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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Washington lobbyists

Washington lobbyists stories: 12 news summaries

(Newser) - Regardless of how health-care reform eventually shakes out, one industry will likely reap a windfall: health insurance companies, reports the Los Angeles Times. All the leading overhaul proposals would require all citizens to have health insurance, which would guarantee tens of millions of new customers. "It's a bonanza,"... More »

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health insurance • legislation • lobbyists • health care reform • benefits • Washington lobbyists • President Obama • health insurance industry

(Newser) - From now on MSNBC will alert viewers that commentator Richard Wolffe also serves another boss—a high-powered Washington public relations and lobbying firm, where he works as a strategist. Executives made the decision following complaints that Wolffe may have pushed agendas for his clients under the guise of being an... More »

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NBC • MSNBC • lobbyist • public relations • health care reform • Washington lobbyists • Richard Wolffe • Public Strategies

 Lawyers Rush In to Grab 
 Work From Lobbyists 

Having fewer restrictions on lawyers' activities attracts clients

Apr 21, 09 10:02 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Obama White House may have toughened rules on lobbyists, but the bonanza of new spending and regulation ushered in by the new administration has created a gold rush of lobbying opportunities, nonetheless, and law firms are horning in on the action, Politico reports. Staffing up with experts who provide... More »

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John Warner • Gordon Smith • lobbying • Washington lobbyists • law firm • Jon Porter

analysis

Obama's Lobbyist Ban Haunting Him

He's losing good people for hard-to-fill administration spots

Mar 13, 09 8:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama’s campaign pledge to run a lobbyist-free White House is coming back to haunt him, writes Jonathan Martin in Politico. The problem is that there’s an army of Democratic specialists in hard-to-master policy areas who worked as lobbyists during the Bush administration—and they're all off-limits. “... More »

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Barack Obama • lobbyist • Obama 2008 • Election 2008 • Washington lobbyists • Obama administration

GOP Launches
Offensive on
Pro-Union Bill

Big business is paying big bucks to lobby against 'card check' bill

Mar 9, 09 2:28 PM CDT
(Newser) - Republican lobbyists are swarming Capitol Hill this week, launching the battle over the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act—a fight one Chamber of Commerce exec describes as "Armageddon." Legions of GOP operatives are being enlisted to spend tens of millions of dollars offered by large corporations like Wal-Mart,... More »

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GOP • lobbyist • labor unions • big business • Washington lobbyists • Employee Free Choice Act • Bill Maher Grid

ANALYSIS

In Daschle's DC, Money Doesn't Talk, It Swears

Under Obama, influence peddling may be on the way out

Feb 4, 09 3:15 PM CST
(Newser) - It’s not your parents’ Washington anymore. DC used to be a cultural and social backwater, but no longer, writes Norman Ornstein for the New Republic. The “sheer amount of money sloshing around” the capital destroyed Tom Daschle's bid to head HHS nominee; he got "caught up in... More »

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ethics • corruption • Tom Daschle • Washington, DC • Washington lobbyists • Obama administration

 Bailout Bucks Go to Lobbyists 

Bailed-out firms' spending on lobbying threatens to spark government backlash

Jan 24, 09 6:59 AM CST
(Newser) - A surprising number of firms that reaped billions in bailout funds from the government have been spending big to lobby the government for more, the New York Times reports. Citigroup, General Motors, and at least seven others have paid lobbyists millions since October. Some recipients actually increased the amount they... More »

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lobbying • lobbyists • bailout • Washington lobbyists • Troubled Asset Relief Program • financial crisis • TARP

ANALYSIS

 Campaign Skirts 
 Obama Lobbyist Ban 

Spouses, colleagues of lobbyists contributing to Democrat

Sep 18, 08 3:18 PM CDT
(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... More »

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Barack Obama • Obama 2008 • lobbying • Washington lobbyists

ANALYSIS

Cutting Lobby Ties Is 'Messy Business'

McCain plays reform card with new policy, but conflicts abound

May 20, 08 10:44 AM CDT
(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,... More »

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John McCain • Rick Davis • lobbying • conflicts of interest • Washington lobbyists • Charlie Black • purge

 Penn Quits
 as Clinton
 Strategist 

Top adviser out
after Colombia
trade meeting flap

Apr 6, 08 6:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton's top strategist stepped down today after drawing fire for his trade meeting with a Colombian envoy last week, the Wall Street Journal reports. Clinton advisers said Mark Penn was all but pushed out, a move many in the camp had sought after Clinton lost key primary races. But... More »

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Hillary Clinton • Mark Penn • Washington lobbyists • political strategists

Romney Son: Dad’s Re-entry ‘Possible’

Ex-candidate may seize opportunity if McCain scandal broadens

Feb 25, 08 4:10 PM CST
(Newser) - Mitt Romney has been curiously mum since John McCain’s lobbyist scandals broke last week, perhaps because he’s thinking of jumping back into the presidential race. Josh Romney said it was "unlikely, but possible” that his father would throw his hat back in if McCain’s ethics problems... More »

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Mitt Romney • John McCain • Washington lobbyists • scandal • Josh Romney

McCain Ties to Female Lobbyist Questioned

Candidate denies Times allegations of romance, impropriety

Feb 20, 08 9:13 PM CST
(Newser) - In his last run for the presidency, John McCain developed a close relationship with a female lobbyist that worried his advisers so much they intervened with both McCain and the woman to keep them apart, the New York Times reports. The paper cites the incident in a lengthy look at... More »

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ethics • John McCain • Vicki Iseman • Washington lobbyists

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