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Sanctioning Corruption in the US Senate
Lisa Rosenberg, Sunlight Foundation

Turning logic on its head, the Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011 embodies the theory that maintaining the secrecy of dark money political contributions made by those seeking huge federal contracts somehow protects the integrity of the contracting process.

Too add to the absurdity of the vote, the bill is a response to a phantom. The bill blocks disclosure that would result from an Executive Order mandating transparency by federal contractors. An Executive Order that was never issued. Ever fearful of disclosure, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Independent Business and their ilk flexed their muscles to preempt any transparency of dark money that has resulted from the Citizens United case.

EricLykins's picture

The list of organizations

The list of organizations that don't want you to know which legislators they have purchased is pretty impressive

60 Plus Association
Aeronautical Repair Station Association
Aerospace Industries Association
Agricultural Retailers Association
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
Air Transport Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
American Apparel & Footwear Association
American Bakers Association
American Business Conference
American Chemistry Council
American Composites Manufacturers Association
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Family Business Institute
American Foundry Society
American Frozen Food Institute
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Insurance Association
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Lighting Association
American Meat Institute
American Moving & Storage Association
American Nursery & Landscape Association
American Petroleum Institute
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
American Supply Association
American Trucking Associations
American Wholesale Marketers Association
Arkansas State Chamber/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AR)
Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association (AZ)
Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.
Associated Builders & Contractors Mid-Tennessee Chapter
Associated Builders & Contractors, Rocky Mountain Chapter
Associated Equipment Distributors
Associated General Contractors
Associated General Contractors of Maine
Associated Industries of Massachusetts (MA)
Associated Wire Rope Fabricators
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (CA)
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Washington Business (WA)
Bismarck Mandan Chamber (ND)
Brick Industry Association
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce (AZ)
Buffalo Niagara Partnership (NY)
Business Coalition for Fair Competition
Business Council of Alabama (AL)
California Association of Health Plans
Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (PA)
Club Managers Association of America
Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
Construction Industry Round Table
Construction Management Association of America
Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services
Edison Electric Institute
El Centro Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (CA)
Financial Executives International
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Food Marketing Institute
Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce (NE)
Georgia Association of Health Plans (GA)
Georgia Chamber of Commerce (GA)
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce (VA)
Healthcare Distribution Management Association
Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International
Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Manufactures Association
Industrial Fasteners Institute
Industrial Supply Association
Inland Pacific Chapter Associated Builders and Contractors
International Dairy Foods Association
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Franchise Association
International Warehouse Logistics Association
ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association
Johnson City, Jonesborough Washington County Chamber of Commerce (TN)
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors
Manufacturer & Business Association (PA)
Marine Retailers Association of America
Metals Service Center Institute
Missouri Chamber of Commerce (MO)
Montana Chamber of Commerce (MT)
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (AL)
Motorcycle Industry Council
National Association of Chemical Distributors
National Association of Electrical Distributors
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
National Automobile Dealers Association
National Beer Wholesalers Association
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Council of Textile Organizations
National Electrical Contractors Association
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Federation of Independent Business
National Grain and Feed Association
National Marine Distributors Association
National Propane Gas Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
National Roofing Contractors Association
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
National Wood Flooring Association
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NE)
North American Die Casting Association
North American Equipment Dealers Association
North Dakota Chamber of Commerce (ND)
Nuclear Energy Institute
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Restaurant Association
Ohio Society of CPAs (OH)
Oshkosh Chamber of Chamber (WI)
Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Association
Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce (CA)
Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PA)
Petroleum Equipment Institute
Pet Food Institute
Portland Cement Association
Public Service Research Council
ReAL Action Network
Regular Folks United
Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce (NV)
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Rubber Manufacturers Association
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce (MD)
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce (PA)
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Southwestern Association (Kansas City, MO)
St George Area Chamber of Commerce (UT)
Tempe Chamber of Commerce (AZ)
Textile Rental Services Association
The Aluminum Association
The Hosiery Association
The Kansas Chamber (KS)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Travel Association
Utah Restaurant Association (UT)
Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce (NJ)
Washington Automotive Wholesalers Association (WA)
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America
Wisconsin Grocers Association
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Wichita Independent Business Association (KS)
Wyoming Stock Growers Association

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