How Taxpayer Money Is Wrapped Up in Georgian War
Russia's announcement this morning that it will cease its offensive in Georgia has created a potential lull in what was a rapidly escalating military and diplomatic crisis.
Whether the fighting really ends, one result of the conflict is clear: it has thrown a bright light on that region's importance to global oil supplies. A pipeline that runs through Georgia is the second largest in the world.
But a little-reported fact is that American tax dollars were used to help fund big oil projects in the region.
Georgia sits between the … more…
Companies Tap Pension Plans to Pay Exec Benefits
Company pensions are no longer a trapping of the American life. A report by the Government Accountability Office issued last month found … more…
Waxman’s Strategy for Undoing Blackwater
Blackwater Worldwide may have misrepresented its size to obtain small business contracts, the House oversight committee announced on … more…
In Florida, Agency Gave Mortgage Licenses to Thousands of Ex-Cons
As we detailed yesterday, the Justice Department is pursuing a wide array of prosecutions and investigations in response to the subprime … more…
Justice Dept. Spreads Wide Net With Mortgage-Related Prosecutions
Nearly everyone agrees that something went very wrong with the mortgage industry. Mortgage lenders made extremely risky loans. Wall … more…
What’s a Raise If Your Boss Doesn’t Pay You?
The Department of Labor hasn't been adequately protecting workers whose employers skimp on paychecks, don't pay overtime or don't pay a … more…
Ethics Committee Examining Countrywide Loans to Senators
There are a couple of noteworthy updates to our post yesterday on the Countrywide V.I.P. or "Friends of Angelo" mortgage loans to Sens. … more…
Watchdog Files Ethics Complaint over Senators’ V.I.P. Mortgage Loans
Two senior Democratic senators got special "V.I.P." loans from the mortgage lender Countrywide Financial. Both say they had no idea … more…
Despite New Obama DNC Lobbyist Money Ban, Loophole Permits Millions From Big Biz for Conventions
Among the first moves Barack Obama made as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee this week was to reform the Democratic … more…
Government Could Lose Billions to Oil Industry on Royalties
Oil companies may receive a $53 billion boon thanks to a royalty relief package designed to enhance the appeal of drilling in the Gulf of … more…
August 19, 2008
Auction-Rate Buybacks Spark Feud Liz Rappaport and Shefali Anand, Wall Street Journal ($), August 19, 2008
Corporations Use $20 Billion Legal Tax Loophole Michelle Dubert, ABC, August 19, 2008
Ten Victims of a Calif. Scammer Lost Their Homes Andrew Galvin, Orange County Register, August 19, 2008
Chasing Down the Calif. Scammer Andrew Galvin, Orange County Register, August 19, 2008
Big Oil Spends Record Amounts Lobbying Congress Steve Hargreaves, CNN Money, August 19, 2008
August 18, 2008
Weak Rules Cripple Home Appraiser Oversight Mitch Weiss, AP, August 18, 2008
FBI Probes Unusual Incentives for Home Buyers Nick Timiraos, Wall Street Journal ($), August 18, 2008
Ex-VECO CEO Convicted of Bribery Rakes in Millions Richard Mauer, Anchorage Daily News, August 18, 2008
Price Fixing Makes Comeback after Supreme Court Ruling Joseph Pereira, Wall Street Journal ($), August 18, 2008
August 15, 2008
Rep. Murtha Intervenes for Company That Broke Export Law Christopher Lee, Washington Post, August 15, 2008