Public News Service

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va (far left), and other lawmakers join President Joe Biden as he signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Aug. 16, 2022. (Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm/Wikimedia Commons)

Super PAC spending in WV Senate race ramps up as Manchin bows out

By Harshawn Ratanpal for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Serv…

A handful of large corporations, including AT&T, Chevron, ExxonMobil, FedEx, GM, Merck and UPS, together gave almost $1.5 million to candidates that denied the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to an Americans for Tax Fairness Report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wealthiest Americans Pumped Millions into 2022 Midterm Campaigns

Most West Virginians pay taxes on every dollar they earn, while large corporations and billionaires use tax loopholes to pay as little as zero in …

The 2020 election cycle saw more than $1 billion in

West Virginians Want "Dark Money" Out of Politics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the last two months, two polls have found West Virginia voters have concerns about so-called "dark money" in politics…

The Monopoly Man has appeared at congressional hearings including one on Google's market dominance. (Ian Madrigal/Youtube)

Funny, Pointed Protest Growing at Congressional Hearings

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Protesting in Congress has a new face, and you could say people aren’t masking their feelings any longer. A swamp …

The attack videos darken the delegates' official portraits for a more ominous appearance. (1863 PAC/YouTube)

Dark Money Attacks Over WV Foster Children’s Managed Care

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A secretive group with unknown donors is attacking lawmakers who oppose granting a multi-million-dollar managed-care contract for …

Since Citizens United nine years ago, watchdogs say there has been an

Nine Years Later, Watchdogs Watch for Reforms to Citizens United

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Critics of the Citizens United court decision say it's resulted in an explosion of dark money in the political system…

The D.C. based Republican State Leadership Committee, Judicial Fairness Initiative, is spending in WV state and local judicial races, but all of its money comes from one huge donation made in Washington. (WV Secretary of State)

Out-of-State and Sometimes Secret Money Moving Into Local WV Judicial Races

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Big Republican money - much of it from out of state or unknown donors - is going into nonpartisan West Virginia judicial …

Anonymous or so-called dark money plays an increasing role in funding the elections that decide what happens under the Capitol dome in Charleston. (W. Va. Legislature)

Watchdogs: WV "Dark Money" Group Breaks Election Spending Laws

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A nonprofit political group in West Virginia has broken Internal Revenue Service campaign finance laws, according to …

The West Virginia State Capitol will likely soon see an impeachment trial, something that hasn't happened in nearly 30 years. (Dan Heyman)

Gov. Justice: Voters “Should Have a Say” on WV Supreme Court Replacement

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice says it would be much better for any replacement named to the West Virginia Supreme Court to face voters …

Clean election groups are warning that an opinion by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey could open a floodgate to anonymous outside spending in state races. (Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia)

Legal Defense of WV Election Disclosure Law

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Clean election watchdogs are defending West Virginia's strong campaign disclosure law against the state attorney general's …

A new report says Congress' attempt to ease regulations on the financial industry would have harmful side effects for the nation's military families. (Pixabay)

Consumer Groups Warn CHOICE Act Would Hurt Military Families

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Financial CHOICE Act is in the U.S. Senate, and its backers aim to ease restrictions on banks put in place by the Dodd-Frank …

Rep. Alex Mooney of West Virginia's 2nd District has been criticized for not spending time in his district. He is expected to skip a town hall in South Charleston this week. (Mooney for Congress)

Members of Congress Not Expected at Town Hall This Week

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – ***Update - Organizers say Senator Joe Manchin has now agreed to attend. *** Organizers still hope to see West Virginia's …

Consumer groups are warning West Virginians about a Wall Street effort to undermine consumer financial protection. (Dan Heyman)

Citizen Groups: WV Needs to Speak Up for Consumer Financial Protection

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Citizen and consumer groups are warning of Wall Street-backed efforts in Congress to hobble a financial regulator that …

Outside groups have spent nearly as much as all West Virginia candidates combined on this election. (WV Citizens For Clean Elections)

Outside Groups Nearly Match WV Candidates' Spending

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Outside, often shadowy political groups have spent $15 million in West Virginia this year, according to a new report…

Donald Trump has so far refused to release his tax returns, documents journalists say are crucial to getting a true financial picture of a candidate. (MoneyBlogNews/Flickr)

Why Reporters Want to See Candidates' Tax Returns

CHARLESTON, W.V. -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has so far refused to release his tax returns. But what could be learned if he did? …

Public financing may be becoming the norm for candidates seeking seats on the West Virginia Supreme Court. (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia)

Public Financing Clears Hurdle for WV Supreme Court Races

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A ruling that two state judicial candidates can use public financing for their campaigns may be a sign that public money is the …

Watchdogs say controversial West Virginia legislation is tied to Kansas oil billionaires Charles and David Koch. (CMD)

Controversial WV Legislation Tied to Shadowy Billionaires' Network

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The right-to-work bill and prevailing-wage repeal just passed by the Legislature have ties to Kansas oil billionaires Charles …

PHOTO: 'Dark money' disclosure provisions were stripped from a campaign finance bill in the West Virginia Legislature late Sunday night. Meanwhile, a secretive conservative group's $100,000 per person breakfast was cancelled after local reporters got ahold of an invitation. Photo courtesy West Virginia Legislature.

Dark Money, Donor Disclosure Face Off in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The clash between "sunlight" disclosure of political donors and so-called "dark money" campaign financing is on full display in …

PHOTO: A campaign finance bill has been dramatically rewritten by the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee. One committee member credits a public outcry for the changes. Photo courtesy West Virginia Legislature.

Senator: “Public Outcry” Forced a Better Election Finance Bill

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – It's a public outcry that forced lawmakers to keep a state rule against corporations contributing to West Virginia …

PHOTO: Since the Citizens United decision five years ago, West Virginia has been among the states swimming against the big-money political tide. Photo by DodgertonSkillhause/morguefile.com

WV Swimming Against Big-Money Citizens United Tide

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - In the five years since the Citizens United decision, West Virginia lawmakers have attempted to slow the influence of big …

PHOTO: Veterans, Democrats and union members such as Tim Millne protested against state Sen. Evan Jenkins skipping his third veterans affairs committee meeting in a row to attend a high-dollar fundraiser with Karl Rove at a Huntington country club. Photo by Dan Heyman.

Jenkins Scolded for Attending Rove Fundraiser Instead of Vets’ Committee

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – State Sen. Evan Jenkins is being harshly criticized for skipping a veterans' affairs committee meeting to attend a high-…

GRAPHIC: A complex network of large, out-of-state political organizations founded by oil and chemical billionaires Charles and David Koch are funding a flood of attacks on Congressman Nick Rahall. Their spending is far exceeding the money coming in to support him. Chart by Robert Maguire at the Center for Responsive Politics.

Big Money from Outside the State Attacking Rahall

HUNTINGTON, W.V. - Of all the outside money flooding into the U.S. House race in West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, funds for attacks on …

GRAPHIC: Outside groups have spent or committed to spend about $5.5 million for political ads in West Virginia's 3rd congressional race, where Congressman Nick Rahall is running against state Sen. Evan Jenkins. That's about one-and-a-half times what the candidates and the parties are spending. Screengrab from an ad by Nick Rahall for Congress.

Outside Spending Dominates Rahall-Jenkins Race

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Outside groups are spending about one-and-a-half times what the parties and candidates are spending in West Virginia's 3rd …

PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin, seen here with W.Va. Rep. Nick Rahall, is now co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending. Manchin said big money is at the root of Washington gridlock. Photo courtesy of Sen. Joe Manchin.

Manchin: Money Causing Gridlock, Destroying Political Process

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Saying "money is destroying the political process," Sen. Joe Manchin is co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment to limit huge …

GRAPHIC: The campaign ads already are running in West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, many paid for by a network of groups started by the oil and chemical billionaire Koch brothers. What do the Kochs want? Screengrab from an ad by Nick Rahall for Congress.

What Do the Kochs Want? Would It be Good for West Virginia?

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Koch brothers have become an issue in the race between West Virginia Congressman Nick Rahall and State Senator Evan …

GRAPHIC: The Koch Brothers' complex political network is advertising heavily in West Virginia. CREDIT: Robert McGuire/Center for Responsive Politics.

Billionaires Behind Political Ads Benefit From Lax Chemical Safety

CHARLESTON, W.Va - The billionaire Koch brothers' political organizations, Americans for Prosperity and the American Energy Alliance, are running a …

Americans for Prosperity, funded oil and chemical billionaires Charles and David Koch, is campaigning aggressively in West Virginia, but the group's own positions are less well known. PHOTO courtesy of the Center For Public Integrity.

What are Americans For Prosperity’s Positions?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A shadowy billionaires' political organization is campaigning heavily in West Virginia. But what economic policies would …

PHOTO: Ordinary people in West Virginia such as Barbara Frierson are calling the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon v. FEC a

WV Grassroots: McCutcheon “A Noose" at the Neck of Democracy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions to federal candidates, political …

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the level of dark money going into U.S. elections is exploding. GRAPH by the center.

Dark Money “Mudslide” Distorting WV Politics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A mudslide of dark money pouring into West Virginia elections is changing the state's politics for the worse, according to …

PHOTO: Defending an anti-abortion bill passed by the Legislature could cost West Virginia as much of a million dollars. PHOTO of the state Capitol from Wikipedia.

Defending Abortion Bill Would Cost WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Defending the anti-abortion bill now on the governor's desk could cost West Virginia a lot of money. Lawmakers just …

Much of the spending is coming from conservative groups like Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS, which backed the organization that wrote the abortion bill just passed by the West Virginia legislature. GRAPH from the Center For Responsive Politics.

Is Rove Using Abortion To Manipulate West Virginians?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Why would Karl Rove spend millions getting states such as West Virginia to pass anti-abortion legislation that is …

PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court could rule this week on a campaign finance case that could end limits on the number of candidates for federal office that a donor could support. Photo credit: Microsoft Images

Supreme Court Campaign Donation Decision Expected

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A decision about campaign donations and "free speech" is expected soon from the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that could end …

PHOTO: Rep. Sarbanes is the lead sponsor of the

Government "By the People" Makes a Comeback in Congress

WASHINGTON – Backed by government reform groups and a growing list of other organizations, 128 members of the House of Representatives have …

Oil billionaire brothers Charles (L) and David Koch founded two so-called dark-money groups that are already pouring anonymous donations into political ads attacking Congressman Nick Rahall. PHOTO by CPI.

Oil Billionaires’ ‘Dark Money’ Pouring Into WV Race

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Groups founded by oil billionaires Charles and David Koch are spending tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars …

West Virginia is considering sending prisoners out of state to a private prison as a way to reduce overcrowding. But people who have studied other states that have followed that path say it's they've seen bad results. PHOTO by Grassroots Leadership.

Out-of-State Private Prisons “Expensive Quagmires”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia is considering shipping inmates to an out-of-state private prison, as a temporary solution to overcrowding. However…

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case that could mean rich individuals would be allowed to give multimillion dollar donations to political campaigns.

‘Citizens United 2’: Justices Could Open Individual Donor Floodgates

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Described as a sequel to Citizens United, another case before the U.S. Supreme Court today could end one of the last big …

PHOTO: State Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry won his seat using public financing, much to the surprise of political observers. Photo courtesy of the state Supreme Court.

Justice Loughry: Public Financing Offers An Alternative To Cynicism

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As lawmakers consider two bills making public financing for State Supreme Court elections permanent, the justice elected under …

GRAPHIC: Demos and U.S. PIRG say Citizens United has turned campaign donations into

WV Joins Backlash Against 'Citizens United' Decision

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Last year's elections were the most expensive in history, and West Virginia lawmakers are being pressed to help a national effort …

4/7/12 memo signed by Bob Murray which publicly names employees who have not given, and saying he feels

Coal Baron, McKinley Donor Accused Of Breaking Campaign Laws

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - One of Congressman David McKinley's biggest backers stands accused of breaking campaign finance laws by pressuring his employees …

Campaign Money “Arms Race” Goes Nuclear

TAMPA, Fla. - The people watching money in politics say the fundraising arms race has gone nuclear. Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the …

Official Photo of Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E.

Thorn: Rep. McKinley Should Return Money from Mine Operator

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Federal records show one of Congressman David McKinley's largest campaign donors is Murray Energy, the mine company owned by …

Who Really Benefits from Higher Defense Spending?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Defense Department budget cuts are set to kick in next year because the congressional "super-committee" didn't agree on an …

PHOTO: old telephone wrapped in cord. Photo Credit: Deborah Smith

RoboCops Needed for Political Robocalls?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Hold the phone! Robocall season is underway in West Virginia, along with the election season. Political robocalls are exempted …

Group Working to Undo Citizens United

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - According to people working to undo Citizens United, that Supreme Court decision giving corporations the right to make unlimited …

House Committee Deciding Who Keeps Your Investment Adviser Honest

WASHINGTON - A U.S. House committee that includes Rep. Shelley Moore Capito today is taking up a bill that would allow investment advisers to police …

Where are Kids on the Campaign Trail?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The youngest Americans are being ignored so far in the presidential campaigns, according to advocates for children in West …

Occupy Protester and “Progressive Republican” Challenges Rep. Capito’s Bank Ties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - He calls it Davis verses Goliath. An Elkins "Occupy" protester and progressive Republican, Michael Davis, is challenging …

Impact of Citizens United Infuriates Some WV Voters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Some West Virginians watching the impact of big money on the political process say they're furious about Citizens United…

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