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Peter Overby As NPR's correspondent covering campaign finance and lobbying, Peter Overby totes around a business card that reads Power, Money & Influence Correspondent. Some of his lobbyist sources call it the best job title in Washington.
Peter Overby 2010
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Peter Overby

National

Studying Top Defense Contracts

A new report finds the Defense Department now spends half of its entire budget on private contractors. The study also found that the top 50 contractors received more than half of all the money and were more likely to get contracts without competitive bidding. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Study: Half of Pentagon Budget Goes to Contractors

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Three Men with DeLay Ties Indicted in Texas

A Texas grand jury returns indictments against three men with ties to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. The men are charged with raising corporate money and laundering it, then providing it to Republican candidates for the Texas state House of Representatives. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and NPR's Peter Overby. Eight companies, including Sears Roebuck and Cracker Barrell Old Country Store were also indicted. Hear NPR's Peter Overby.

Three Men with DeLay Ties Indicted in Texas

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Law

Campaign Finance Ruling Could Affect 527s

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to NPR's Peter Overby about a set of campaign finance rules struck down over the weekend by a federal judge. The ruling could have implications for the so-called 527 groups that have spent millions of dollars on advertising in this election cycle.

Campaign Finance Ruling Could Affect 527s

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National

Assault Weapons Ban Expires

The 10-year ban on assault weapons expires, despite public opinion polls indicating strong support. President Bush had said he'd sign an extension, but the House's Republican leadership failed to act on renewal, which was strongly opposed by the NRA. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Ten-Year Assault Weapons Ban Expires

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Tom DeLay's Quiet New York Trip

Rep. Tom DeLay is the House Majority Leader and in many minds the most influential Republican in the Congress. He has made his reputation as a strong advocate for his ideas and a matchless fundraiser for candidates and causes. At one time he had planned to make this convention in New York City -- the richest source of political money -- the apogee of his fundraising career. But problems arose, and the man once called "The Hammer," shifted strategies. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Tom DeLay's Quiet New York Trip

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A Beer Lobbyist's Odyssey at the RNC

NPR's Peter Overby profiles David Rehr, a lobbyist for the Beer Wholesalers Association, as he attends the Republican National Convention. Rehr's job is a tough one He's required to spend more time at parties than at the actual convention.

A Beer Lobbyist's Odyssey at the RNC

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Ad Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record

NPR's Peter Overby looks at a new, controversial television advertisement that disparages Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam War record. The ad has made national news because of its claims Kerry didn't earn all his medals -- but is it accurate?

Ad Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record

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Politics

Soros Spending Millions to Defeat Bush

Over the past year, billionaire businessman and philanthropist George Soros has given millions of dollars to progressive groups seeking President Bush's defeat in November. Republicans charge such funding efforts are illegal, but so far, no judge or agency has agreed. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Soros Spending Millions to Defeat Bush

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Campaign Finance Reform, 'Big Money' and Politics

Nothing seems to stop the flow of "big money" into politics -- even campaign finance reform. NPR's Madeleine Brand talks to NPR's Peter Overby about the extraordinary amount of money raised by both President Bush and presumed Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry.

Campaign Finance Reform, 'Big Money' and Politics

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Business

Efforts Intensify to Rein In Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae

The Bush administration is increasing oversight of home-mortgage financial giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which are part public, part private corporations. The move comes amid cries from private financial firms that the two corporations have become too large. Hear NPR's Peter Overby.

Efforts Intensify to Rein In Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae

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Politics

Report: Execs Feel Pressured to Give to Corporate PACS

According to the findings of a survey in CFO Magazine, some executives feel obligated to give personal dollars to their companies' political action committees. The findings rekindle long-standing questions about whether corporate PACs are as voluntary as they're supposed to be. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Report: Execs Feel Pressured to Give to Corporate PACS

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