By summarizing the political contributions and business practices of hundreds of corporations, this handy directory helps you support companies that share your political values.

Follow your money; you might be surprised. The Blue Pages includes valuable information on political contributions to each major party, employee benefits and labor practices, lawsuits and investigations, and community and charitable programs. As this information starts to affect these companies at the cash register, they may be less inclined to support positions that conflict with their customers’ values.

The Blue Pages organizes companies alphabetically into 13 sectors, making it easy to find a particular product or service. A complete index allows you to find companies and brands even more quickly.

Using this Zagat-style pocket reference, you can be conscientious about something you do every day – shop. Slim and portable, The Blue Pages is easy to put in a backpack or purse. It also makes a wonderful gift for activist friends and committed shoppers.

Angie Crouse is a political campaign consultant and researcher. She was the managing editor for The Great Divide: Retro vs. Metro America by John Sperling et, al., and researched Joe Conason’s The Raw Deal. She currently resides in Tempe, Arizona.

The Center for Responsive Politics is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington, DC, that tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The center conducts computer-based research on campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and the public at large. Its work is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more responsive government.

“I was riveted as I looked through it. It is a wonderful reference and I am looking forward to using it.”
—Governor Howard Dean, M.D., Chairman Democratic National Committee

“Thanks to The Blue Pages I now stay with Hyatt (not Marriott), buy my office supplies at Staples (not Office Depot), stopped eating Sara Lee, and drink more Starbucks!”
—Jon Elliott, The Jon Elliott Show

“The Blue Pages should be on the desk of every citizen who believes that corporations have too much power in our society and it is we, the citizens, who must take responsibility for rectifying this abuse of power.”
—Kevin Danaher, co-founder, Global Exchange

“This is a handy and practical guide — for shoppers, researchers, and all-around citizens of the world. If you want to look behind the chirpy ads and slick packaging of America’s major corporations, “This is a handy and practical guide — for shoppers, researchers, and all-around citizens of the world. If you want to look behind the chirpy ads and slick packaging of America’s major corporations, The Blue Pages can help you get your bearings before you spend. For many corporate hucksters, our ignorance is their bliss — but hopefully not for long. Let the seller beware!”
—Norman Solomon, author Made Love, Got War

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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YOU’LL NEVER SHOP THE SAME WAY AGAIN
Practice activism while shopping with the new edition of The Blue Pages

Sausalito, CA—In the current political climate of open dialogue and working toward change, along comes the second edition of an invaluable resource that allows consumers to vote with their wallets—The Blue Pages: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices by Angie Crouse and The Center for Responsive Politics (PoliPointPress, November 2, 2009).

This bestselling pocket directory details the political contributions and practices of close to 5000 companies, 10 percent more than the first edition. Businesses are organized alphabetically into 13 sectors covering everything from cars, clothes, computers, insurance, financial, food and beverage, health and beauty, home and garden, media and entertainment, telecommunications and Internet, and travel and leisure. Each entry describes unique features of companies’ business practices that may include charitable causes, social programs, labor practices, domestic partner and child-care benefits, nondiscrimination policies, and treatment of disabled employees.

New to The Blue Pages, Second Edition is the reporting of corporate lobbying expenditures, which in 2008 came to $3.3 billion. Additionally, the new edition expands listings with environmental policies and practices of the companies tracked. Each sector overview opens with commentary from an expert in the field.

Brimming with current and often surprising information, The Blue Pages will appeal to consumers regardless of political leaning. Here’s just a sample of the information found in The Blue Pages, Second Edition:

• AT&T, Inc—Total contributions to Republican Party: $2,875,123; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $2,531,482; Lobby Spending: $32,214,784;

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield— Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,666,331; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $1,543,570; Lobby Spending: $25,586,969;

• Citigroup, Inc.– Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,912,313; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $3,110,801; Lobby Spending: $17,280,000;

• Clear Channel Communications, The— Total contributions to Republican Party: $619,390; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $397,342; Lobby Spending: $7,080,000;

• FedEx Holding Corp.— Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,455.034; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $1,081,125; Lobby Spending: $15,295,000;

• Home Depot— Total contributions to Republican Party: $552,072; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $441,306; Lobby Spending: $2,116,500;

• Pfizer— Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,048,363; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $1,115,048; Lobby Spending: $26,410,000;

• Starbucks Corporation— Total contributions to Republican Party: $10,392; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $139,894; Lobby Spending: $1,028,000;

• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.—Total contributions to Republican Party: $922,498; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $741,228; Lobby Spending: $10,590,000.

The editorial team for the second edition was led by Angie Crouse and The Center for Responsive Politics. Together they have produced an uncompromised edition that users will find endlessly useful.

The ideal gift for the activist or any conscientious shopper, The Blue Pages is slim and portable, and slips into a backpack, glove compartment, or purse. This useful resource allows consumers to make more informed decisions by following corporate spending and policies, thus staying true to their political views when spending their money.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Angie Crouse is a political researcher who has worked on Joe Conason’s The Raw Deal and The Great Divide: Retro vs. Metro America by John Sperling et al.

The Center for Responsive Politics is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington, DC that
tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The center conducts computer-based research on campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and the public at large. Its work is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more responsive government.

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THE BLUE PAGES: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices
by Angie Crouse and The Center for Responsive Politics
$12.95, PoliPointPress, November 2, 2009, Trade Paper
ISBN: 978-0-9817091-4-7, 322 pages, 3.75”x 8.5”
For more information, go to www.p3books.com/thebluepages/