[link removed] [[link removed]] SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
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Rep. Troy Nehls, who built a career on ‘law and order,’ is in violation of financial disclosure requirements
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Republican Rep. Troy Nehls’ political persona is built on his tenure as sheriff [[link removed]] of Fort Bend County, Texas, and his commitment in Washington to “ law and order [[link removed]] .”
But, Dave Levinthal reports , it appears Nehls is violating a federal transparency law by failing to publicly disclose his personal finances — a requirement of every member of Congress.
On May 13, Nehls requested a 90-day extension [[link removed]] for filing his annual financial disclosure report. The House Ethics Committee granted his request, noting that his disclosure “must be filed on or before Aug. 13.” But as of today, Nehls’ report does not appear in the House of Representatives’ financial disclosure database.
Nehls’ congressional office did not respond to several messages left by phone and email. Representatives for the Ethics Committee also did not respond to an inquiry.
Maggie Westerman of the Office of the Clerk of the House, which processes federal lawmakers’ financial disclosure reports, said in an email to OpenSecrets that “all successfully filed electronic reports are posted to the Clerk’s website the next business day.” Asked about Nehls’ report, specifically, she referred questions back to the congressman’s office and the Ethics Committee.
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Convening Civic Leaders for Action
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The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) is where organizations, leaders, and changemakers come together to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and build the relationships necessary to strengthen civic life. This year’s theme, Building Civic Resilience, focuses on how communities can navigate transformation and sustain engagement. OpenSecrets is a partner and will be in attendance!
Join us on September 16, 2025, at Planet Word Museum in Washington, D.C., to:
* Connect with practitioners tackling today’s civic challenges.
* Discover proven strategies for building resilient civic infrastructure.
* Share your community’s innovations and learn from others.
* Form partnerships that strengthen civic engagement across sectors.
* Access tools and resources to navigate institutional change with confidence.
Follow the conversation at #NCoC2025 | #BuildingCivicResilience
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Follow the money behind the guns debate
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Mass shootings are often quickly politicized as lawmakers and members of the public alike grapple with how to address senseless gun violence. But organizations on both sides of the issue have been working in Washington for decades, contributing to political gridlock that was eventually broken in June 2022 with passage of the bipartisan gun safety bill [[link removed]] . Three years later, that law remains the most recently enacted gun safety legislation. The most significant change since then was the elimination of a $200 tax on gun silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, a provision included in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” [[link removed]]
While there has not been a lot of legislative activity, the balance between gun rights and public safety has been a political hot potato for years. Prominent gun rights organizations consistently spend millions more on lobbying than their gun control counterparts, according to OpenSecrets data, contributing to decades-long stalemate.
Bar graph showing Intel's lobbying spending by year since 2008 [[link removed]]
Read the Full Report [[link removed]]
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Dive in to Donor Lookup
Want to know who’s funding the candidates and causes shaping our democracy? With OpenSecrets.org’s Donor Lookup [[link removed]] , you can quickly and easily:
* Search millions of federal campaign contributions by name, employer, or location.
* See who’s giving to which candidates, parties and PACs.
* Explore patterns of political giving that help explain the forces behind elections.
Whether you’re a concerned voter, journalist, researcher, or just a curious citizen, Donor Lookup puts transparency at your fingertips.
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What else we're reading
Arizonans said 'no' to secret political donations. They could be overruled [[link removed]] (Arizona Republic )
Universities targeted by Trump have more than doubled their spending on lobbying in the last year [[link removed]] (New York Post)
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban Fails in Texas House Special Session [[link removed]] (The Texan)
Trump helps pad JD Vance's political fund as questions about 2028 loom [[link removed]] (NBC News)
OpenSecrets in the News
See our media citations from outlets around the nation this week:
Ken Griffin, Republican Megadonor, Is Wall Street’s Loudest Trump Critic [[link removed]] (The Wall Street Journal)
Trump has reason to be diplomatic in his approach with Griffin as the GOP looks to the midterm elections. The hedge-fund titan was the nation’s fifth-biggest donor in the 2024 election cycle, according to the nonpartisan OpenSecrets watchdog group, and he is expected to play a big role again in 2026. The $107 million Griffin gave in the last election cycle was just a bit more than a third contributed by top-donor Elon Musk.
Rep. Luna's investment in a donor's energy firm illustrates potential limits of a stock trading ban [[link removed]] (NBC News)
He is based in the St. Petersburg, Florida, area, which is in Luna’s district, and has donated more than $30,000 to Luna’s campaigns and her super PAC, called APL PAC, since 2020, according to the site OpenSecrets. He has also been a frequent donor to members of the House Freedom Caucus, which Luna previously belonged to, and has also donated to Trump.
Push to ban stock trading by Congress follows IL rep’s reported violations [[link removed]] (The Center Square)
OpenSecrets revealed on August 26 that Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Chicago, was weeks late in disclosing 31 stock trades made by his wife earlier this year.
Major Trump Donor Found in Epstein's 'Black Book'—Thomas Massie [[link removed]] (Newsweek)
Paulson is a known longtime ally of Trump's and a major donor to his campaign and the Republican Party. In 2024 alone, Paulson donated $763,800 to Republicans, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks money in U.S. politics. This number was even higher in 2020, when he donated $1.26 million to Republicans.
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The OpenSecrets merch store is here!
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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the OpenSecrets Merch Store [[link removed]] ! Now, you can support our mission while looking good doing it. Every purchase helps us provide comprehensive and reliable data, analysis and tools for policymakers, storytellers and citizens.
Our collection — initially featuring a hoodie, crewneck, t-shirt and hat — is designed to spread awareness and make a difference. Whether you're treating yourself or finding the perfect gift, every item you buy helps fuel our cause. And every item in our store was manufactured by a certified ethical and “sweat-free” company.
Join us in wearing your support — transparency has never been more comfortable!
Shop Now [[link removed]]
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