Special Interests

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Democracy 3.0

Jeffrey Abelson | Posted 12.07.2009 | Impact

Read More: Power Vacuum, Democracy, Disengaged, Civic Engagement, Civic Apathy, Uninformed, Political Polarization, Special Interests, Political Ignorance, Engagement, Citizen, Impact News

We -- The People -- need a radical upgrade in the way we practice democracy.

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The Fight For Biogenerics

Hilary Kramer | Posted 11.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Anna Eshoo, Debra Barrett, Amgen, Biogenerics, Big Pharma, Biologics, Teva-Pharmaceuticals, Genentetech, Lobbyists, Health Care Reform, Special Interests, K Street, Health Care, Politics News

You know a health care bill isn't right for the American people when it carves out a legal monopoly for Big Pharma and Botox. Our Congressional leaders should be capable of more.

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Left, Right & Center: Is America Ungovernable? Plus: Men, Women and History

Huff Radio | Posted 11.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Government, Philosophy, Special Interests, American History, Karl Marx, Gender, Politics News

Are moneyed and special interests so entrenched that we cannot govern of, for and by the people? Is history made by great men and women? Or is it the reverse: Does the moment make the man/woman?

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In Defense of Obama's Bowling for Dollars

Jacob Heilbrunn | Posted 10.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Washington DC, Robert Gibbs, Lincoln Bedroom, Special Interests, White-House-Bowling-Alley, Barack Obama, Politics News

The president, far from curbing excesses, is slipping into nefarious old Washington practices. Reportedly, Obama has been doling out favors to donors that include (gasp!) the use of the White House bowling alley.

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Obama Slaps Congress, Lobbyists In Push For Consumer Protection Agency (VIDEO, REMARKS)

Posted 10.09.2009 | Business

Read More: Lobbyists, Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Financial Crisis, Special Interests, Chamber of Commerce, US Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Protection, Barack Obama, Inside DC, Business News

The White House on Friday renewed its push for a consumer financial protection agency with President Obama and a senior economic official warning Cong...

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Lobbyists Urge Lawmakers To Raise Country's Debt Level

Jenna Staul | Posted 11.10.2009 | Business

Read More: Harry Reid, Special Interests, National Debt, Mitch McConnell, Lobbyblog, Transparency, Business News

Some of the nation's most influential lobbies are urging the Senate to lift the nation's debt limit above $12.1 trillion, reports the Hill. An associ...

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The U.S. Climate Change Bill: International Trade Implications & China

Elizabeth Lynch | Posted 10.23.2009 | Green

Read More: Wto, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, Copenhagen 2009, China-Tariffs, Boarder Adjustment Measures, Tariffs, Climate Change, Congress, Climate Change Bill, Senate, Jake Caldwell, Special Interests, Green News

Will additions to the Climate Change Bill maintain the competitiveness of U.S. industries, or are they attempts by certain industries to protect their profits?

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Fixed?

Wendy Block | Posted 09.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Big Pharma, LA Times, Fair Elections Now Act, Senate, Congress, Public Option, California Clean Money Campaign, Big Money, Big Oil, Lobbyists, Progressives, Npr, Special Interests, Health Reform, Lobbying, Politics News

Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Milk. All special interest patrons of America's Big Money bordello. What are good progressives to do? Either we get lobotomies or we fix the way the country finances politics.

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Bill Clinton Slams Health Care Obstructionists: "They're At It Again"

The Huffington Post | Posted 09.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: Clinton Slams Republicans, Clinton DCCC Email, Dccc, Bill Clinton, Special Interests, Health Care, Health Care Reform, Republicans, Politics News

In an email sent out by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this morning, President Bill Clinton slams Republicans and special interests f...

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Joe Klein: How Special Interests Could Block Reform

TIME | Posted 08.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Special Interests, Joe Klein, Time, Bill Clinton, Health Care Reform, Special Interests, Obama Health Care, Health Care, Transparency, Politics News

One of the most difficult things to do in a democracy is react to a problem that is real, but not immediately threatening. Obama is trying to do this ...

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Obama's Agenda: Hope, Change and Lobby-Centricity

Stuart Whatley | Posted 08.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Obama Cabinet, House of Representatives, Cap and Trade, Democratic Congress, Congress, Capitol Hill, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Progressives, President Obama, Obama Administration, Obama, Progressive Movement, Democrats, Banking Industry, Cramdown, Barack Obama, Lobbyist, Obama White House, Senate, Cap-and-Trade, David Brooks, Health Care Reform, Special Interests, K Street, Health Care, Obama Lobbyists, Politics News

Obama's self-imposed rule against lobbyists in his administration, and the method whereby he is now implementing his progressive agenda, hews toward a rather perverse irony, if not hypocrisy.

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A Model for Universal Health Care Coverage

Gavin Newsom | Posted 07.26.2009 | Politics

Our experience in San Francisco is proving what most Americans already know -- it is much less expensive to keep people well than it is to treat their sickness.

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Lobbyists on a Roll: Gutting Reform on Banking, Energy, and Health Care

Arianna Huffington | Posted 07.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Transparency, Congress, Public Option, Big Oil, Lobbying, Big Coal, Lobbyists, Health Care Reform, Special Interests, Energy Policy, Politics News

Remember all that change Americans voted for in November? Well, there's been a change in the plans for change. The detour has come courtesy of a familiar nemesis: DC lobbyists.

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Just Say NO to Fundraising Requests from Politicians

Lawrence Lessig | Posted 07.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Donor Strike, Politics, Campaign Finance Reform, Money, Change Congress, Fec, Special Interests, Lawrence Lessig, Fundraising, Campaign Finance, Politics News

It's that time of the year again. Every quarter, just as the FEC reporting deadlines approach, politicians go on a mad scramble for last-minute donations.

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Some Victory Against Ben Nelson -- Who is Next?

Lawrence Lessig | Posted 07.12.2009 | Politics

Read More: Corruption, John Conyers, Ben Nelson, Special Interests, Lawrence Lessig, Change Congress, Politics News

Ben Nelson probably hates us right now -- or at least me. But that's OK, it was worth it. Here's what happened.

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Destruction Of Health Care Reform: Another Sequel

Sahil Kapur | Posted 07.11.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Insurance Industry, Health Care Reform, Public Health Insurance Plan, Bill Clinton Health Care, Ben Nelson, American Medical Association, Special Interests, Mary Landrieu, Obama Health Care, Barack Obama, Politics News

Witnessing the recent blaze of right-wing propaganda on a public health care option has felt like watching a scene in a scary movie where the killer is creeping up on his victim with a knife.

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Don't Believe the Doomsayers

Mindy S. Lubber | Posted 06.28.2009 | Business

Read More: Special Interests, Chamber of Commerce, Auto Industry, Fuel Efficiency, Waxman-Markey, Exxon Mobil, Climate Bill, Business News

Historically, industry's resistance to change has not only been proved groundless, but higher standards set by government have actually stimulated economic growth.

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Waxman-Markey Climate Bill Before and After: Fatal Corruption or Modest Course Correction?

David Roberts | Posted 06.21.2009 | Green

Read More: Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Special Interests, Carbon Emissions, Coal, Waxman-Markey, Green News

grist.orgI said in a post the other day that the Waxman-Markey bill is a Rorschach blot. Here's a good way of making the point.This is the World Resou...

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Progressives Call Out Dems' "Hypocritical" Fundraising

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 05.29.2009 | Politics

Read More: Dscc, Progressive, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Lobbyists, Dccc, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Special Interests, Lobbyist, Politics News

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and its counterpart in the House likely thought they were making a big concession by forgoing lobbyists a...

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Obama Versus "The Lobbyists"

Bara Vaida | Posted 04.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Revolving Door, K Street Lobbyists, Special Interests, K Street, Obama Lobbyists, Lobbyists, Obama Special Interests, K Street Money, Politics News

While Obama has been railing against lobbyists, he has been hiring lobbyists too. 11 percent of Obama's 267 senior staff and nominees were registered lobbyists in the past five years.

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John Conyers, It's Time to Speak Up

Lawrence Lessig and Michael Eisen | Posted 04.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Peter Suber, Open Access, Corruption, John Conyers, Donor Strike, Michael Eisen, Curious Cat, Michigan Messenger, Change Congress, Special Interests, Huffington Post, Lawrence Lessig, Michigan, Politics News

Conyers' proposed ban on "open access publishing" is the darling of the publishing industry because it would force the public to buy for-profit journals to get information that would otherwise be online for free.

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Special Interests Prepare to Derail Obama Agenda

Lawrence Lessig | Posted 03.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Donor Strike, Special Interests, Lawrence Lessig, Joe Trippi, Wall Street Journal, Lobbyists, Change Congress, Politics News

While lobbying alone is not evil, the combination of special interest lobbyists and their ability to legally funnel millions into political campaigns is toxic.

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Protecting Consumers

James Love | Posted 02.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: Regulations, Special Interests, Consumer Protection, Buckley v Valeo, Barack Obama, Campaign Finance, Politics News

Obama will soon be President, working with solid democratic majorities in the House and the Senate. He should use his power to advance consumer interests in ways that have been neglected for decades.

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How Should We Get Big-Money Influence Out of Congressional Elections?

Lawrence Lessig | Posted 02.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Arlen Specter, Corruption, Congress, Larry Lessig, Public Financing, Dick Durbin, Citizen-Funded Elections, Special Interests, People-Powered Elections, Lawrence Lessig, Barack Obama, David Donnelly, Voting, Lessig Congress, Campaign Finance, Joe Trippi, Change Congress, Mccain Campaign Finance Reform, Politics News

I and others will soon announce a large grassroots campaign aimed at channeling the amazing desire for change that Americans are feeling right now into tangible and fundamental reform of our political system.

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Auction Block Politics

Laura MacCleery | Posted 01.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ted Stevens, Special Interests, Fundraising, Rod Blagojevich, Campaign Finance, Politics News

There is a widely acknowledged symbiotic relationship between donors and politicians that tends over time merely to reinforce and reward the natural political inclinations of both.

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