Lobbying

The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Oil Money

by Diane Farsetta — May 17, 2005 - 3:39pm

In 2001, Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky (now on trial for fraud and tax evasion) hired APCO Worldwide, "to restore investors' trust in the company," reported O'Dwyer's at the time.

Main Source: 
CorpWatch, May 10, 2005

The K Street Project Bears Fruit

by Diane Farsetta — May 17, 2005 - 1:13pm

The Washington Post reports on how House Majority Whip Roy Blunt "has converted what had been an informal and ad hoc relationship between congressional leaders and the Washington corporate and trade community into a formal, institutionalized alliance." Blunt's "organization of whips and lobbyist vote counters ...

Main Source: 
Washington Post, May 17, 2005

Drug Industry Prescribes Self-Regulation

by Diane Farsetta — May 17, 2005 - 11:58am

According to former member of Congress Billy Tauzin, now the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's head lobbyist, "drug companies [are] trying to develop a voluntary code of conduct for the advertising of prescr

Main Source: 
New York Times, May 17, 2005

Pro-Nuclear Rhetoric Meltdown

by Diane Farsetta — May 9, 2005 - 5:08pm

As predicted, the British government has launched a post-election push for more nuclear power stations.

Main Source: 
The Observer, May 8, 2005

Let the Lobbyists Soar

by Diane Farsetta — May 4, 2005 - 11:58am

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is opening a lobbying firm, the Ashcroft Group, to provide "strategic consulting, security and internal investigative services, and crisis counseling" to countries, corporations, and industry and political associations.

Main Source: 
The Hill, May 1, 2005

Living Off the Fat of the Land

by Diane Farsetta — April 26, 2005 - 12:55pm

The Center for Consumer Freedom, an industry-funded front group, launched a $600,000 ad campaign decrying the "hype" around obesity.

Main Source: 
Reuters, April 26, 2005

Heritage Foundation's Asian Belle

by Diane Farsetta — April 18, 2005 - 5:15pm

As happened with neighboring Indonesia, "the 9/11 attacks opened the door to improved U.S.-Malaysia relations." The Heritage Foundation began promoting Malaysia in mid-2001, "at the same time a Hong Kong consulting firm co-founded by Edwin J.

Main Source: 
Washington Post, April 16, 2005

Travelobbying

by Diane Farsetta — April 15, 2005 - 10:59am

"A fast-growing trend in the business of influencing government is corporate-funded trips," reports the Wall Street Journal. "Because the trips are paid for by corporations and trade associations - and not the hired guns who lobby for them - such trips are permitted under House and Senate rules," unless the sponsors are registered lobbyists or foreign agents. The number of junkets increased from 1,400 in 2000 to 1,900 in 2004; their cost increased 50% over the same period, to $3 million in 2004.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub. req'd.), April 15, 2005

Lobbyists Double Spending in Six Years

by Laura Miller — April 11, 2005 - 6:06pm

Lobbying in Washington has quietly grown over the past years into a multi-billion dollar industry, according to a new report by the Center for Public Integrity. Since 1998, lobbyists have spent nearly $13 billion to influence members of Congress and federal officials on legislation and regulations. According to federal records, lobbying expenditures are expected to be at least $3 billion for 2004, doubling 1998 expenditures. The U.S.

Main Source: 
Center for Public Integrity, April 7, 2005
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