Corrections
Illinois AG: Shady AIDS Charity's Web Campaign Broke State Law
Correction, July 27, 2009: This article originally misstated charges from the state's complaint against the Center for AIDS Prevention, saying the charity never maintained an office at 4750 N. Broadway in Chicago. The complaint said the charity did not have an office there from at least November 2007 until the filing of the charges.
Introducing Stimulus Spot Check
Correction, July 19, 2009: This post originally said ProPublica is looking at a random sample of about 500 bridge construction projects nationwide. We’re actually looking at a sample of about 500 road and bridge projects.
On Stimulus Job Counts, California Goes Its Own Way
Correction, July 17, 2009: This post originally stated the basic cost of widening I-405 as $739,014. It’s actually $739,014,000.
Disappearance of Privacy Board From White House Web Site Raises Questions
Correction, July 14, 2009: A caption on this page previously suggested 9/11 Commission chairman Thomas Kean said the Whitehouse.gov's deletion of the reference to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was "extremely disappointing." In fact, Kean was referring to administration’s overall lack of progress staffing the board.
Schwarzenegger Replaces Most of State Nursing Board
Correction, July 13, 2009: This story incorrectly referred to former Board of Registered Nursing vice president Elizabeth O. Dietz as a professor of nursing at San Jose State. Although the board’s web site lists that as her current affiliation, the university said she retired in July 2008.
Gov't Foreclosure Program: Who Are The Holdouts?
Correction, July 10, 2009: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that ACORN Housing organized the campaign against four non-participants. It was actually ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
Today's Stimulus Debate: City vs. Country
Correction, July 9, 2009: An earlier version of this post incorrectly cited the Philadelphia Enquirer. In fact, the newspaper is called the Philadelphia Inquirer.
GAO Slams Flimsy Auditing Rules for Stimulus Dollars
Correction, July 8, 2009: An earlier version of this post inaccurately stated that the deadline for states to begin audits of their stimulus spending is at least six months after the end of the fiscal year. In fact, the deadline is nine months after the end of the fiscal year.
After Call From Senator Inouye's Office, Small Hawaii Bank Got U.S. Aid
Correction, June 30, 2009: This story inaccurately said that Rep. Maxine Waters arranged a meeting between regulators and OneUnited of Massachusetts. She actually arranged a meeting between regulators and the National Bankers Association, whose chairman was the general counsel of OneUnited. A person at the meeting said the discussion focused on OneUnited.
Madoff Client Jeffry Picower Netted $5 Billion -- Likely More Than Madoff Himself
Correction, June 23, 2009: This post originally stated that the Picower foundation gave out a little under $207 million in donations from 1995 to 2008. The foundation actually doled out more than $235 million in donations. Due to technical problems in the editing process, this number was incorrect.
Business Jet Group Tries to Block FOIA Request
Correction, June 16, 2009,: This post originally misstated the name of the BARR Program as "Blocked Aircraft Registration Request." BARR stands for "Block Aircraft Registration Request."
Stimulus Threatens to Cause 'Full-Blown Trade War'
Correction, June 12, 2009: This post originally stated that Associated General Contractors represents 7 million workers. AGC represents construction companies whose workforce numbers about 7 million; it does not represent those workers.
Deficit Skyrockets at Pension Guaranty Fund
Correction, May 20, 2009: This post originally stated the PBGC's deficit as $35 billion. It is $33.5 billion.
Decoder: The Pension Fund Scandal
Correction, April 30, 2009: This post originally said that Markstone Capital Group was named in an indictment by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo regarding fraud in the public pension system. In fact, Markstone was not named in that indictment. Rather, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sent a letter to Markstone's founder, Elliott Broidy, as part of the commission’s inquiry into public pension funds. The letter requested financial information relating to Broidy’s time as a commissioner on the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension fund. In particular, the letter requested details of Broidy's communications with two firms named in the Cuomo indictment, Aldus Equity and placement agent DAV/Wetherly Financial. Broidy resigned from the LA pension board after the SEC's inquiry was publicly disclosed.
Correction, April 30, 2009: This post mistakenly stated that the California State Teachers' Retirement System had moved to limit campaign contributions to members of its oversight board but had been thwarted in a legal challenge. We should have said it was the California Public Employees Retirement System that attempted to limit contributions.
New Arrest Heats Up Pension Kickback Scandal
Correction, April 30, 2009: This post originally said that Markstone Capital Group was named in an indictment by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo regarding fraud in the public pension system. In fact, Markstone was not named in that indictment. Rather, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sent a letter to Markstone's founder, Elliott Broidy, as part of the commission’s inquiry into public pension funds. The letter requested financial information relating to Broidy’s time as a commissioner on the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension fund. In particular, the letter requested details of Broidy's communications with two firms named in the Cuomo indictment, Aldus Equity and placement agent DAV/Wetherly Financial. Broidy resigned from the LA pension board after the SEC's inquiry was publicly disclosed.
Correction, April 30, 2009: This post mistakenly stated that the California State Teachers' Retirement System had moved to limit campaign contributions to members of its oversight board but had been thwarted in a legal challenge. We should have said it was the California Public Employees Retirement System that attempted to limit contributions.
Catch-22: Can AIG Repay Taxpayers?
Correction, April 9, 2009: This post originally stated that AIG "ditched plans" to sell two of its insurance subsidiaries, Alico and AIA. In fact, AIG says selling the companies is still an option in its effort to repay federal bailout loans. The company's plans did change insofar as AIG gave the Federal Reserve Bank ownership interest in the two subsidiaries in return for a $26 billion reduction in the amount owed to the Fed. The company is now considering a wider ranch of options than simply selling the subsidiaries. The original post also stated that the transaction resulted in an additional loan to AIG. In fact, the additional $30 billion lending facility, announced on the same day, came from the Treasury, not the Fed. AIG has not yet tapped that line of credit, according to spokeswoman Christina Pretto.
Talking With the Former FOIA Czar
Correction, March 12, 2009: The original caption for the photo misstated Mr. Metcalfe's name. This article also originally stated former Justice Dept. FOIA official Dan Metcalfe was a "Reagan appointee." In fact, he was appointed to head the Office of Information and Privacy during the Reagan administration but was already working at the Justice Department.
Quick Picks: Ex-Sen Lobbies for Chems and Kids Sent to Slammer for Cash
Correction, Feb. 13, 2009: This post originally identified the subject of the Mother Jones article as Sen. Byron Dorgan. It was actually former Sen. Richard Bryan.
Development Bank Wrestles With Toxic Securities Losses
Correction, Feb. 12, 2009: The feature originally referred to a branch of the Inter-American Developoment Bank as the Office of Review and Evaluation. The branch, which oversaw a report on the bank's losses, is actually named the Office of Oversight and Evaluation.
Bush Signing Statements Will Retire With Their Author
Correction, Jan. 7, 2009: This post originally identified Louis Fisher as the Congressional Research Service's expert on separation of powers. He is actually an expert on separation of powers with the Law Library of Congress.