Special Features

 The relentless expansion of corporate control over our political economy has proven nearly immune to daily reporting by the mainstream media. Corporate crime, fraud and abuse have become like the weather; everyone is talking about the storm but no one seems able to do anything about it. This is largely because expected accountability mechanisms —…

Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger1338 Fourth StSanta Monica, CA 90401-1302October 2, 2003 Dear Mr. Schwarzenegger: Two of your recent public comments raise useful questions about your campaign to the voters of California. Earlier this week you stated before your admirers the following: “Let me just now tell you something, this is now hand-to-hand combat, we are in…

President George W. BushThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NWWashington, D.C. 20500October 2, 2003Dear President Bush,The Republican Party of Texas was instrumental in nominating and electing you to the Governorship of Texas. The state Party also was working to garner the state’s 32 electoral votes in the Presidential election of 2000 without which you could not…

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact: Ralph Nader or Mark Wittink, (202)-387-8034 Congress is close to passing the energy bill. Behind closed doors, corporations, lobbyists, and leadership in both houses are debating a key provision that would shield the producers of MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) from any legal claims that the chemical is “defective in design…

Mr. Warren Buffett Chief Executive Officer Berkshire Hathaway Inc.1440 Kiewit PlazaOmaha, NE 68131 Dear Mr. Buffett: From reports in the media, I have learned that you are keenly interested in investing up to $15 billion in this country’s troubled electric utility sector and that, as a prerequisite to this investment, you and your surrogates advocate…

President George W. BushThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NWWashington, DC 20500 September 4, 2003 Dear President Bush: It has been reported that the savings accruing to your vice president and your cabinet members from the recent legislation reducing taxes (mostly on the wealthy) are substantial. As the attached analysis demonstrates, based on latest financial reports,…

Senator Bill FristU. S. SenateWashington, D.C. 20510 July 9, 2003 Dear Senator Frist: As a graduate of Princeton University and a medical Doctor, you know the meaning of the phrases ” in the nationís service,” and “first, do no harm.” The same physician, who volunteers in Africa to treat patients, is the leader of the…

May 29, 2003 H. Walker Feaster IIIInspector GeneralFederal Communications Commission445 12th Street, S.W.Washington, D.C., 20554 Dear Mr. Feaster: By now you have read in detail, no doubt, what you and your office have sensed. The Center for Public Integrity has assembled from FCC travel records data revealing that industry groups and companies regulated by the…