Research Cited

Pesticide-Friendly Bill from LePage Mirrors Model by Secretive National Group

Source: Portland Press Herald | Published: 5/9/2017

Arn Pearson, general counsel of the Wisconsin-based Center for Media and Democracy, a nonprofit that scrutinizes ALEC, says the group’s corporate members fear that local ordinances might become precedents for statewide policies. “ALEC is a Republican operation,” Pearson said, “and now that the Republicans have control over the majority of states, they have been turning very aggressively to strip municipalities – which often have more Democratic control – of their ability to pass local laws.”

Deputy General Counsel Had Industry Clients

Environment

Source: E&E News | Published: 5/8/2017

Nick Surgey, director of research at the Center for Media and Democracy, a liberal-leaning watchdog group, questioned whether Schwab has recused himself from matters involving his past clients.

“As deputy general counsel at the EPA, Schwab has no excuse for not knowing how to complete a form,” Surgey said. “His failure to list past legal clients raises serious questions about whether he has appropriately recused himself from those clients’ ongoing interests at EPA.”

Chicago Resurrects EPA’s Climate Change Website

Climate, Democracy, Environment

Source: E&E News | Published: 5/8/2017

The Center for Biological Diversity, the Center for Media and Democracy and scientist Stuart Pimm have launched what they called a “novel legal strategy” to challenge the moves.

They say that under a provision of the Freedom of Information Act added in 2016, federal agencies must publicly post records when they are requested three or more times. So they each filed similar requests for climate change information from EPA as well as multiple agencies within the Interior Department.

“Scrubbing information about climate change will not make it any less dangerous,” said Amy Atwood, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement last week. “We’re going to fight the Trump administration’s efforts to bury the science showing the dangerous impacts of climate change at every turn.”

Hacked Records Show Bradley Foundation Taking Its Conservative Wisconsin Model National

Bradley Files

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Published: 5/5/2017

“This has been a long-term investment for the Bradley Foundation, but it paid off when Walker succeeded in dismantling public sector unions in 2011,” said Mary Bottari of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy, which appears on the Bradley Foundation’s enemies list. “Once you have gutted out the opposition, you can continue to win on issue after issue because you have made yourself the only game in town.”

…

An internal Bradley document compiles a list of 17 liberal organizations that “attack groups and people helping the Foundation further its mission” — an enemies list, of sorts. Making the list were two Wisconsin groups, One Wisconsin Now and the Center for Media and Democracy, and a host of national ones, including Media Matters for America, Democracy Alliance and Open Society.

The Bradley Foundation ‘Enemy List’

Bradley Files

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Published: 5/5/2017

In August 2014, the board of the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation asked for a list of “organizations that attack groups and people helping the Foundation further its mission” so it could determine ways “to mitigate the damage they do.” In response, a veteran staffer compiled a list of 17 liberal organizations, including two in Wisconsin — the Center for Media and Democracy and One Wisconsin Now.

Trump Administration Continues Attack on Science, Scrubs Data on Climate Change from Interior Department Websites (Press Release)

Climate, Environment, Trump

Source: Center for Biological Diversity | Published: 5/4/2017

As the Trump administration continues to censor science, the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Media and Democracy and scientist Dr. Stuart Pimm today launched a novel legal strategy to force the Department of the Interior to restore climate change information that was deleted from the agency’s website.

Bill Seeks to Restrict Maine Towns’ Efforts to Build High-Speed Internet Networks

ALEC

Source: Portland Press Herald | Published: 5/2/2017

“It’s a pretty bald exercise of power to prevent municipalities from being able to provide the kind of service their citizens want,” Arn Pearson, general counsel for the Center for Media and Democracy, a Madison, Wisconsin-based organization that closely tracks ALEC, said in an interview. “The reason why municipalities do broadband is typically because the private sector doesn’t see enough money-making opportunity in that community to provide the service people need.”

Wading into the Swamp: Member Telebriefing on Trump’s First 100 Days

Democracy, Trump

Source: People For the American Way | Published: 5/2/2017

Arn Pearson, PFAW Senior Fellow said “Trump’s record in terms of ethics and corruption in the first 100 days is as remarkable as it is depressing.” Pearson gave historical context for the magnitude of the political swamp that Trump has created. Although, according to Pearson, “these issues around integrity in our government were central to the forming of our Constitution” we have ended up with the “least ethical and most secretive president in modern history.”

Koch Industries Involved in Pruitt’s Confirmation

Climate, Environment, Koch

Source: E&E News | Published: 4/26/2017

The Center for Media and Democracy, along with The Intercept, first reported the Koch filings yesterday. CMD is in the midst of a legal battle with Pruitt for the release of his email correspondence with members of the oil and gas industry during his term as state attorney general.

“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation was publicly supported by many groups that are financed by the Koch brothers,” said Nick Surgey, research director at CMD. “The Kochs can surely not believe their luck to have one of their own at the EPA, taking a wrecking ball to environmental protections they have spent millions of dollars trying to destroy.”

Pruitt Likely to Bow Out of Fundraising Gala over Legal Concerns

Climate, Environment

Source: Bloomberg BNA | Published: 4/26/2017

“As Oklahoma Attorney General, Pruitt used his position to peddle the agendas of oil and gas companies. Now, not even three months into his tenure as head of the EPA, he appears to be violating ethics laws,” Nick Surgey, research director of the Center for Media and Democracy, said in a statement. Surgey’s group is still litigating the disclosure of Pruitt’s email correspondence with the fossil fuel industry as attorney general.