lobbying

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Lobbyists Gobbling Up $700B Bailout
Lobbyists Gobbling Up $700B Bailout
Nov 12, 2008 7:51 AM CST

Lobbyists Gobbling Up $700B Bailout

There's not much left as everyone fights for piece of shrinking pie

(Newser) - That $700 billion allocated in this fall's federal bailout sounded like a lot of money—but after a feeding frenzy led by Washington lobbyists, there's not much cash left over, reports the New York Times. Of the first tranche of $350 billion, only $60 billion remains uncommitted, and everyone from...

Huge Bush Deregulation Push Before Jan. 20

White House will relax rules on environment, consumer protection

(Newser) - George W. Bush is president for 11 more weeks, and the White House is plotting to use that time to modify federal regulations to weaken protections for consumers and the environment. The deregulatory initiatives would be some of the most controversial of the Bush era, reports the Washington Post, lifting...

More AIG Splurges: $86K Hunting Trip, Lobbyists

$86K trip to England comes after feds' $85B handout, $38B loan

(Newser) - The $440,000 spa weekend isn't the only outrageous splurge AIG seems to have indulged in after being bailed out by taxpayers last month. Now come news of an $86,000 hunting trip in England, turned up by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. And the faltering insurance giant is...

Goldman Sachs Is DC's Top Sugar Daddy
Goldman Sachs
Is DC's Top
Sugar Daddy
ANALYSIS
Sep 26, 2008 2:20 PM CDT

Goldman Sachs Is DC's Top Sugar Daddy

$43M since '89 on lobbying, donations greases bailout wheels

(Newser) - Goldman Sachs has given Washington plenty of reasons to help it out—43 million reasons, to be precise. Goldman bankers have been the nation’s biggest campaign contributors this year, and have poured more than $43 million into lobbying and campaign war chests since 1989, ABC News reports. “They...

Office Records Contradict Palin's Troopergate Claims

'Unauthorized' trip by 'rogue' commissioner was OK'd by governor's office

(Newser) - Gov. Sarah Palin's office actually approved a trip to Washington that her lawyers have been offering as evidence of the "rogue mentality" for which her public safety chief was fired, reports ABC News. Documents show that Palin’s chief of staff signed off on Walt Monegan's trip "to...

Campaign Skirts Obama Lobbyist Ban
 Campaign Skirts 
 Obama Lobbyist Ban 
ANALYSIS
Sep 18, 2008 3:18 PM CDT

Campaign Skirts Obama Lobbyist Ban

Spouses, colleagues of lobbyists contributing to Democrat

(Newser) - Barack Obama has built his campaign on being a Washington outsider, and won’t accept contributions from registered federal lobbyists. But Obama’s candidacy is far from untouched by special-interest cash, Matthew Cooper writes in Portfolio. The wives of more than 20 Washington lobbyists have donated to the Democrat, who...

Auto Giants Press Congress for $25B Loan

Credit pinch, oil prices could cost thousands of jobs, execs say

(Newser) - The CEOs of US auto giants seem to have convinced some in Congress they, too, need billions in federal loans, the Detroit Free Press reports, though it’s uncertain if they’ll get the $25 billion they’re asking for. High oil and commodity prices and tightened credit threaten jobs...

Lobbying Law Won't Crimp Convention Parties

Loopholes allow lavish bashes for lawmakers

(Newser) - Tough new rules aimed at weakening the influence of lobbyists won't keep Democrats and Republicans away from some of the most lavish convention parties ever seen, funded by those seeking to influence legislation, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dozens of loopholes allow lawmakers to skirt the legislation by accepting gifts...

Bush Library Donors Gain Access to Rice and Cheney

UK probe reveals meetings for dollars

(Newser) - An undercover probe has confirmed rumors that donors to President Bush's $200 million library are gaining access to his inner circle, the London Times reports. Bush lobbyist Stephen Payne offered an undercover reporter face-to-face meetings with Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, among others, for payments of $600,000 to $750,...

Hedge Funds Turn Bullish on Lobbying

As Congress ponders new taxes, regulations, industry opens wallet

(Newser) - The hedge-fund industry is stepping up its lobbying efforts, Politico reports, having belatedly realized how tempting a target it presents to cash-strapped politicians. Facing attacks from both sides of the aisle for their tax-free offshore accounts and lightly taxed incomes, hedge funds upped lobbying spending to $1.9 million last...

Lobbyists to McCain: Gee, Thanks, Traitor

Loyal donors kicked to curb as candidate burnishes image

(Newser) - John McCain has been purging his campaign of lobbyists, which has left more than a few feeling betrayed. These are the people, after all, who stuck through McCain when his primary chances looked grim, and kept his campaign financially above water. “If it was OK to have these people...

Cutting Lobby Ties Is 'Messy Business'
Cutting Lobby Ties Is 'Messy Business'
ANALYSIS
May 20, 2008 10:44 AM CDT

Cutting Lobby Ties Is 'Messy Business'

McCain plays reform card with new policy, but conflicts abound

(Newser) - John McCain is at war with his own staff to save his image as a crusader against special interests, the New York Times reports. Five aides have been sent packing, and new rules promulgated to rout out any further conflicts. But with many staffers who made their living as lobbyists,...

McCain Loses 5th Adviser Over Lobbying Ties

Co-chair's company banked nearly $15M from Saudi deals

(Newser) - A high-ranking John McCain adviser has dropped out over his lobbying ties, Politico reports. Former Rep. Thomas Loeffler, McCain's national co-chair, is the fifth lobbying-connected resignation from the camp this week—and proof that McCain is serious about his lobbying shakeout. But not all in the GOP are thrilled. “...

Menthol Gets Free Pass in Cigarette Bill

Other flavored smokes face ban, but industry protects cash cow

(Newser) - Congress is preparing to vote on legislation that would ban almost all flavored cigarettes—except menthol, the most prevalent flavoring of all. The bill would eliminate kinds like cloves and cinnamon that appeal to kids, but make an exception for menthol—which lures new smokers by masking the harshness of...

Housing Bill Loaded with Corporate Tax Breaks

But little to prevent foreclosures

(Newser) - The bill was rushed through the Senate to come to the aid of homeowners facing foreclosure, but it turns out that some of its biggest beneficiaries are automakers, airlines and energy producers. The Senate’s housing bill is packed with billions in corporate tax cuts, the New York Times reports....

Obama Has Big-Money Donors, Too
Obama Has Big-Money Donors, Too
Apr 11, 2008 1:49 PM CDT

Obama Has Big-Money Donors, Too

Billionaires and so-called bundlers account for half

(Newser) - Barack Obama has made much of his grass-roots fundraising, but he’s no stranger to big-money donors, the Washington Post reports. Seventy-nine bundlers—deep-pocketed backers who use their contacts to drum up even more cash—have wrangled up more than $200,000 each for the senator. Five billionaires are on...

Congress Cashes In on Subprime Lobby

Campaign donations from housing, financial industries skyrocket

(Newser) - The subprime crisis isn’t bad for everyone: congressmen and lobbying firms are doing great, Politico reports. Industries caught in the crunch have drastically scaled up their campaign contributions, and dozens of new lobbying firms have sprung up to cash in. Securities and investment PACs, for example, have already given...

Saint John Still Tainted by Senate Murk
Saint John Still Tainted by Senate Murk
ANALYSIS
Mar 27, 2008 12:12 PM CDT

Saint John Still Tainted by Senate Murk

Ethics crusader is still no stranger to lobbying culture

(Newser) - With John McCain the presumptive Republican nominee, Democrats are rushing to expose chinks in the Arizona senator's saintly armor, Michael Scherer reports in Time. Though McCain talks tough about special interests, he has often appeared to have done their bidding. He once, for example, wrote a letter on behalf of...

In the Works: Wireless Bill of Rights

States fight feds over who will regulate

(Newser) - Wireless carriers seem to have angered a few too many consumers with hidden fees and surprise charges. Politicians in 22 states are considering various versions of a wireless consumers’ bill of rights, reports BusinessWeek. But the wireless industry, daunted at facing different regulations in every state, is throwing its weight...

Broadcaster Rebuts McCain Lobbying Denial

Recalls meeting before FCC letters; McCain did, too, in 2002 deposition

(Newser) - John McCain's campaign has flatly denied that the senator met with a broadcaster or his lobbyist before writing to the FCC on his behalf in 1999. But Bud Paxson remembers the meeting; he says VIcki Iseman set it up, and may have attended, too. "Was Vicki there? Probably,"...

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