2017 - Checks and Balances Project

Coal CEO Murray Caught Lying About Seeking Welfare Check From Taxpayers

2017-12-15

In These Times Photos Show Secret Meeting with Energy Sec. Rick Perry, Though Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray Later Claimed “No Involvement” in Coal Bailout

Mortgage Broker Boasted of Access to Kern County Board Chair Before He Voted to Kill PACE

2017-12-6

If Kern County CA responded to our records request accurately, then the only record of Zack Scrivner actively seeking information about PACE was from Tammy Engel.

Koch Denounces Thanksgiving Subsidies While Accepting $422 Million from States and Localities

2017-12-1

The Charles Koch Institute posted to Facebook about how Thanksgiving is a subsidized holiday. Yet Koch Industries and its subsidiaries have accepted 230 awards worth $422 million from states and localities – the majority since 2010 – plus 78 more with undisclosed amounts.

Checks and Balances Project Seeks State Probe of Ridgecrest CA Mayor’s Potential Financial Conflicts

2017-11-20

Our complaint to Calif. Fair Political Practices Commission Asks for Investigation of Mayor Peggy Breeden After City Attorney Ignores Questions

Ridgecrest City Attorney Claims Mayor Breeden Isn’t Conflicted, But Won’t Give Reasons Why

2017-11-9

Possible Financial Conflict of Interest in PACE Vote Raises Questions In the eight years we’ve been asking questions about the ethical conduct of dozens of government officials and the influence of lobbyists and corporate managers, we’ve never come across a response quite like the one we received on October 30, 2017, from City of Ridgecrest’s… Read more »

National Assoc of Realtors Lobbyist Jeanne Radsick Misstates Facts About PACE to Taft CA City Council

2017-11-2

Ms. Radsick likes to refer to herself as a “local realtor” when she lobbies government officials. But, in fact, she is a director of the National Association of Realtors and the California Association of Realtors.

Documents Raise Questions About Intent of Hedge Fund Pushing ITC Solar Case

2017-10-31

Saving American jobs? Billing records from the lawyers working for the hedge fund that own the failed companies show there has been active consideration of permanent bankruptcy.

5 Facts About Mike Pence and the Koch Bros. Not Included in Jane Mayer’s New Yorker Article

2017-10-20

The U.S. is fixated on Trump. But the Koch Brothers are getting stronger. Through Mike Pence they’re preparing to take over of the federal government.

Checks and Balances Project Moves to Discovery Phase in Lawsuits on Bakersfield “Political Cover” Scandal

2017-10-13

Despite Mounting Evidence of Collusion with Bakersfield Realtor Lobbyists, City and County Attorneys Withhold Documents and Electronic Communications.

Major Bloomberg Story Is Reminder of Unanswered Questions about National Black Chamber

2017-09-20

A new investigative report by Bloomberg News shines a light on the myriad other stances that the National Black Chamber of Commerce has taken on behalf of its deep-pocketed, entrenched donors.

Yearly Archives: 2017