The Scoop

Richard Read, Janie Har and Bill Graves of the Oregonian used state data to show that “since 2002, [beer and wine] distributors have showered $1.2 million on lawmakers through lobbying and campaign giving … with much of the latter going to legislative leaders and committee chairmen who have the power to pass or kill bills.” The paper previously reported that the distributors’ trade association took several state lawmakers to Hawaii for legislative conferences.