Lobbyists in 'feeding frenzy' over crisis
— -- By Fredreka Schouten, Ken Dilanian and Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
The financial services industry, which has spent billions on lobbying and campaign contributions over the last decade, is scrambling to make its case for a proposed $700 billion bailout plan amid deep public skepticism. (read more...)
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McCain raises cash while limited to public funds
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
Republican John McCain is asking donors to give far in excess of what they can contribute to him directly, even as he is limited to taking only public funds for the fall campaign. (read more...)
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Union helps non-profit groups pay for attack ads
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
The nation's largest public employee union has funneled more than $5 million to a series of non-profits running ads attacking Republican congressional candidates, federal election records show. (read more...)
Biden move had 'intersection of interests'
By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
Sen. Joe Biden worked to defeat a bipartisan bill designed to curb asbestos lawsuits at a time his son's law firm was filing them in Delaware and a former aide was lobbying against the measure, according to public records and interviews. (read more...)
Governors groups fill coffers at conventions
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
Free of campaign contribution limits, the fundraising committees for Democratic and Republican governors used their parties' national political conventions to amass millions of dollars for the fall elections from companies, trade associations and other special interests. (read more...)
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Despite storm, parties continue in St. Paul
By Fredreka Schouten and Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
Even as Republican John McCain sharply scaled back his party's national convention in St. Paul out of concern over Hurricane Gustav, the parties and receptions for delegates and donors continued. (read more...)
Loopholes let lawmakers live large
By Fredreka Schouten and Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
The chance to sip cocktails with actress Ashley Judd, dance to the beat of the Black Eyed Peas or listen to Willie Nelson croon country tunes. All this and more await members of Congress at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. (read more...)
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By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
Labor unions and wealthy donors are helping to close funding gaps for both national political conventions, sometimes contributing more than what they could legally donate to Barack Obama or John McCain. (read more...)
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McCain OK with aide's lobbying past
By Matt Kelley and David Jackson, USA TODAY
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain told USA TODAY on Sunday that he has no problem with his top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann's past lobbying work. (read more...)
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Gender gap emerges in fundraising ranks
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
In a historic election in which a woman almost won the Democratic nomination, men dominate the ranks of elite fundraisers in the presidential race, a USA TODAY analysis shows. (read more...)
