99 research outputs found
Buying Broadband a Boost: The Information Super Buy-Way?
The federal government and many state governments are making efforts to increase or improve access to broadband internet services. With this attention in the states, communication companies are spending millions of dollars on state campaigns and hiring thousands of state-level lobbyists.Fast FactsThe five communications companies in the report hired 2,609 lobbyists around the country. Again, AT&T and Verizon led the pack, with 1,373 and 868, respectively.The five communications companies this report gave almost evenly to Republican and Democratic candidates across the country. Republicans received 6.8 million. However, the companies gave 3.5 million given to Democratic party committees.California received the most contributions from the five communications companies in the report, by far. Recipients in California got 2.8 million.Of the five communications companies studied, AT&T and Verizon dominated the contributing, giving 10.8 million respectively. Qwest, Embarq, and U.S. Cellular combined for an additional $2.4 million
Liquid Assets? Industry Raised The Bar to Resist Alcohol Taxes
States coping with the budget woes often raise taxes to help cover shortfalls. Frequently, "sin taxes" are among the first to face a potential increase. Businesses in the alcohol trade have responded with familiar tactics, contributing millions of dollars to state political campaigns all over the country.Fast FactsDuring the 2001-2007 period, California political parties and campaigns received 6.6 million.Many states are considering raising taxes on alcohol to help address budget issues. Over the last several years, the alcohol industry gave more than 62.5 million to state political parties and campaigns. Anheuser-Busch and its affiliates led the pack, giving nearly $10 million
Immigration Measures: Support On Both Sides Of The Fence
Immigration issues have inspired hot debates in recent years. This was true in 2008, as four states -- Florida, Missouri, Oregon and Arizona -- had immigrant-related measures on their ballots. Only Oregon and Arizona had committees relating to these ballot measures. Take a look at who supported and who opposed these measures.Fast FactsIn Arizona, committees concerned with a business-backed 2008 ballot measure that would have made changes to the state's laws regarding the hiring of illegal immigrants garnered 1 million of which was raised in support of the measure.The committee supporting Arizona's business-backed Proposition 202 in 2008 raised 1 million total. The committee opposing the measure raised 140,350 total.The committee supporting Arizona's Proposition 202 in 2008, which would have made various changes to the state's laws on the hiring of illegal immigrants, raised more than 879,634 came from the General Business sector, mostly from a $802,634 sum from an organization of business leaders called Wake Up Arizona
Citizens - Expatriation - Denationalization of Naturalized Citizens for Continuous Foreign Residence
Anaerobic degradation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate to 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate by a marine Desulfobacterium strain
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, an osmolyte of marine algae, is thought to be the major precursor of dimethyl sulfide, which plays a dominant role in biogenic sulfur emission. The marine sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfobacterium strain PM4 was found to degrade dimethylsulfoniopropionate to 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate. The oxidation of one of the methyl groups of dimethylsulfoniopropionate was coupled to the reduction of sulfate; this process is similar to the degradation of betaine to dimethylglycine which was described earlier for the same strain. Desulfobacterium PM4 is the first example of an anaerobic marine bacterium that is able to demethylate dimethylsulfoniopropionate.
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