If you opened your eyes today you're probably aware that the Supreme Court upheld the landmark health care reform law passed as the Affordable Care Act and known as ObamaCare. This comes after a massive spending spree on lobbying and both advocacy and political advertising by organizations on both sides of the law. HuffPost reports, "Since 2009, there have been 1,246 different organizations that have registered to lobby Congress or the executive branch on the Affordable Care Act, according tothe Center for Responsive Politics. That is nearly three organizations per member of Congress. Groups lobbying on issue spent $1.06 billion in 2009 and 2010, when the bill was before Congress, according to a 2011 CNN report. The groups that filed briefs with the Supreme Court on the health care case spent $126 million lobbying in 2011, according to a report from the Sunlight Foundation. That amount covers all lobbying, including issues other than the health reform law. Since the health care bill was signed into law, groups trying to influence public perception of the law spent $262 million on television advertisements, according to a report from Kantar Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG)released in March 2012. Critics of the bill vastly outspent supporters, $204 million to $57.9 million."
Here's some links to some old stories on the lobbying around the health care law, both during inception and after the president signed it into law: CBS, HuffPost, Washington Post, Sunlight Foundation, Politico, Forbes, Center for Public Integrity, Sunlight Foundation, Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Sunlight Foundation, and Business Week.
Immediately following the Court ruling, the Koch-funded group Americans for Prosperity announced a $9 million ad blitz to oppose both the ruling and the law.
Mitt Romney has been raising money off of the ruling and has pulled in more than $2 million, according to tweets from press secretary Andrea Saul. The Obama campaign has not sent out a fundraising appeal today and told HuffPost that they will not be discussing fundraising details.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Internal Revenue Service has opened an inquiry into the tax exempt status of the Karl Rove-linked nonprofit Crossroads GPS, "The Internal Revenue Service is taking initial steps to examine whether Crossroads GPS, a pro-Republican group affiliated with Karl Rove, and similar political entities are violating their tax-exempt status by spending too much on partisan activities. The review, which could last for years and is unlikely to be concluded before the November election, could ultimately force many of the political groups to disclose the names of their donors for the first time. At issue is whether political entities set up as 501(c)4 organizations are violating their tax-exempt status by spending too much on partisan politics rather than promoting a benefit to the community, the purpose of the tax exemption."
The Fourth Circuit Court today upheld the ban on direct corporate contributions to candidates.
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm explains another reason to hate Citizens United.
Natural gas companies are pumping money into the political scene in Pennsylvania as fracking booms in the state, according to iWatch News.
Where are all the female political donors?
The Center for Responsive Politics' Bob Biersack tries to make sense of last week's campaign finance filings.
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Committee: Mitt Romney for President
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Day One, Job One: #FullRepeal"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Republican National Committee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "The Final Verdict"
Spot (Spanish Language): "La Decision Final"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Priorities USA Action
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Briefcase"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Spot: "Change Delivered: The Road to Health Care Reform"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Jeff Flake for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Richard Carmona
Spot: "Liberal Richard Carmona thinks Obamacare was 'Brave'"
Market: Arizona.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: David Dewhurst for Senate
Spot: "Repeal Obamacare"
Market: Texas.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Denny Rehberg for Senate
Spot: "Palden"
Market: Montana.
Buy: Undisclosed.
TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING:
These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.
Presidential Race:
Mitt Romney (R), $7,327,516 to support, $17,282,287 to oppose. (Oppose: +$99,136)
Barack Obama (D), $747,351 to support, $9,212,553 to oppose. (Oppose: +$14,357)
Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $863,794 to support, $2,325,821 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $536,126 to support, $2,481,715 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,442,961 to support, $1,280,052 to oppose.
OH-SEN: Josh Mandel (R), $157,924 to support, $1,739,326 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Dick Lugar (R), $208,628 to support, $1,671,841 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Club for Growth Action, $199,913 to support Scott Keadle for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District.
Club for Growth Action, $199,914 to oppose Richard Hudson for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District.
American Crossroads, $180,195 to support Heather Wilson for Senate in New Mexico.
National Right to Life Victory Fund, $10,493 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama, $3,864 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Priorities USA Action, $99,136 to oppose Mitt Romney for President.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Iron Mountain Incorporated Employees PAC, Boston, Mass., Treasurer: Paul Butler.
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