Patch has created an interactive database so you can see whether your public officials, employer, church, husband or neighbor are donating to the presidential campaign candidates.
We’ve included communities across California, so if you want to see what the campaign contributions in nearby towns are like, go right ahead.
Tell us in the comments what you've spotted among the donations.
The information in the database was downloaded from the Federal Election Commission’s website, and unfortunately the FEC's spelling errors are theirs and can't be fixed by Patch. The data is based on quarterly reports, and is current through July. The data will be updated in mid-October.
They would also defund many government departments as well. Our government wouldn't be able to oversea that companies and banks followed much approved regulations put in place for years. If the SEC hadn't been defunded by G.W. Bush, and ran by a Bush crony, we might have not fallen into the recession as badly as it did. And your comment about Egypt seems muddled. @Niles: Hardly a lie. Quite clearly an observation.
So if we see distrust as a way of maintaining those checks and balances, its good to see who donated to all political parties no matter how small, or how big. Super Pacs need to be transparent just like political parties.
I dont think the unions should be able to use dues for political purposes. I think some states have an opt out option for the political part of union dues. I know that elections and props are skewed by both union, and biz donations. And by the way, don't ever listen to any prop commercial ever. No matter what side of any proposition one is on, I don't think their has been an honest ad about one in twenty years. Hey......how about that debate tonight eh...Chris Mathews looks like he just threw up inside himself and swallowed it. Not glotin----just sayin......
@Marty: Got the booklet with the props in it a couple days ago. I'll be analyzing them and let's confer.
Here's what is reported about those exempted: Prop 32 creates special exemptions for wealthy donors and corporate special interests, allowing them to keep spending unlimited amounts through business front groups. Prop 32 does nothing to restrict secretive Super PACs and their undisclosed donors from spending millions to influence elections in California. Prop 32 singles out everyday heroes like teachers, nurses and firefighters, by limiting their ability to speak out about critical issues in our communities that matter to us all.
If we strip corporate personhood and then include these other options, I might be good with the law. That still would not make it Constitutional. All I see on the Patch are Conservatives caterwauling about waste of public money. Well this law, because it will ultimately be ruled unConstitutional, is a waste of money, and if Conservatives want to go Ya, Boyyo on this one, they cannot come back and twitch about it later. It will go to trial. Of that I am certain, and the law will be overturned. It's just a dumb thing for that reason if nothing else.
I don't like the influince of big money interests from anyone. But the unions are taking UNION DUES and using it for political purposes. Both should be eliminated. If all unions had an opt out option for that portion of dues it would soften my stance. And i have to confess....I didn't see the debate in real time. I am so adicted to running that I actually have withdrawel symptoms after 48 hours. Had to go running. Just me, the music, and five or six miles running through the Griffith Park hills in the darkness of early evening is magic.
I just got the booklet yesterday. As for Chris Mathews. If you ever watch him, you will see that he can't EVER let his hour go by without the race card, no matter how he has to stretch to slip it in. I watched a lot of MSNBC when I had some time just to find out what the points are. OH....Way to much intellectually dishonest filth to even begin. However I think Mr. Ed is the worst. And Martin Bashir is mostly ....well....Now I am thinking that Michael Jackson might of been innocent, and set up by the Bashir. ( (if you ever saw his M.J. special). marty
I understand that the unions are using dues for political purposes, Marty, but you have to be in the game to win, and they use the money to lobby for protections for their memberships in terms of benefits and labor protections. It's unfortunate they have to, but what would you suggest the dues be used for. Remember, they were organized to find protections from egregious employment practices. I've never been a union worker myself. When I worked at another major corp, because there were unions, we got some great benefits as fall-out. Both of my kids are union workers. They have to be for their jobs. I worry if there's a strike call. My boy just went through a 2-day one. My daughter was on the picket line every day for 5-months when her employer locked them out. The employers used illegal practices during the strike and wound up having to pay big fines to the government for violating the law. That strike was costly to us all.
"Wiiiilbuurrr" Said Mr. Ed OK everyone sing......a horse is a horse of course, of course, but no one......... In the last post I was refering to:... Mr Ed is ed schultz. He is the guy that said about dick cheney "They should rip his heart out". About Republicans. "They want to see you dead! They'd rather make money of your dead corpe! They kind of like it when that woman has cancer and they don't have anything for her." And according to him republicans are evil racists ......and have a war on woman, minorities, old peeps, unions.......blah..... His whole show stirs up hate and resentment. Thats all. Nothing of value. he only stirs up and angers the very people he pretends to be on the side of. The end result however is the opposite. Sorry to go off on this but that kind of show just has to leave the air. The only one worse than he is Mike Malloy. He is so bad it is worth listening to just to be amazed that he is on the air. I don.t hang this stuff on you. And some right wing shows are not angels either. OK I am done now Peace, love, and happiness