The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "government expenditure" ...
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Buying the Election
“Never Mind the Super PACs: How Big Business Is Buying the Election” investigates previously unreported ways that businesses have taken advantage of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which overturned a century of campaign finance law and allowed corporations to spend directly on behalf of candidates. The piece debunks a common misperception that businesses have taken advantage of their new political spending powers primarily through so-called Super PACs. In fact, most Super PAC donations have come from extremely wealthy individuals, not corporations. The investigation shows how corporations have instead used a variety of 501(c) nonprofits, primarily 501(c)(6) “trade associations,” to direct substantial corporate money on federal elections. As one prominent advisor to GOP candidates as well as corporations points out, "many corporations will not risk running ads on their own," for fear of the reputational damage, but the trade groups make these ad buys nearly anonymous. In 2010, 501(c)(6) trade associations and 501(c)(4) issue-advocacy groups outspent Super PACs $141 million to $65 million. The investigation shows that the growth of trade association political spending has had a number of significant ramifications, such as increased leverage during beltway lobbying campaigns. Most troublingly, legal loopholes allow foreign interests to use trade associations to directly influence American elections. One of the most significant revelations in the piece was that the American Petroleum Institute, a trade association for the oil and gas industry, had funneled corporate cash to groups that had run hard-hitting campaign ads while being led in part by a lobbyist for the Saudi Arabian government, Tofiq Al-Gabsani. As an API board member, Al-Gabsani was part of the team that directed these efforts, which helped defeat candidates who supported legislation that would move American energy policy away from its focus on fossil fuels. Federal law prevents Al-Gabsani, as a foreign national, from leading a political action committee, or PAC. But nothing in the law stopped him from leading a trade group that made campaign expenditures just as a PAC would.
Tags: Elections; campaign finance; corporations; Super PACs
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State of Your Money
The investigation reveals a shocking spending habit by Indiana's state government, while Indiana is faced with a statewide budget crisis. Through this investigation, it was found "nearly 1.7 million expenditures in Indiana's general ledger". The examination uncovered the purchasing of many overpriced and pointless items, such as office furniture, luxury trips, and promotional items. Overall, they spent "millions of dollars" on these items in total. As a result, action was taken and a statewide review of spending took place and new policies were underway.
Tags: budget; money; revenue; profit; state; taxpayers; tax dollars; government; expenses
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A $191 Million Question
Waste, fraud and criminal activity plague the procurement budget, an expenditure that ballooned to $600 billion in 2007. The Post investigates the sources of the escalating costs and finds government and corporate ties to be appallingly mangled.
Tags: procurement; military; corporate; Washington; army; contracts; O'Harrow; contractor; technology program; manager; billion;
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City councilman forced to resign over double billing
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, the newspaper began an investigation of travel and meal expenses by members of the Roanoke City Council. The focus quickly shifted to councilman Alfred Dowe. Travel expense forms, receipts, credit card statements and other documents showed Dowe spent nearly $15,000 on city-related meals, lodging and travel in 2007 - almost as much as the other six council members.
Tags: city council; city government; travel expenses; Virginia; reimbursement; expenditure
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Legislature: Money: Funding, expenses reported; Politicians find ways to finance campaigns; Agriculture, energy leading PACs; Lawyers, energy executives top list of donors; Tribes favoring Dems in giving; Contributions used for rent
WOrld reporters were able to show how campaign contributions are directed to a few legislative leaders and how little documentation of expenditures is required. They also were able to identify large contributors and, in some cases, get them to talk about their motivations. Reporters found a couple of national organizations that had circumvented the state's reporting laws, and that a lot of legislators either don't know the rules or don't pay much attention to them.
Tags: campaign; state government; donations; legislators; finance
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The High Price of Homeland Security
In the rush to protect the nation, the federal government has handed out billions of dollars worth of contracts for security systems to prevent another terrorist attack. This ongoing examination of federal contracts found that the Department of Homeland Security failed to properly supervise those projects, the costs are climbing far above the original estimates, and some of the systems are not performing as promised.
Tags: terrorism; government contracts; lobbyists; government expenditure; Department of Defense
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Flawed Body Armor
U.S. Marine Corps purchased about 19,000 supposedly bullet-resistant protective body armor vests from production lots that were failed by government testers for production flaws that made them less resistant to bullets. The Corps sent more than 5,000 of those vests to troops in Iraq and recalled them just days before this story ran.
Tags: army; military; defense; war; federal government; government expenditure; safety; war; body armor vests; military procurement
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Loose Rules for Lawmakers
This investigation uncovered many cases of unethical conduct by Pennsylvania state legislators. The reporters found that they used state planes for personal trips, that some lawmakers took advantage of their "ghost-voting" privilege, and that some lawmakers had tax liens filed against them, even while they made legislative decisions to change tax laws.
Tags: politicians; law; state government; government expenditure; politics; tax liens
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The Spending Authority
This investigation focused on Colorado's Urban Renewal Authorities. The report found that the organization is not accountable, and can freely spend tax dollars on frivolous things and personal benefits.
Tags: FOIA; Freedom of Information; housing; government expenditures; taxes
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Coping with a Crisis
The author investigated a budget crisis in Coburg, Oregon. He looked into the factors that led to the crisis, and the steps that the city took towards recovery. Holtz also investigated the remaining problems that resulted from the crisis, as well as the fact that the city government was not being held accountable by the state or by town residents.
Tags: money; city government; state government; finance; budget; government expenditures