Lobbying

T-Bones of Contention

by Diane Farsetta — April 8, 2005 - 3:12pm

The Meat Promotion Coalition, a group of meat packers and agribusiness companies seeking "to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from requiring meat to be packaged with a country-of-origin label," is circulating a position paper among Washington DC policymakers.

Main Source: 
The Hill, April 7, 2005

California's Drug Wars

by Diane Farsetta — March 28, 2005 - 7:02pm

The industry group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has launched "its most aggressive counterattack," on a proposed California ballot initiative to provide cheaper prescription drugs to low-income residents.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, March 28, 2005

The Fix Behind Fixing Social Security

by Laura Miller — March 8, 2005 - 5:48pm
  • Topics: Right Wing, Lobbying

    • In late February, deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove, National Economics Council director Al Hubbard, and Barry Jackson, a special assistant to the president who is handling Social Security reform, met with administration-friendly lobbyists for a "rah-rah" cheerleading session on Social Security privatization. According to The Hill, representatives from the conservative 60 Plus Association, the business funded Coalition for the Modernization and Protection of America's Social Security(COMPASS), America’s Community Bankers, the National Retail Federation, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Business Roundtable heard the trio reiterate George W. Bush's commitment to "reform" Social Security. "Karl Rove talked about its importance to the president's agenda, and Al Hubbard talked about its importance to the economy," a spokesperson from the Roundtable told Bloomberg News.

    Back Scratching and Greenwashing

    by Diane Farsetta — March 1, 2005 - 12:43pm

    The Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a nonprofit organization founded by Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Grover Norquist, has been subpoenaed by "an interagency criminal task force investigating former lobbyist Jack Abra

    Main Source: 
    The Hill, March 1, 2005

    Take with a Grain of... You Know

    by Diane Farsetta — February 28, 2005 - 2:09pm

    Due to health concerns, European countries are adopting more stringent salt regulations and U.S. consumer groups are calling for the same. But last spring, the Salt Institute industry group "joined the U.S.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (reg. req'd.), February 25, 2005

    A Swift Kick in the Family Retirement Plan

    by Diane Farsetta — February 21, 2005 - 7:22pm

    The industry-funded lobbying group USANext "says it plans to spend as much as $10 million on commercials and other tactics assailing AARP, the powerhouse lobby opposing [Social Security] private investment accounts." To oversee the campaign, USANext hired Chris LaCivita, recently of the

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, February 21, 2005

    Feeling Noncommittal

    by Diane Farsetta — February 18, 2005 - 7:01pm

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is "wondering just what the nation's nuclear power companies are up to these days." While "taking steps toward building new reactors," the companies are "each emphasizing they have 'made no commitment' at all to actually building new nuclear plants." According to the paper, "The industrywide use of the 'no commitment' mantra is no accident.

    Main Source: 
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 18, 2005

    Not What Democracy Looks Like

    by Diane Farsetta — February 14, 2005 - 5:38pm

    When Paul Biya, "the strongman who has ruled the West African country of Cameroon for more than 20 years swept to another election victory last fall, a number of observers quickly questioned the process." But not the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, who said, "This is what democracy is about." Their delegation was organized by "a lobbyist for Biya's government," who "served as the mission's chief staffer and billed Cameroon for his work.

    Main Source: 
    Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2005

    Holding the Hand that Feeds You

    by Diane Farsetta — February 10, 2005 - 12:39pm

    At a "conversation with experts and victims" organized by the White House to push legislation limiting class-action lawsuits, President Bush sat next to Clinton administration acting solicitor general Walter E. Dellinger III. "He represents the spirit needed to have good legal reform and that is the bipartisan spirit," Bush said.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, February 10, 2005

    Lobbying, German-Style

    by Diane Farsetta — February 10, 2005 - 12:21pm

    "In recent weeks, senior politicians from Germany's two biggest parties resigned following disclosures that they received tens of thousands of euros from corporate benefactors," even though "the payments were legal." Throughout Europe, companies are increasingly doing "aggressive lobbying in the absence of rules to rein them in." Public outrage has led watchdogs like the Corporate Europe Observatory to push for disclosure laws, though "many companies

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (reg. req'd.), February 10, 2005
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