Search for: Search SUPPORT IRW INVESTIGATIONS NEWS BLOG ABOUT IRW BANKTRACKER SEARCH News Loopholes keep voters in the dark in Japan Japan will hold a general election this fall in the midst of persistent controversy over politics and money. But, as in past elections, it’s unlikely to be resolved as the government and politicians in question, including former ministers, are reluctant to talk about issues such as opaque money that may have influenced policy making. FEC takes shape under Hays’ watchful eyes If you were a Congressman in the early 1970s, you were probably scared of the late Rep. Wayne Hays (D-Ohio). You definitely hated him. His dominance in Congress has had lasting effects on how elections are monitored today. FEC debates deadlocks and dismissals Since its founding in 1974, the Federal Election Commission has long been regarded as an ineffective agency, garnering criticism as a “toothless tiger” or a “tightly leashed watchdog.” What is the FEC? Following the Watergate scandal, Congress introduced the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in an amendment to existing campaign finance regulations. An independent agency that would enforce campaign finance law, the FEC officially opened for business in April 1975. Commissioners linger in ‘holdover’ status In 1997, the Treasury and Government Appropriations Act mandated that FEC commissioners may serve a single six-year term, with no opportunity for reappointment. When a commissioner’s term expires, they may choose to continue serving in holdover status until they are replaced. Currently, three out of the six commissioners are in holdover status. Was campaign finance an issue in George Washington’s day? When transparency, regulation and accountability were mostly aspirational. The long road for nursing-home legalization in the Ohio statehouse This story from the Investigative Reporting Workshop was produced in collaboration with Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join Eye on Ohio’s free mailing list as this helps us provide more public-service reporting. As Ohio grapples with the highest number of State Tested Nurse Aides (STNAs) shortages in the country … Continue reading “The long road for nursing-home legalization in the Ohio statehouse” U.S. leaves Afghanistan, but military presence remains nearby Despite removing bases and troops from Afghanistan, a huge U.S. military presence remains Millions flee during 20-year war on terror Author David Vine and a team from Brown University’s Watson Institute examine the displacement caused by the United States’ post-9/11 wars. Includes August 2021 updates. Maine nursing homes: full list Read the full story about Maine nursing homes coping with staff shortages. Posts navigation Page 1 Page 2 … Page 13 Next page TOP NEWS AND INVESTIGATIONS ‘Dying in silence’ Damage doesn’t dim CEO pay New laws reveal dark path for Afghan media FEC stuck on the sidelines MORE NEWS | MORE INVESTIGATIONS FOLLOW US Sign up for IRW newsletters & alerts Submit OUR PARTNERS The Washington Post When Cops Are Fired: How one attorney forces police chiefs to rehire dismissed officers. Frontline Where does plastic go? Plastics industry insiders reveal the truth about recycling. NPR Blackout in Puerto Rico: Examining the federal response to the humanitarian and economic crises in Puerto Rico. inewsource The New Americans: How San Diego grapples with educating refugees. SPECIAL PROJECTS 1 billion records and counting: The Accountability Project reaches new milestone Two years after going live, TAP hits a major milestone. Site showcases powerful stories and the reporters behind them Investigating Power is a history of breakthrough investigations that revealed news and changed the national narrative on many major topics since the 1950s, from war to health to civil rights. How Trump is shaping immigration policy An interactive timeline examines President Trump’s use of executive orders to restrict access to the U.S. The Opioid Epidemic In April 2016, at the height of the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history, Congress effectively stripped the Drug Enforcement Administration of its most potent weapon against large drug companies suspected of spilling prescription narcotics onto the nation’s streets. Legal Privacy Policy Publish Our Stories Contact IRW INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING WORKSHOP 4400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. NW WASHINGTON, D.C. 20016-8017 © 2008-2021 Investigative Reporting Workshop