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Posts Tagged ‘K Street’
Wednesday, August 13th, 2014 by Linnae O'Flahavan
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS REVERSED part of its ban preventing registered lobbyists from serving on advisory panels. Lobbyists may now sit on advisory panels “so long as they’re examples of evaluation essays acting on behalf of a corporation, trade association or industry group and not as private citizens or representatives of the government,” reports POLITICO.
The original ban was put in place in 2010, but has been challenged in court by 6 lobbyists who, as a result of the ban, were kicked off advisory panels. Those lobbyists include Erik Autor, Nate Herman, Cass Johnson, Stephen Lamar, Bill Reinsch, and Andrew Zamoyski. The courts ruled against the White House by refusing to dismiss the case, and as a result, the Office of Management and Budget has eased up on restrictions by publishing the new rule in the Federal Register.
There appears to be significant criticism of the Obama administration for easing up on promised ethics reforms regarding K Street’s influence, although it is important to note that the reversal in policy is coming after court decisions going against the ban. Bloomberg quotes OMB’s Communications Director Melanie Roussell, who defends the ban, clarifying that “the purpose of the prohibition is ‘to restrict the undue influence of lobbyists on the federal government’ and was ‘not designed to prevent lobbyists or others from petitioning their government.’” Nonetheless, many lobbyists are up in arms about the ban, claiming constitutional rights violations, and are glad to see the White House reversing part of the ban.
It remains unclear exactly how far the White House will retreat on this issue since the administration is admitting defeat by reversing even part of the ban. In addition, POLITICO reports that the Obama administration has hired over 70 previously registered lobbyists including Broderick Johnson, Melody Barnes, James Kohlenberger, and Sean Kennedy. President Obama ran for office on a platform vowing to keep K Street influence out of the White House, but his plans seem to be failing, regardless of his intentions. It’s hard to say what Obama truly intended to accomplish, but quite easy to say that his ethics reforms aiming to minimize special interest influence on government policy are not really working.
Tags: Andrew Zamoyski, Bill Reinsch, Broderick Johnson, Cass Johnson, Erik Autor, Federal Register, James Kohlenberge, K Street, Melanie Roussell, Melody Barnes, Nate Herman, Obama, Office of Management and Budget, Sean Kennedy, Stephen Lamar, White House
Posted in Executive Branch, Lobbying News | Comments Off on White House Reverses Lobbying Ban
Friday, November 2nd, 2012 by Geoffrey Lyons
THE HILL RECENTLY released its annual list of top lobbyists, which comes at an interesting time considering a pre-election want of congressional activity. (The Senate is holding daily pro forma sessions; the House doesn’t reconvene until the 12th). I spoke briefly with the list’s compiler-in-chief, Business and Lobbying Editor Dustin Weaver, to review his findings.
“It’s more of an art than a craft,” said Weaver, describing the criteria used to select the lobbyists. “As an editorial team, we’re simply looking for people who shape the debate – people at the forefront.”
People at the forefront indeed. The “Hired Guns” section not only contains K St. all-stars – Tony Podesta, for instance, founder and chairman of the prominent Podesta Group – but it also includes household names: Chris Dodd, Trent Lott, Haley Barbour, among others. “Barbour’s new to the list,” said Weaver, “but that’s only because he just returned to lobbying – otherwise he’s a no-brainer.”
But not everyone who was selected is an established veteran. Colin Crowell, new to the list this year, is Weaver. “Tech is the fastest growing industry in America, and it’s definitely rubbing off on K St.”
But besides attracting more techies, how else is K St. changing? Weaver indicated two trends:
For the short term, it’s losing revenue. The August and September recesses have depleted the coffers even of giants like Patton Boggs, which recently reported a 4% earnings drop from this time last year. “But recess doesn’t mean lobbyists are twiddling their thumbs,” said Weaver. “There are a lot of big-ticket issues to prepare for when Congress reconvenes.”
For the long term, it’s fundamentally reshaping itself. Trends show an increasing preference for small, independent lobby shops over the larger, staid firms. “A lot of lobbyists don’t feel the need to work for big shops anymore,” said Weaver. “Many of them have been wildly successful on their own.”
It’s doubtful any of these patterns will bring about radical changes in the lobbying world. It’s safer to assume the Barbours and Podestas of the industry will remain fixtures for years to come. The Hill’s annual list will be a reliable test for this assessment.
Tags: Capitol Hill, chris dodd, Haley Barbour, K Street, Lobbying, Podesta Group, recess, sen. chris dodd, Senate, tech lobbying, Tony Podesta, top lobbying firms, top lobbyists, twitter
Posted in Lobbying News | Comments Off on “Top Lobbyists” of 2012 Reveal Changes on K St.
Monday, March 14th, 2011 by Vbhotla
In the 3rd annual Congressional Hockey Challenge Thursday night, Team Lobbyists was victorious over Team Lawmakers, with a final score of 5-3.
The game, which was held at the Verizon Center, raised over $100,000 for Fort Dupont Hockey Ice Arena and Hockey Club. The Fort Dupont Hockey Club is a 501(c)3 charitable organization which provides inner city youth with the opportunity to play in an organized hockey program. According to the event’s webpage, the Congressional Hockey challenge is held to aid the Fort DuPont ice arena, which “is in dire financial condition, and is at risk of closing. All proceeds…go directly to the Fort DuPont Ice Hockey Club, which will share fifty percent of the proceeds with the Fort DuPont Ice Arena [to] help ensure the Arena remains on stable footing, and that the Fort DuPont Ice Hockey Club can continue its mission.”
Washington Capitals forward Mike Knuble dropped the first puck at the well-attended matchup of Capitol Hill and K. Street heavyweights. Forward/Right Wing Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) was Cialis the most well-known lawmaker on the ice. He was joined by Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.)—who is often touted the biggest hockey fan in Congress, and even organized a White House event held Friday to benefit youth hockey initiatives, Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.)—who joined Quigley on the South Lawn for Friday’s hockey clinic, Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Pat Meehan (D-Penn.), and several staffers.
Team lobbyists featured IBM’s Justin Beachnau, Ian Bennitt (Shipbuilders Council of America), Nick Bliss (New York Life), C2 Group’s Nelson Litterst and John Kline, Brooke Coburn (The Carlyle Group), Bob Filippone (PhRMA), Christian Gullott (Bridgestone Americas, Inc.), Jeffrey Kimbell (Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates and Magnum Entertainment Group, Inc), Melissa Lavinson (Pacific Gas and Electric Company), Nick Lewis (UPS), George Lowe (Brown Rudnick), Rick Murphy (R.B. Murphy and Associates), Sean O’Neill (Associated General Contractors of America), Mark Peterson (American Institute of CPAs), Brian Regan (PCIA-The Wireless Infrastructure Association), Kraig Syracuse (Park Strategies), Andrew Sasinowski (US Patent and Trademark Office), Seth Webb (Google), Ian Weston (Children’s National Medical Center).
Tags: anthony weiner, brian higgins, congressional hockey challenge, fort dupont hockey club, fort dupont ice arena, hockey, john kerry, K Street, larry bucshon, lawmakers vs lobbyists, let's move hockey, mike knuble, Rep. Mike Quigley, white house hockey
Posted in Government Relations Alert | Comments Off on Lawmakers, Lobbyists Square off on the Ice
Friday, October 22nd, 2010 by Brittany
K Street Compliance for 2011
Disclosure compliance, filing, gift and ethics rules, and campaign finance
November 16, 2010 · 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EST
After the midterm elections are over, Congress will take fresh aim at ethics. Lobbyists are fair game and “I didn’t know” won’t keep you out of the headlines – or exempt you from the stiff penalties associated with HLOGA, LDA and FARA.
If you aren’t sure what those acronyms stand for, you’re a sitting duck for ethics investigations and compliance violations. Even if you do know the basics of lobbying laws, you’re still at risk unless you’re absolutely certain you’re meeting deadlines, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.
Why risk fines, penalties and negative PR? Here’s your “primer” on the basics you must know to follow the rules in the complex world of government relations.
Register now for Lobbying: The Basics of K Street Compliance for 2011.
Tags: FARA, HLOGA, jill holtzman vogel, K Street, LDA, Lobbying, lobbying law, lobbyists
Posted in Training & Events | Comments Off on New Audioconference: Need to know lobbying laws for 2011
Friday, May 28th, 2010 by Vbhotla
The U.S. Chamber is not at all pleased about the Disclose Act, and they’re not afraid to say so. But House Dems say they’ve got the votes, and they’re not afraid to use them. So who will win? It’s tough to say, but a House Administration Committee hearing on the bill was abruptly cancelled on Thursday. When Members come back from their Memorial Day recess, maybe they will jump right in to campaign finance.
“K Streeters, it seems, jumped the gun in writing the obituaries of Republican trade association chiefs following the 2008 elections“, according to Roll Call. But the actual article indicates that the associations are hiring (and have hired) more Democratic government relations staff, to keep up with the political environment.
The FEC (again) couldn’t come to a conclusion on Soft Money. The Commission has been trying to decide “whether candidates and members of Congress should be allowed to raise money for separate nonprofits including ballot initiative committees that exceed $20,000.” (CQ Politics)
…and since you have Monday off, catch up on your Campaign Finance updates! The FEC June 2010 Record is now available. (PDF)
Connecticut Office of State Ethics penalized G. Kenneth Bernhard, for making three political contributions while serving as a Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board member (press release at CTOSE’s website).
Meanwhile, in Indiana, former Sen. (and former lobbyist) Dan Coats (R-Ind.) gets backlash for his spin through the revolving door. Sen. Coats is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).
This Memorial Day, take some time to honor the men and women who have given their lives in defense of our country. If you’re in the D.C. area, be sure to check out the National Memorial Day Parade and the National Memorial Day Concert (which you can also catch on PBS!).
Tags: Connecticut ethics, Dan Coats, FEC, K Street, Memorial Day, U.S. Chamber
Posted in Lobbying News | Comments Off on Weekly Lobbying News Round-Up
Friday, May 21st, 2010 by Vbhotla
The American League of Lobbyists is launching a PR campaign to help educate the public on the good things that lobbyists do. NPR has the story. Key quote from the ALL’s president Dave Wenhold: “Most people are represented by lobbyists, and they don’t even know. I mean, to give you an example: The second you get up in the morning you’re represented by a lobbyist. You go to have your toast, the wheat lobbyists love you. You have your eggs, the poultry farmers love you and their lobbyists. You get in your car, if it’s a Toyota, you have a lot of lobbyists right now.”
(See our post on Lobbying in the Public Interest, too).
Update on Illinois lobbying: a significantly lower fee structure is approved. Some background on the story here, at the ACLU’s site. (h/t: Political Activity Law).
The Compliance & Ethics Institute will host its annual conference in Chicago this year. Some topics to be covered include: building ethics and compliances systems, anti-corruption and anti-bribery systems, managing expectations, and more. Look at the full list of sessions and register here: www.complianceethicsinstitute.org.
The anti-lobbyist mood does not extend to lobbyist checkbooks for some legislators. (At Roll Call, subscription required).
The Post seems to do one of these articles once every 3 months or so, but there’s talk that K Street is no longer the lobbying hub. Not to worry, they’re staying in the D.C. area. (Washington Post free registration required).
National Journal‘s Bara Vaida writes on the revolving door with Sen. Michael Bennet.
Tags: American League of Lobbyists, K Street, state lobbying
Posted in Lobbying News | Comments Off on Weekly Lobbying News Round-Up
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