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K Street Files: About That Sale

Nov. 5, 12 a.m.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who chairs a House subcommittee tasked with overseeing elections, recently expressed “serious concerns” with the sale of an electronic voting machine company to another manufacturer.

K Street Files: Damage Control

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

As Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) continues his investigation into forged letters opposing the House climate change bill, few people have risen to defend Jack Bonner, founder of the grass-roots consulting firm where the falsified letters originated. But now Bonner has found an unusual ally — American University.

K Street Files: Coalition on the Charge

Nov. 2, 12 a.m.

An unusual array of small-business trade associations are joining together to fight for additional support to help unfreeze credit markets for small companies. Nearly 30 groups, including the American Apparel & Footwear Association, Associated General Contractors of America, International Franchise Association, and Marine Retailers Association of America have formed the Small Business Access to Credit Coalition.

K Street Files: Law and Order

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

For all the stigma of scandal and lawlessness in lobby land, an indictment is actually rare, especially when one of the charges is failure to register for a foreign client. But on Tuesday the Justice Department announced charges against Robert Cabelly of C/R International for his alleged work for the government of Sudan.

K Street Files: Partying for Podesta

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

Democratic power broker Tony Podesta was scheduled to celebrate his 65th birthday in style with a “red shoe” fete at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Friday night. Riffing off of Podesta’s penchant for wearing red loafers, the party invite billed the event as “A Red Shoe Affair.” Guests were encouraged to “glamour up and join us to celebrate” — red shoes optional.

K Street Files: Zerzan’s Out

Oct. 22, 12 a.m.

As the lobbying battle over the financial services regulatory overhaul kicks into high gear, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association is out a top lobbyist for its Washington, D.C., office. Greg Zerzan, head of public policy for the trade group since 2006, is no longer with ISDA. The decision was mutual, according to an ISDA spokeswoman.

K Street Files: On Second Thought

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who made his initial fortune during the Internet boom a decade ago, is now backing away from an anti-net-neutrality letter that he signed last week.

K Street Files: Bundles of Joy

Oct. 19, 12 a.m.

Lobbyists and political action committees delivered more than $330,000 worth of bundled campaign contributions to House Members during the third fundraising quarter this year, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures filed last week.

K Street Files: My Turn

Oct. 14, 12 a.m.

Former Bush administration official and lobbyist Tommy Thompson is the latest Republican to lash out at the Democratic National Committee for apparently misusing his stance on health care reform. The DNC over the weekend reportedly pulled a television advertisement featuring Thompson, former Sen. Bob Dole (Kan.) and other Republicans who apparently supported a White House-led charge to fix the nation’s insurance woes.

K Street Files: Small Business’ Big Fear

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

The conservative Institute for Liberty today is launching a new project to mobilize small-business owners’ opposition to any health care reform bill that includes government mandates. The effort, dubbed Keeping Small Business Healthy, is kicking off events today in Baton Rouge, La., and Little Rock, Ark.

K Street Files: Appropriating a Business

Oct. 5, 12 a.m.

The appropriations lobbying sector, once a stalwart of the K Street industry, has taken its lumps in the form of scandals and intrigue in recent years. But now Chris Pedigo has a business model that could one day render obsolete the well-paid earmark lobbyist.

K Street Files: Hard Time

Oct. 1, 12 a.m.

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) is hunting for co-sponsors for legislation that would restrict the lobbying and political activities of mischievous corporations.

K Street Files: On the Street Where You Live

Sept. 30, 12 a.m.

J Street, the year-old pro-Israel lobby that advocates for Palestinian statehood, will announce today that more than 160 Members of Congress, including 29 Senators, are serving on the honorary host committee for the group’s first conference and gala dinner next month.

K Street Files: Wyden on Hot Streak?

Sept. 23, 12 a.m.

Online gambling advocates are cheering an amendment to Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) health care bill. Put forward by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the amendment would increase low-income health care subsidies by taxing Internet gaming. Wyden’s amendment would increase the subsidies to 400 percent of the federal poverty level and lower cost-sharing.

K Street Files: Miller’s Money Train

Sept. 22, 12 a.m.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson may not have realized what a boost his infamous “You lie!” outburst during President Barack Obama’s recent speech to Congress would have on his and his opponent Rob Miller’s fundraising.

K Street Files: New Gig

Sept. 21, 12 a.m.

The National Association of Broadcasters on Friday named former Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) as its new president and CEO.

K Street Files: Specter’s Bluff?

Sept. 16, 12 a.m.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is scoffing at a new pledge by Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) to pass a “card check” compromise by year’s end.

K Street Files: Labor Pains

Sept. 14, 12 a.m.

President Barack Obama rattled organized labor last week during his speech to a joint session of Congress. In making his case for overhauling the nation’s health care system, Obama proposed charging “insurance companies a fee for their most expensive policies, which will encourage them to provide greater value for the money.”

K Street Files: Colombia Is ... Controversy

Sept. 9, 12 a.m.

A public relations campaign for Colombia that included handing out free flowers and coffee at Union Station took a contentious turn Tuesday afternoon when a group of protesters set up outside the station to attack the country’s human rights record.

K Street Files: Enviros Gain Steam

Sept. 4, 11:17 a.m.

The Environmental Defense Action Fund is launching an end-of-the-August-recess TV ad buy. EDAF is trying to counter the oil industry’s claim that the United States can’t afford the cap-and-trade bill.

K Street Files: A Change for Change That Works

Sept. 2, 2:49 p.m.

Change That Works, which started as a campaign by the Service Employees International Union, is becoming a separate organization that will be unveiled in the coming weeks. The effort will work to gin up support for progressive proposals on health care reform, immigration, financial services and climate change.

K Street Files: Trumka Optimistic on Reunification

Sept. 2, 12:28 p.m.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka said Wednesday that his leadership increases the odds that the breakaway Change to Win coalition will rejoin the nation’s largest labor group.

K Street Files: Ad Blitz Against Debt Load

Sept. 1, 12:05 p.m.

A conservative-leaning think tank launched a $3 million-plus advertising blitz Tuesday to highlight the hefty price tag of Democrats’ legislative agenda.

K Street Files: Wall Street Comes to K Street

Aug. 24, 2:40 p.m.

The New York Stock Exchange has hired Clarke Camper, who has spent 20 years in the government relations and policy fields, as senior vice president and head of government affairs and public advocacy.

K Street Files: Myths Vs. Facts

Aug. 19, 4:56 p.m.

With the health care debate in full swing, the nation’s largest seniors’ group has taken to the airwaves over concerns that AstroTurf firms and lobbying groups are taking advantage of seniors in an effort to thwart reform.