The Clinton White House used the Democratic National Committee and government agencies to target and lobby a list of on the fence Democrats and Republicans to build support for its failed 1993 health-care legislation.

Background screening companies now increasingly sell their services directly to job applicants. Employer skepticism, however, may be their biggest hurdle.

The Firefighters' Retirement System, the Municipal Employees Retirement System and the New Orleans Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund invested a combined $100 million with Alphonse Fletcher Jr., a Wall Street financier.