Tag Archives: OpenSecrets

This is fascinating. Check out OpenSecrets new Anomaly Tracker tool. By collecting data on lawmakers, donations received by their committees or super PACs, and legislation sponsored, out of the ordinary occurrences can be exposed.

The Anomaly Tracker tool highlights “anomalies” in our money-and-politics data. An anomaly, as we define it here, is an occurrence that is out of the ordinary. It is not necessarily an indication that there is something amiss.

We are tracking six kinds of anomalies here:

1. Lawmakers sponsoring legislation that was lobbied by only one company or other organization whose employees or PAC also donated to the sponsoring lawmakers.
2. Lawmakers receiving twice as much in contributions from their top donors as their next highest donors.
3. Lawmakers receiving twice as much in contributions from their top donor industries as their next highest donor industries.
4. Lawmakers receiving more than 50 percent of their itemized contributions from out of state.
5. More than 50 percent of a committee or candidate’s spending is paid to a single vendor.
6. PACs giving at least $7,500 to a candidate’s Leadership PAC but nothing to the candidate’s committee.

Have a suggestion for a type of anomaly you would like to see or wish to speak to us about this tool? Email us!

via Anomaly Tracker | OpenSecrets.