Analysis of pharmaceutical industry campaign contributions from 1999-2018 revealed that the top 40 congressional recipients jointly received $45 million, with 39 serving on committees with health-related legislative jurisdiction—24 in senior positions. Of the top 20 House recipients, 17 served on …
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeFred UptonPharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaPfizerMerckregulatory-capturecampaign-financepharmaceutical-industryhealthcarecongressional-corruption
Congress passes the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, creating the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to bail out major financial institutions. Despite extensive evidence of widespread mortgage fraud, predatory lending, and securities violations that precipitated the crisis, the …
Henry PaulsonGoldman SachsJPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaCitigroup+3 moreinstitutional-capturecorruptionfinancial-crisisbailoutregulatory-capture+2 more
The House of Representatives voted on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (TARP), with senators who supported the $700 billion Wall Street bailout having received an average of $3,986,723 from the financial sector since 1989—39% more than bailout opponents who received an average of $1,671,029. …
The Federal Communications Commission votes 3-2 to punish Comcast for its “surreptitious interference” with BitTorrent uploads, marking the first time any U.S. broadband provider has been found to violate net neutrality principles. The Commission formally adopted an order finding that …
Federal Communications CommissionComcast CorporationElectronic Frontier FoundationKevin Martinnet-neutralityregulatory-capturetelecommunicationsfcccomcast
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS), former Senate Majority Leader, abruptly resigned from the Senate effective 11:30 PM on December 18, 2007, explicitly timing his departure to avoid the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. The new ethics law, taking effect January 1, 2008, would have required a …
The Associated Press publishes a comprehensive investigation revealing that Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company and internet service provider, is secretly interfering with peer-to-peer file sharing applications including BitTorrent by forging network packets to block uploads. The AP …
On May 10, 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to a felony charge of illegally misbranding OxyContin in an effort to mislead and defraud physicians and agreed to pay $600 million—representing approximately 90 percent of OxyContin profits during the offense period. The company admitted to misleading …
Purdue PharmaMichael FriedmanHoward R. UdellPaul D. GoldenheimU.S. Department of Justiceopioid-crisiscorporate-crimeaccountability-failuredeferred-prosecutionregulatory-capture+1 more
President George W. Bush threatened to cast his first presidential veto if Congress blocked Dubai Ports World’s (DPW) acquisition of US port operations, sparking a major national security controversy. The $6.8 billion deal would have given a UAE state-owned company control of cargo terminals …
George W. BushCharles SchumerDubai Ports WorldUAERepublican Congress+2 morepresidential-powercorporate-influenceforeign-policyregulatory-capturenational-security
Documents revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force had met extensively with executives from major oil companies, though chief executives denied involvement when testifying before the Senate Energy and Commerce committees. The revelation exposed how the Energy and Commerce …
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeDick CheneyExxonMobilAmerican Petroleum Instituteregulatory-captureclimate-changeoil-industrylobbyingcongressional-corruption
On October 15, 2005, Dubai Ports World (DPW), a UAE state-owned company, initiated a CFIUS review to acquire British firm P&O’s port management operations, which included six major U.S. ports. The 30-day review process involved 12 government agencies, with the Intelligence Community …
Dubai Ports WorldSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumCFIUSUS Coast GuardP&O+2 moreforeign-investmentnational-securityregulatory-captureintelligence-gapsport-security+1 more
Vice President Cheney’s Energy Task Force recommendations were implemented as EPA environmental policy through executive orders, bypassing Congressional oversight and public comment periods required by the Administrative Procedure Act. Task force members from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other oil …
Dick CheneyEPAExxonMobilChevronEnergy Task Force+2 moremedia-licensing-leveragecorporate-compliance-incentivesregulatory-propaganda-facilitationadministrative-procedure-actenergy-companies+4 more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formally establishes the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, delegating unprecedented safety certification responsibilities to aircraft manufacturers, specifically Boeing. This regulatory capture mechanism expanded the scope of …
Federal Aviation AdministrationBoeing CorporationAircraft manufacturersFAA certification officialsAviation industry lobbyists+2 moreregulatory-capturefaa-boeingself-certificationaviation-safetyinstitutional-capture+1 more
President George W. Bush signed the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) on April 20, 2005, fundamentally weaponizing bankruptcy law against student borrowers while preserving corporate bankruptcy as a strategic tool. The law amended Section 523(a)(8) to make private …
George W. BushMBNASallie Maebankruptcy-lawstudent-debtregulatory-capturefinancial-fraud
Public Citizen released “Congressional Revolving Doors: The Journey from Congress To K Street,” documenting that 43% of U.S. House and Senate lawmakers (86 out of 198) who left office between 1998 and 2004 became registered lobbyists. The report found that 50% of eligible departing …
Public CitizenCongressK Streetrevolving-doorlobbyingcongressional-corruptionregulatory-capture
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) announced that former House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) would become its president and CEO, effective January 2005. The announcement came shortly after Tauzin’s retirement from Congress, where from 2001 …
Billy TauzinPhRMAMedicarerevolving-doorregulatory-capturehealthcarelobbyingcongressional-corruption
FDA epidemiologist Dr. David Graham delivered explosive testimony before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, declaring that ’the FDA, as currently configured, is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx. We are virtually defenseless.’ Graham revealed that his study showed …
Dr. David GrahamFDAMerckU.S. Senate Finance CommitteeGovernment Accountability Projectregulatory-capturefdapharmaceuticalswhistleblowervioxx+2 more
Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), a Koch-funded lobbying organization, splits into two strategic entities. FreedomWorks emerges from a merger with Empower America, while the educational foundation transforms into Americans for Prosperity, enabling the Koch network to expand political influence …
David KochCharles KochDick ArmeyNancy PfotenhauerMatt Kibbe+4 moreregulatory-capturecorporate-influenceastroturf-organizingkoch-networkpolitical-infrastructure+1 more
Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE), the Koch brothers-funded lobbying organization founded in 1984, officially splits into two separate entities following internal strategic disagreements. The 501(c)(4) advocacy activities continue under FreedomWorks (formed through a merger with Empower America), …
David KochCharles KochDick ArmeyRon PaulTim Phillips+4 moreregulatory-capturecorporate-influenceastroturf-organizingkoch-networkpolitical-infrastructure+2 more
The SEC voted to allow five major investment banks (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, and Bear Stearns) to use alternative net capital rules, effectively eliminating previous debt-to-net capital ratio limits. This voluntary program allowed banks to use their own internal …
Securities and Exchange CommissionChristopher CoxWilliam DonaldsonGoldman SachsMorgan Stanley+3 moreregulatory-capturefinancial-crisissecleveragewall-street+1 more
The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act at 5:53 AM after an unprecedented 3-hour vote that House leaders held open for nearly three hours past the normal 15-minute voting period to secure enough votes. The legislation created Medicare …
Billy TauzinHouse Energy and Commerce CommitteePhRMAMedicareregulatory-capturehealthcarepharmaceutical-industrycongressional-corruptionlobbying
The FCC, led by Chairman Michael Powell (son of Secretary of State Colin Powell), votes 3-2 along party lines to dramatically ease media ownership restrictions despite overwhelming public opposition. The new rules would increase the national TV ownership cap from 35% to 45% of U.S. households and …
Michael K. PowellColin PowellGeorge W. BushTrent LottFCC Republican Commissioners+1 moreregulatory-capturefccmedia-consolidationderegulationmichael-powell+1 more
The FCC, led by Chairman Michael Powell (son of Secretary of State Colin Powell), votes 3-2 along party lines to dramatically ease media ownership restrictions despite overwhelming public opposition. The new rules would increase the national TV ownership cap from 35% to 45% of U.S. households and …
Michael K. PowellColin PowellGeorge W. BushTrent LottFCC Republican Commissioners+1 moreregulatory-capturefccmedia-consolidationderegulationmichael-powell+1 more
ExxonMobil significantly expanded its climate denial funding operation in 2003, channeling millions of dollars to a network of think tanks and front groups designed to manufacture doubt about climate science. The oil giant gave £3.5 million ($4.8 million) to climate skeptic organizations in the …
ExxonMobilAmerican Enterprise InstituteCato InstituteMarshall InstituteInternational Policy Network+1 moreclimate-denialdark-moneythink-tank-fundingfossil-fuelsdisinformation+1 more
The White House Iraq Group (WHIG) coordinated an unprecedented media manipulation campaign in September 2002 to build public support for the Iraq War. On September 7-8, 2002, top administration officials including Cheney, Rice, and Rumsfeld appeared on all five major Sunday news programs, delivering …
Dick CheneyCondoleezza RiceDonald RumsfeldRichard MyersRichard Armitage+5 morepropagandawhigcorporate-contractor-relationshipspermanent-capture-infrastructurerevolving-door-institutionalization+11 more
CNN executives Walter Isaacson and Eason Jordan met with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and White House communications director Karen Hughes to discuss network coverage of the administration’s Iraq policy. Internal CNN memos later revealed that Isaacson instructed staff to …
Walter IsaacsonEason JordanCondoleezza RiceKaren HughesCNNpropagandawhigiraq-warcorporate-contractor-relationshipspermanent-capture-infrastructure+10 more
Enron filed for bankruptcy after a series of meetings between its executives, Vice President Dick Cheney, and the National Energy Policy Development Group. The bankruptcy exposed massive corporate fraud, with the company having claimed $101 billion in revenues but ultimately collapsing due to …
Dick CheneyKenneth LayJeffrey SkillingAndrew Fastowcorporate-fraudenergy-policybankruptcyregulatory-capturewhite-collar-crime
The Department of Justice reached a settlement with Microsoft that effectively abandoned meaningful antitrust enforcement, despite a federal judge finding Microsoft guilty of monopolistic practices. The Bush administration’s DOJ retreated from the Clinton administration’s plan to break …
Microsoft CorporationBill GatesSteve BallmerDepartment of JusticeBush Administration+2 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustmicrosoftdoj+2 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy, revealing extensive incorporation of Enron’s recommendations. Analysis shows the task force adopted “all or significant portions” of Enron’s recommendations in seven of eight policy areas, with at least 17 policies …
Dick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnronKenneth LayNational Energy Policy Development Group+1 moreenronenergy-policycorporate-captureregulatory-capturecorruption+1 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy report developed by Cheney’s Energy Task Force, containing 105 recommendations that overwhelmingly favor fossil fuel industries while giving minimal attention to renewable energy. The report recommends opening the Arctic National …
George W. BushDick CheneyNational Energy Policy Development GroupExxonMobilShell Oil+6 moreenergy-policycorporate-captureoil-industrycheney-task-forceregulatory-capture+3 more
Enron CEO Kenneth Lay met privately with Vice President Dick Cheney during a pivotal Energy Task Force meeting, presenting corporate recommendations that would significantly shape U.S. energy policy. Out of eight policy areas, seventeen Enron-favorable policies were adopted, including federal …
Kenneth LayDick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnron Corporationenronenergy-policycorporate-influencedick-cheneyregulatory-capture+1 more
On April 17, 2001, Enron CEO Kenneth Lay met with Vice President Dick Cheney and his National Energy Policy Development Group (Energy Task Force), presenting a three-page “wish list” of corporate energy policy recommendations. This meeting was one of at least six interactions between …
Kenneth LayDick CheneyEnronNational Energy Policy Development GroupGeorge W. Bush+1 moreenroncheneyenergy-task-forcecorporate-capturecorruption+2 more
Vice President Dick Cheney initiated secret meetings of the National Energy Policy Development Group, systematically involving Enron executives like Kenneth Lay while excluding environmental groups. Between late January and April 2001, the task force held at least 40 meetings with energy industry …
Dick CheneyKenneth LayGeorge W. Bushenergy-policycorporate-capturecheneyenronregulatory-capture+1 more
The Federal Communications Commission approves Viacom’s $35.6 billion acquisition of CBS Corporation despite the merger violating FCC regulations prohibiting one company from owning television stations reaching more than 35% of the U.S. audience and prohibiting ownership of two networks if one …
ViacomCBS CorporationSumner RedstoneMel KarmazinFCC Federal Communications Commissionmedia-consolidationtelecommunicationsmergerfccderegulation+2 more
By the year 2000, sophisticated legal strategies emerge revealing how corporate political action committees (PACs) systematically exploit legal loopholes from the Buckley v. Valeo Supreme Court decision. Wealthy donors and industry actors develop intricate mechanisms to circumvent campaign finance …
Corporate PAC StrategistsCampaign Finance LawyersPolitical Fundraising ExpertsSupreme Court Justicesregulatory-captureinstitutional-corruptioncampaign-financesupreme-courtpolitical-spending+1 more
President Clinton signs the Financial Services Modernization Act (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act), officially repealing key provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 that separated commercial and investment banking. The law retroactively legalizes the 1998 Citicorp-Travelers merger that created …
President Bill ClintonPhil GrammJim LeachThomas Bliley JrCitigroup+2 moregramm-leach-blileyglass-steagall-repealfinancial-deregulationcitigroupregulatory-capture+1 more
The President’s Working Group on Financial Markets issues a unanimous report recommending that over-the-counter derivatives be explicitly exempted from federal regulation, directly repudiating CFTC Chair Brooksley Born’s 1998 warnings about systemic risk. The report is signed by Treasury …
Lawrence SummersRobert RubinAlan GreenspanArthur LevittBill Rainer+1 morederivativesderegulationcfmafinancial-crisisregulatory-capture+2 more
Robert Rubin joins Citigroup just four months after leaving his position as Treasury Secretary, shortly after the November 1999 passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that repealed Glass-Steagall. Rubin’s move to Citigroup - the principal beneficiary of Glass-Steagall repeal - represents one of …
Robert RubinCitigroupSandy WeillGoldman SachsTreasury Departmentrevolving-doorcitigroupglass-steagallcorruptionregulatory-capture+2 more
The U.S. Senate confirms Lawrence Summers as the 71st Secretary of the Treasury, replacing Robert Rubin and continuing the aggressive deregulation agenda. Summers had spent the previous year as Deputy Secretary orchestrating opposition to derivatives regulation, including making an “irate …
Lawrence SummersBill ClintonRobert RubinU.S. SenateWall Street Derivatives Dealerstreasuryderivativesderegulationrevolving-doorfinancial-crisis+2 more
Time Magazine publishes its February 15, 1999 edition featuring Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Deputy Secretary Lawrence Summers, and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan on the cover as “The Committee to Save the World,” celebrating their management of the 1997-1998 Asian and …
Robert RubinLawrence SummersAlan GreenspanTime MagazineBrooksley Bornderivativesderegulationfinancial-crisismedia-propagandaregulatory-capture+2 more
A pivotal moment in the K Street Project’s systematic transformation of Washington’s lobbying ecosystem, where Republican leadership demonstrated its power to coerce and control industry associations by punishing the Electronic Industries Alliance for hiring a Democratic congressman, …
Tom DeLayNewt GingrichDave McCurdyBill PaxonElectronic Industries Alliance+2 moreregulatory-capturecorporate-coercionpolitical-blacklistinglobbying-controlpartisan-infrastructure
CFTC Chair Brooksley Born issued a concept release seeking public comment on regulating the $29 trillion over-the-counter derivatives market, warning of systemic risks from unregulated trading. Within hours, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and SEC Chairman …
Brooksley BornRobert RubinLawrence SummersAlan GreenspanArthur Levittderivativescftcregulatory-capturefinancial-crisissystemic-risk+2 more
Koch Family Foundations began systematic funding of climate science denial and clean energy opposition, eventually spending $145,555,197 directly financing 90 groups attacking climate science and policy solutions from 1997-2018. The Koch network funneled $127,006,756 to 92 organizations from …
Koch IndustriesCharles KochDavid KochKoch Family FoundationsCato Institute+4 moreclimate-denialregulatory-capturefossil-fuelsthink-tank-fundingpolitical-influence
In 1997 and 1998, the banking, insurance, and securities industries spend over $300 million to advance financial deregulation, including $58 million in direct campaign contributions to Democratic and Republican candidates, $87 million in soft money contributions to both parties, and $163 million on …
Banking IndustryInsurance IndustrySecurities IndustryDemocratic PartyRepublican Party+1 morecampaign-financelobbyingfinancial-deregulationglass-steagallcorruption+2 more
President Bill Clinton signs the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major overhaul of U.S. telecommunications law in over 60 years. While ostensibly designed to promote competition by allowing ‘anyone to enter any communications business,’ the act was heavily influenced by …
Bill ClintonTelecommunications Industry LobbyistsClear Channel CommunicationsViacomCorporate Media Lobbies+1 moreregulatory-capturetelecommunicationsderegulationmedia-consolidationcorporate-lobbying+2 more
President Bill Clinton signs the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major overhaul of U.S. telecommunications law in over 60 years. While ostensibly designed to promote competition by allowing ‘anyone to enter any communications business,’ the act was heavily influenced by …
Bill ClintonTelecommunications Industry LobbyistsClear Channel CommunicationsViacomCorporate Media Lobbies+1 moreregulatory-capturetelecommunicationsderegulationmedia-consolidationcorporate-lobbying+1 more
Purdue Pharma launched the most aggressive marketing campaign ever undertaken for a narcotic drug, introducing OxyContin with false claims about addiction risk. At the 1996 launch party, Dr. Richard Sackler predicted the debut would “be followed by a blizzard of prescriptions that will bury …
Jack Abramoff, working for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, successfully mobilized a network including Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform and House Majority Whip Tom DeLay to defeat a Congressional bill that would have imposed unrelated business income tax (UBIT) on Native …
Jack AbramoffGrover NorquistTom DeLayRalph ReedBill Archer+2 morelobbying-corruptionregulatory-capturepolitical-corruptionnative-american-affairstax-policy
The FDA approved Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin application, including a scientifically unsubstantiated claim that delayed absorption ‘is believed to reduce the abuse liability of a drug.’ This approval occurred without clinical trials to prove the safety claim and marked the beginning …
FDAPurdue PharmaDr. Curtis WrightSackler Familyregulatory-capturefdapharmaceuticalsopioid-crisisrevolving-door+1 more
In a landmark case of regulatory capture, Dr. Curtis Wright IV, leading the FDA’s Division of Anesthetic, Critical Care, and Addiction Drug Products, approved OxyContin with controversial language that misrepresented the drug’s addictive potential. Wright held private meetings with …
Curtis Wright IVPurdue PharmaFood and Drug AdministrationDivision of Anesthetic, Critical Care, and Addiction Drug ProductsDepartment of Justiceregulatory-capturepharmaceutical-industryopioid-crisisfda-corruptionpublic-health
Robert E. Rubin was sworn in as the 70th Secretary of the Treasury, bringing Wall Street directly into the highest levels of economic policymaking. Rubin had spent 26 years at Goldman Sachs, rising to co-chairman from 1990-1992, before joining the Clinton administration as director of the National …
Robert RubinBill ClintonGoldman Sachsrevolving-doorgoldman-sachstreasuryfinancial-deregulationregulatory-capture