Lobbyists

As the 99% Movement Evolves, It's Time to Go All In on Money Out

David DeGraw | Posted 05.30.2012

Read More: Revolving Door, Money in Politics, Get Money Out, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Campaign Finance, Politics News

As I type, thousands of working groups are spread throughout the country organizing toward the same goal: ending the corrupt culture that has consumed our government by getting money out of politics. It's time to Occupy Democracy.

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Drone Lobbyists Buzzing Capitol Hill

HuffingtonPost.com | Andrea Stone | Posted 05.28.2012

Read More: Congress, Video, Faa, Lobbying, Campaign Contributions, Lobbyists, Dayton, Uavs, Drone Strikes, Money in Politics, Unmanned Drones, Drones, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- It may be years before unmanned aircraft are common in the sky, but lobbyists for the industry that develops and manufactures the drones...

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Wall Street Reform: Taking a Knife to a Gunfight

Sanjay Sanghoee | Posted 05.24.2012

Read More: Congress, Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Reform, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Elections 2012, Enron, Wall Street Reform, Jamie Dimon, Volcker Rule, Cftc, Financial Watchdog, JPMorgan Chase, Wall Street, Wall Street Regulation, Barack Obama, Mary Schapiro, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Sec, Banking Reform, Gary Gensler, Glass-Steagall, Gary Gensler Chairman CFTC, Lobbyists, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, Appropriations, Banking Lobby, Banking Industry, Obama 2012, Dodd Frank, Special Interests, Business News

If Congress is truly serious about banking reform, it needs more than just well-intentioned laws: it also needs the right people to enforce those laws, it needs to give those people the resources they require to do their job properly, and it needs to pay them decently.

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Understanding Pay-To-Play Academics

Charles Ferguson | Posted 05.22.2012

Read More: Corruption, Compass Lexecon, Brattle Group, Conflict of Interest, Predator Nation, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Berkeley Research Group, Glenn Hubbard, Larry Summers, Criterion, Charles River Associates, Wall Street, Analysis Group, Financial Crisis, Academics, Pay to Play, Business News

Over the last thirty years, in parallel with deregulation and the rising power of money in American politics, significant portions of American academia have deteriorated into "pay to play" activities. No where is this more pronounced than in the realm of economics.

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White House Visitor Logs Show Extent Of Lobbyist Access

The Washington Post | Posted 05.20.2012

Read More: White-House, White House Visitor Logs, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Barack Obama, Politics News

Before 9 a.m., a group of lobbyists began showing up at the White House security gates with the chief executives of their companies, all of whom serve...

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The Daily Szep -- They the People

Paul Szep | Posted 05.16.2012

Read More: Congress Corruption, Congress Approval Ratings, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Congress-Lobbyists, Politics News

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Convergence in the Garden of Government Influence

Gary Hart | Posted 05.15.2012

Read More: Intergroup, Burson-Marsteller, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Hill & Knowlton, Wpp, Omnicom Group Inc., Lobbyist, Politics News

The influence business is no longer about votes up or down on particular measures that may emerge in Congress or policies made in the White House. This is about setting agendas, deciding what should, and should not, be brought up for hearings and legislation.

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ALEC exempted from lobbyist status in three separate states

The Center for Public Integrity | Posted 05.18.2012

Read More: Common Cause, American Legislative Exchange Council, Alec, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Politics News

By Paul AbowdiWatch NewsThis spring has brought constant controversy for the American Legislative Exchange Council, the conservative group of legisl...

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Corporate Tax Rate and a Busy Lame Duck Session

Ted Kaufman | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: AT&T, Ge, Business Rountable, Bush Tax Credits, Nike, Elections., Lobbyists, Boeing, Romney, Lame Duck Session, Budget Deficit, Obama, Corporate Tax, Capitol One, Congress, Corporate Tax Rate, Corporate Taxes, 112th Congress, Politics News

Since Japan lowered its rate last April, our corporate tax rate has been the highest in the world. There is no disagreement in Washington, believe it or not, that a 35% rate is too high. What complicates things is that very few if any corporations actually pay that rate.

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Corporations May Have A Tougher Time Escaping Taxes On Foreign Profits

Reuters | Posted 04.24.2012

Read More: Taxes, Corporate Lobbying Coalition, Senate, Video, Profits, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Reuters, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bloomberg News, WIN America, Business News

WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) - The corporate tax lobbying group WIN America has canceled its business with outside firms effectively ending its ad...

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Government Doesn't Matter. America Does

Rabbi Abraham Unger, Ph.D. | Posted 04.20.2012

Read More: New York Times, Obama, Lobbyists, Religion and Politics, Mitt Romney, James Madison, Democracy, Healthcare, Religion News

Sadly, our country has taken the route dreaded by founding father James Madison in the Federalist papers. He was worried that special interests, which he called "factions," would destroy the fabric of our republic. He was right.

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Guns Help People Kill People

Cynthia Kounaris | Posted 04.17.2012

Read More: Gun Violence, Brady Law, Gabby Giffords, Guns, Lobbyists, Nra, Trayvon Martin, Gun Laws, Gun Control Laws, National Rifle Association, Gun Control, Crime News

Cars don't kill people. And we all accept the common sense rules around car ownership and driving. Why do people not interpret these laws as infringing on their rights? Because these are rational ideas and for the common good.

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Nazis Attempt Foray Into Washington

Posted 04.13.2012

Read More: John Bowles Lobbyist, American Nazi Party Lobbyist, Video, Nazi, Nazis, American Nazi Party John Bowles, Lobbyists, John Bowles, John Bowles Nazi Lobbyist, Nazi Party, Nazi Party Lobbyist, American Nazi Party, Nazi Lobbyist, Politics News

The American Nazi Party attempted to make a foray into Washington's halls of power this week, registering their first lobbyist as a liaison to U.S. la...

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Disempowered Bankers Start Super PAC, Reveal Plans for World Domination

Blair Bowie | Posted 04.09.2012

Read More: Super Pac, Colbert Super Pac, U.S. PIRG, Bank Lobby, Lobbyists, American Bankers Association, Politics News

When is Packard imagining himself having this conversation and what will he be asking for to call off the hounds? This statement speaks volumes about how the industry thinks about its involvement in politics.

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Why Is U.S. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen Against the Two-state Solution?

Daoud Kuttab | Posted 05.28.2012

Read More: Foreign Aid, Lobbyists, Foreign Affairs, Palestine, Israel, Obama, US Congress, Two State, Ros Lehtinen Israel, Politics News

Why is a U.S. congressperson so opposed to actions that support peace, the two-state solution and the strengthening of the Christian community in Palestine?

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Supremes Kicking the Can Down the Road

Hoyt Hilsman | Posted 05.28.2012

Read More: Supreme Court, Lobbyists, Health Care Reform, Individual Mandate, Obama, Congress, Health Insurance, Republicans, Health Care, Democrats, Mandate, Politics News

It now looks like the Supreme Court will do what the rest of the country has been doing for a hundred years -- kick the health care can down the road.

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It Pays To Oppose The Volcker Rule

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 03.27.2012

Read More: Financial Regulatory Reform, Dodd-Frank Act, Video, Proprietary Trading, Financial Sector, Dodd-Frank, Lobbyists, Financial Reform, Financial Lobby, Prop Trading, Paul Volcker, Volcker Rule, Financial Regulation, Business News

Why haven't more lawmakers insisted on strict financial regulation? Maybe because that's not where the money is. Members of Congress who have calle...

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Corporate-Backed Lobbyists Are Behind 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

The New York Times | Paul Krugman | Posted 03.26.2012

Read More: Ups, Stand Your Ground, National Rifle Association, American Legislative Exchange Council, Koch Brothers, Center for Media and Democracy, Lobbyists, Stand Your Ground Law, AT&T, Exxon Mobil, Corrections Corporation of America, Paul Krugman, Coca Cola, K12 Inc., Politics News

Florida’s now-infamous Stand Your Ground law, which lets you shoot someone you consider threatening without facing arrest, let alone prosecution, so...

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Which Lobby Wrote the "JOBS" ("Jivers' Opportunity to Bilk Suckers") Act? Solving a "Bipartisan" Mystery

Richard (RJ) Eskow | Posted 05.20.2012

Read More: Political Corruption, Bipartisanship, Jobs Act, Lobbyists, Jobs, Jobs Bill, Politics News

It's hard to figure out who's behind the bill when many wealthy and powerful interests stand to benefit from it.

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$5 Per Gallon Gas is Coming; Where's Obama's Windfall Profits Tax on the Oil Industry?

Lloyd Chapman | Posted 05.19.2012

Read More: Taxes, Exxon Mobil, Gas Prices, Small Business, Oil Industry, Lobbyists, President Obama, Oil, Obama Administration, Asbl, Obama, Lloyd Chapma, American Small Business League, Small Business News

President Obama needs to keep his 2008 campaign promise and pass a windfall profits tax on oil and gas industry. It will help keep the price of gas down, boost the economy and raise revenue to balance the budget.

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VIDEO: Superlobbyist Trent Lott Fumbles To Explain Why He's Shilling for Scam Schools

Zaid Jilani | Posted 05.16.2012

Read More: Education, Apscu, Trent Lott, Lobbyists, For-Profit Colleges, For-Profit Education, Video, America's Private Sector Colleges and Universities, For Profit Colleges, Higher Education, College News

I asked Lott if he was willing to disclose what he was being paid by the for-profit college industry. He grew flustered. "It's a matter of public record," he huffed. "Just check the record." I did.

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Former Legislators Can Get Staggeringly Rich Peddling Influence, In Case You'd Somehow Forgotten This

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 03.15.2012

Read More: Eat the Press, Influence Laundering, Evan Bayh, Video, Goldman Sachs Revolving Door, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Olympia Snowe, Billy Tauzin, Revolving Door, Judd Gregg, Politics News

If the example of Senator Olympia Snowe is any guide, then the typical "Why I Am Leaving Congress" op-ed is fairly similar to Greg Smith's now-famous ...

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Lobbyists To Obama: Please Be Nicer To Us

The Huffington Post | Ariel Edwards-Levy | Posted 03.13.2012

Read More: Video, Election 2012 Blog, Lobbying, Lobbyists, President Barack Obama, President Obama, Barack Obama, Politics News

The American League of Lobbyists is calling on President Barack Obama to tone down his criticism of lobbyists. In a letter addressed to "The Honora...

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It Turns Out 2011 Was A Pretty Great Year For Banks

The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler | Posted 03.08.2012

Read More: Consumer Banking, Brian Moynihan, Bank Fees, Dodd-Frank, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Commercial Banking, Bank of America, Bank Profits, Bank of America Fee, Retail Banking, Commercial Banks, Bank Income, Bank Lobbying, Debit Card Fees, Financial Regulation, Bank of America Debit Card Fees, Video, Business News

By almost any measure, 2011 was a rocky year -- high unemployment, volatile markets, rising poverty, protests in the streets. Thankfully, the banks ma...

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Tribes Doubt Jack Abramoff's Conversion

HuffingtonPost.com | Paul Blumenthal | Posted 03.08.2012

Read More: Rick Hill Oneida, Video, Jack Abramoff, Campaign Finance Reform, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Tom Rodgers Blackfeet, Native Americans, Scandal, Campaign Finance, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- On Monday night, the National Press Club played host to the country's most infamous lobbyist, Jack Abramoff. Sitting in the front row we...

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