Lobbying

Ethics Reform Loophole Results in Hot PAC Action

by Diane Farsetta — February 14, 2007 - 6:41pm

"In just the last two months, lawmakers invited lobbyists to help pay for ...

Main Source: 
New York Times, February 11, 2007

Lobbyist Business Booms as Oversight Hearings Start

by Diane Farsetta — February 7, 2007 - 11:05am

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding hearings on "waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars"; topics include Iraq reconstruction, Homeland Security contracting, and prescription drug pricing. Companies called to testify are "scrambling to hire lobbyists with Democratic ties," reports Bloomberg.

Main Source: 
Bloomberg, January 31, 2007

Turf Changes Favor Corporate "Grassroots" Lobbyists

by Diane Farsetta — February 6, 2007 - 5:09pm

"When Congress reeled in traditional lobbyists in January, it gave a boost to lobby firms and trade associations that specialize in swaying lawmakers by stirring public sentiment in their districts," writes Jessica Holzer. House and Senate bills "ban gifts and trips from lobbyists," but "lobbyists escaped having to disclose their grassroots activities when the Senate ...

Main Source: 
The Hill, February 6, 2007

The Senate’s Lobbying and Ethics Changes

by Conor Kenny — January 31, 2007 - 5:59pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Lobbying

    • Guest poster: Paul Blumenthal of the Sunlight Foundation:

    Two weeks ago the Senate passed a series of sweeping changes in ethics and lobbying laws and in the Senate Rules. I've started a Congresspedia page on the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007 that contains a handy run down of the changes passed by the Senate.

    Gazprom Plans PR Blitz

    by Bob Burton — January 18, 2007 - 5:32pm

    Gazprom, the Russian gas company that supplies approximately one quarter of Europe's gas needs, is planning a PR and lobbying campaign in Europe and the U.S. to improve its image, after it cut off gas supplies to the Ukraine in 2006 and Belarus in 2007.

    Main Source: 
    Kommersant (Moscow), January 16, 2007

    Through the Revolving Door

    by Sheldon Rampton — January 10, 2007 - 2:22pm

    "Sucking in public servants, spewing out lobbyists, K Street spins influence into cash so fast, it's tough to track who landed where," writes Elizabeth Williamson. "Now you can click and find out. Billed by its creators as 'MySpace for the K Street set,' Revolving Door is a new, searchable database on OpenSecrets.org that gives Washington watchers and the merely envious the intel they crave." The Revolving Door database tracks anyone whose résumé includes positions both as a lobbyist and with the federal government.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, January 9, 2007

    Illinois Power Company Cash Lines "Consumer Group" Coffers

    by Jonathan Rosenblum — January 8, 2007 - 4:22pm

    An apparent astroturf group calling for an end to an electricity rate freeze received $10 million for its programs from ComEd, the largest power company in Illinois. An administrative law judge with the Illinois Commerce Commission has ordered an investigation of financial ties between the company and the group Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity (CORE).

    Main Source: 
    Chicago Tribune, January 5, 2007

    Front Groups Lobbying Spurs Thoughts of Non-Profit Reform

    by Bob Burton — December 13, 2006 - 2:24am

    Citing instances where groups like Citizens Against Government Waste and Americans for Tax Reform have accepted corporate funding to lobby for their donors' causes, journalist Bill Adair explores whether greater disclosure by non-profit groups is warranted.

    Main Source: 
    St Petersburg Times, December 11, 2006

    Perchlorate Makers Blow Smoke on Health Issue

    by Diane Farsetta — December 5, 2006 - 7:02pm

    The Los Angeles-based group Environment California says an industry-funded group is using "misleading research and tobacco industry-style lobbying to influence the debate on the effects of perchorate." Perchlorate is a rocket fuel ingredient and "a known thyroid inhibitor" often present in water supplies near military and manufacturing sites.

    Main Source: 
    DailyBulletin (Ontario, California), December 4, 2006

    Prospects for Ethics Reform in the 110th Congress

    by Conor Kenny — November 30, 2006 - 2:46pm
  • Topics: Election 2006, U.S. Congress, Lobbying

    • Guest poster: Paul Blumenthal of the Sunlight Foundation

    Exit polls show that the 109th Congress severely misread the American voters and believed that passing lobbying and ethics reforms was unnecessary, despite the parade of FBI raids, criminal indictments, and jailed lawmakers and lobbyists.

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