On Monday, the United States Senate began its first serious debate on Campaign Finance Reform in the last decade as it took up the McCain-Feingold bill. Previous efforts to get this seven-year-old bill to the floor had been prevented by Senate procedural moves or by threat of a filibuster. However, the new 50/50 split between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, coupled with the momentum...

Using data from the Federal Election Commission which was compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) (see the July 10, 1999 Scout Report), Mother Jones has put together an eye-opening Website which reveals the nation's top 400 financial political contributors and what they may be expecting for their contributions. Users may browse the list of contributors by industry or individual donor...

The National Institute on Money in State Politics is devoted "to accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased documentation and research on campaign finance at the state level." At the core of the Institute's Website is the Follow the Money database. The extensive, searchable database allows users to determine the names and contribution amounts of specific individuals, businesses, or political interest...

Subtitled "The Online Source for Money in Politics Data," this site from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) (discussed in the April 21, 1998 Scout Report for Social Sciences) hosts an excellent selection of updated information on the money that American politicians raise and spend. The site is comprised of three major sections. The first is the 2000 Presidential Race section, which includes...