Making Government Transparent and Accountable
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Underlying all of our efforts is a fundamental belief that increased transparency will improve the public's confidence in government
The Sunlight Foundation Blog
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Sen. Stevens – One: Public Interest – Zero
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens’ trial for corruption has gone before a jury for deliberations. Federal prosecutors accuse the long-serving lawmaker of lying on Senate forms to conceal more than $250,000 in renovations on his home in Alaska and other gifts from a former chief of an oil services company. But it appears as if Stevens’ defense lawyers have secured a key victory by convincing the judge to frame a key question in his favor.
Earlier this month, our friends at Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) wrote that every charge brought against the Senator relates to his failure to disclose gifts and debts on his Senate financial disclosure form. It’s critical to the public’s right to know “where and from whom our public servants receive gifts, loans, and payments,” as TCS wrote. “The government, in its opening statement and throughout the trial, has maintained that the public right to know is an important element in this case and that Stevens’ failure to disclose was a breach of this right.”
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And the Biggest Winners of Earmarks Are . . . .
The top-two ranking GOP members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have secured more money in earmarks than all other individual members of Congress. The Hill, reporting on earmark data compiled by Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS), found that Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) nabbed $744 million and $502 million in earmarks respectfully. Since losing control of Congress, the GOP share of funds set aside for special projects have been cut by almost a third, yet these two Senators kept for themselves huge shares. As the paper quotes a Senate Republican aide, the two senators are "not only the kings of pork, they’re outright hogs."
Democrats share access to earmarks more equitably among its members.
