and finds that "although Jack Abramoff [above] and Tom DeLay have been brought down, the system remains as vulnerable as ever." Watch it Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pelosi Mulls Smoking Ban

Staff / Truthdig Dec 8, 2006 D.C. may be smoke-free, but Congress gets to set its own rules. Unfortunately for nicotine-craving lawmakers (25% of Congress), the Democrats' victory may lead to change for more than Iraq and the minimum wage -- Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi is considering a ban on smoking in the U.S. Capitol. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

K Street Hysteria

Staff / Truthdig Nov 23, 2006 The power shift in Washington has sent lobbying firms scrambling to snap up Democrats, and left some interest groups -- the pharmaceutical industry, for instance -- wondering who their friends are. On the other hand, Melinda Pierce, who lobbies for the Sierra Club, couldn't be happier. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Washington Power Rankings

Staff / Truthdig Oct 31, 2006 A lobbying research firm has compiled a list of the most (and least) powerful legislators. Although given the prevalence of scandals and the likelihood of a Democratic takeover of Congress, the list could be outdated very quickly. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Polite Ways of Calling Someone a Jew-Hater

Staff / Truthdig Oct 24, 2006 The authors of the ultra-controversial "The Israel Lobby" report face off in a panel discussion against several of their detractors. It's a civil exchange, but, to paraphrase J-Lo: "Don't be fooled by the suits that they got / They're still flame-throwers from the block." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Move Along… There’s No Reform to See Here…

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 After promising fast action on lobbying reform in the wake of numerous scandals, the Senate and the House have proved unable to put together a reform bill that both can live with -- so instead they've made plans to adopt vastly scaled-back versions. No wonder: USA Today reports that our Congress is on track to spending fewer days in session than the infamous 1948 "Do Nothing" Congress. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Joe Conason: Sen. Lieberman Literally in Bed With Drug Lobby

Joe Conason / Truthdig Jul 13, 2006 The senator who would lecture us on ethics drafted a bill in 2005 that made generous giveaways to pharmaceutical companies -- one month after his wife went to work in the pharmaceuticals division of a major lobbying and PR firm. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Lobbyists Fund Local Needs Through Earmark Appropriations

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2006 More and more towns are putting lobbyists on the payroll to tap federal tax money through earmarks (those special appropriations that make their way into omnibus bills in Congress) According to the NYT, "since 1998, the number of public entities hiring private firms to represent them in Washington has nearly doubled to 1,421 from 763" Bridges, roads, walkways, pedestrian crosswalks cities and towns are finding that a little bit of lobbying can go a long way . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Without DeLay, Has the GOP Lost Its Moral Compass?

Molly Ivins / Truthdig Jun 20, 2006 Dennis Hastert gets caught in a suspect land deal, Rep. Jerry Lewis is in deep with a stinko lobbying firm, and the Department of Homeland Security has become a Republican playground. Can't the GOP, self-proclaimed bastion of morality, small government and fiscal responsibility, get anything right? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Israel Lobby Researchers Respond to Their Critics

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2006 The Harvard and U. of Chicago professors take on the criticism surrounding their controversial critique of America's Israel lobby. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )