Center For Responsive Politics

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 18:36:46 -0600

Center for Responsive Politics

1320 19th Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 202-857-7909

Fax: 202-857-7909

The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-partisan, non-profit research group base in Washington, DC that specializes in the study of Congress and paticularly the role that money plays in its elections and actions. The Center conducts computer-based research campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and other interested observers of Congress. The Center's work is aimed at creating a more involved citizenry and a more responsive Congress.

We Follow The Money

Here are highlights from the Center's many research projects, publications, and monitoring efforts:

OPEN SECRETS The Open Secrets project is the core of the Center's research. The Open Secrets investigative team systematically classifies every contribution to federal candidates. The data is examined by industry, congressional committee, and individual members of Congress. Our findings have been published in a series of comprehensive reference books which focus both on PAC's and the industry-connected individuals that together supply the vast majority of campaign funds to members of Congress. The Open Secrets staff regularly undertake more specialized analysis on specific aspects of the campaign finance system.

STATE OPEN SECRETS: This project enables the Center to work directly with state-based media and activist organizations to assist their money-in-politics research efforts.

NATIONAL LIBRARY ON MONEY & POLITICS: The center's sophisticated relational databases make it possible to examine correlations between campaign contributions and policy making. Our library carries out short- and long-term studies of money in politics for journalists, public interest groups, educators, activists, and other researchers.

SOFT MONEY RESEARCH: The Center documents the widespread abuse of "soft money" a loophole in the campaign laws that allows unlimited contributions to political parties from corporations, labor unions, and wealthy individuals.

FEC WATCH: This project monitors the Federal Election Commission's compliance activities, evaluates its enforcement record, and suggests ways to strengthen oversight of federal campaign finance laws. FEC Watch also develops models for the administration and enforcement of state and local campaign finance laws.

MONEY & POLITICS NEWSLETTER: Captiol Eye! A Close-Up Look at Money in Politics is a free bi-monthly newsletter, which concentrates on money-in-politics issues at the national, state, and local levels.

CASHING IN: The focus of our newest project is tying together the

"interested" funders of political campaigns and their legislative and regulatory payoffs. We show how monied interests win on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies.

CONFERENCES FOR ACTIVISTS: The Center has co-hosted conferences on money in politics for activists around the country. We work with these groups to help them better understand how money in politics affects their particular area of interest.

MEDIA OUTREACH: The Center is a resource for the media, providing expert information on Congress in general, and on the facts and figures of campaign financing in particular. In addition, the Center hosts media conferences at which journalists receive hands on training in finding and using campaign finance data.