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Plastic Surgeons Pressure Senate to Nip New Tax

Nov. 19, 7:01 p.m.

The Senate Democratic plan to pay for part of health care reform by slapping a tax on elective cosmetic surgery drew jeers Thursday from doctors who specialize in such procedures as breast implants and nose jobs.

DOJ Drops Investigation of Former Gregg Aide

Nov. 19, 4:41 p.m.

The Justice Department has dropped its investigation of a former top aide to Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) who came under scrutiny during the wide-ranging influence peddling probe centered on ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates.

AHIP Opposes Senate Health Care Bill

Nov. 19, 4:10 p.m.

In a move that came as little surprise, the health insurance industry’s lead lobbying group has come out against the Senate’s health care reform plan.

TechNet Uploads Ramsey as Its CEO

Nov. 19, 12 a.m.

After a months-long search, TechNet has named Rey Ramsey as its new president and CEO.

TechNet Nabs New CEO

Nov. 18, 12:07 p.m.

TechNet’s long search for a new head has come to an end. The high-tech trade group has hired Rey Ramsey as its new CEO, according to a source familiar with the process. An announcement could come as early as Wednesday.

Daschle Jumps to DLA Piper

Nov. 18, 11:03 a.m.

On the heels of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) departing the firm, DLA Piper announced today that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has joined the firm as a senior policy adviser.

Generic Drug Firm Makes a Case for Its Brand

Nov. 18, 12 a.m.

Teva Pharmaceuticals, a leading manufacturer of generic drugs, has been aggressively lobbying Congress to scrap provisions in the health care bills it claims would shut it out of the biologic drug market for too long.

Bishops Take Official Health Stand

Nov. 18, 12 a.m.

BALTIMORE — National Catholic leaders this week ratified the church’s official position in the ongoing health care debate, reiterating their tough stance against abortion rights and on other hot-button issues as the legislation makes its way through the Senate.

Abortion-Rights Groups Plan Rally

Nov. 17, 12 a.m.

Abortion-rights groups and other progressive lobbies are organizing a post-Thanksgiving assault on Capitol Hill to press lawmakers to keep restrictive language on abortion out of the final health care package.

Rum War Between Territories Ferments on Hill

Nov. 17, 12 a.m.

The bad blood continues to ferment between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands over rum taxes, as the two territories vie for perks to lure the lucrative industry.

Catholic Bishop Defends Health Care Lobbying

Nov. 16, 3:31 p.m.

BALTIMORE — The nation’s top Catholic bishop on Monday defended his church’s role in shaping the current health care debate, telling an annual gathering of church leaders that it’s their duty to press lawmakers to enact tough restrictions on abortion rights.

Labor Leader Trumka Eyes Changes, Pushes Agenda

Nov. 16, 12 a.m.

Downtown’s newest labor boss is making bold predictions during his first weeks on the job, assuring passage of a liberal health care overhaul by the 2010 State of the Union, followed by imminent consideration of contentious “card check” legislation.

New Rule Trips Up Lobbyist-Tied PACs

Nov. 16, 12 a.m.

Apparent computer glitches and confusion over new reporting rules for political action committees have ensnared some of the nation’s biggest lobbying organizations, which missed a campaign finance deadline by more than seven months.

Liberal Group Pressures AMA to Leave Chamber

Nov. 13, 4:07 p.m.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which recently suffered high-profile defections because of its opposition to climate change legislation, is now facing a demand that the nation’s top doctors association resign from the business group over the chamber’s stand against health care overhaul efforts.

Elias Taking Helm of Perkins Coie’s Political Law Shop

Nov. 13, 12:13 p.m.

Veteran Senate campaign lawyer Marc Elias will replace newly appointed White House counsel Bob Bauer as chairman of the political law practice at Perkins Coie, a source familiar with the firm’s decision confirmed Friday.

Groups Launch Anti-Health Care Reform Ads

Nov. 12, 12:42 p.m.

The Employment Policies Institute, founded by lobbyist and public relations man Richard Berman, has launched a $10 million television campaign warning about the high cost of proposed health care reform.

Abortion-Rights Lobby Shifts Focus to Senate

Nov. 10, 12 a.m.

Abortion-rights advocates, who were outmaneuvered in the House’s health care reform vote, are banking on tougher Senate rules and targeted lobbying to keep restrictive abortion language out of that chamber’s bill.

Climate Stakeholders Target Senators

Nov. 9, 12 a.m.

After contentious Senate committee action on climate change legislation last week, industry and environmental interests are focusing on a select group of Senators who are trying to forge consensus on the heated issue.

Publishers Fighting Free Texts

Nov. 9, 12 a.m.

A former Member is leading the charge for college textbook makers that are up in arms over a proposed $500 million “federal takeover” of the online coursework business, which manufacturers argue will pick the pocket of an already struggling industry.

Pro-Bonner Ad Causes a Backlash

Nov. 9, 12 a.m.

American University professor James Thurber ate crow Friday, calling the decision to run an ad in Roll Call supporting Jack Bonner, who has been mired in a Congressional investigation into forged constituent letters, an error.

Activists Gear Up for Fight

Nov. 5, 12 a.m.

Lately, Donna Crane hasn’t been making it home early. The policy director of NARAL Pro-Choice America has been lobbying nonstop to ensure that the House does not slip anti-abortion language into its health care legislation, which the chamber is expected to vote on this weekend.

Groups Prepare for Insurance Hit

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

These are fretful days for Stan Schuck. Like countless nonprofit business leaders nationwide, the president of the Philadelphia-area Main Line Chamber of Commerce is busy soothing a membership reeling from historically high unemployment and foreclosure rates, the prospect of higher taxes and less revenue in a prolonged down economy.

As Vote Looms, Interest Groups Intensify Push

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

The phones will be ringing more than usual in the offices of Democratic lawmakers this week, and radio and TV ads will flood the airwaves.

Coalition Battles Banking Lobby

Nov. 4, 12 a.m.

Watch out, banking lobbyists. Americans for Financial Reform believes it has your number.

Lobbyists Urge Frank to Delay

Nov. 3, 12 a.m.

As the House Financial Services Committee begins its final push today in drafting legislation that will overhaul the banking system, lobbyists are scrambling to get Members of Congress to address specific provisions that would harm their clients’ bottom lines.

Lawmakers Host Radio Royalty Talks

Nov. 3, 12 a.m.

Hoping to break a deadlock over performance royalties, key lawmakers have summoned representatives from radio broadcasters and a musicians group to a negotiating session later this month at the Capitol.

Mixed Agendas Divide Health Coalition Effort

Nov. 2, 12 a.m.

In 2007, four groups representing small and big business, labor and senior citizens joined forces to promote the need to revamp the health care system.

Probe of Forged Letters Expands

Nov. 2, 12 a.m.

With the battle over climate change legislation raging in the Senate, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is examining new information related to his investigation into forged letters sent this summer opposing the House cap-and-trade bill.

Ethics Investigations Chill Fundraising

Nov. 2, 12 a.m.

A recent leak that an ethics panel is investigating seven defense appropriators is expected to shut down Members’ fundraising prospects from the industry, which is typically a reliable source of campaign cash for their re-election campaigns.

Witnesses Doing Damage Control Over Forged Letters to Congress

Oct. 29, 11:07 a.m.

As the climate change debate continues to rage in the Senate, the House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee held a hearing Thursday on its investigation into forged letters sent this summer opposing the House cap-and-trade bill.

Medical Device Group Makes Last-Minute Push

Oct. 29, 12 a.m.

The Medical Device Manufacturers Association has launched a radio and print ad campaign aimed at prodding Congress to drop fees proposed for medical devices as part of the health care overhaul effort.

Lobby League Pressures White House on Advisory Boards

Oct. 28, 7:05 p.m.

American League of Lobbyists President David Wenhold wrote a letter Wednesday to President Barack Obama pushing back against the recent announcement by White House Ethics Adviser Norm Eisen that lobbyists would no longer be welcome on federal advisory boards.

Blog Stirs Controversy on Hill, K Street With Quotes From Senate Aide

Oct. 28, 6:25 p.m.

A blog post reporting comments made by a senior Republican staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee is creating a firestorm on K Street and Capitol Hill. The staffer, according to the blog, criticized earlier attempts at passing patent reform and took the high-tech industry to task for trying to buy its way into passing legislation.

Health Insurers Attack Public Option, Cuts

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

The health insurance industry, which had been taking a relatively tempered approach to health care legislation, has stepped up its opposition to the overhaul efforts as it has become clear that the final product will not be to its liking.

PMA Group Refugees Reel In Former Clients

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

Not yet a year since the lobbying shop PMA Group abruptly shut its doors, castaways from Paul Magliocchetti’s once-vast appropriations empire are continuing to divvy up his former clients among themselves. And they appear to be generating a handsome profit.

Tech Interests Go on Hiring Spree in D.C

Oct. 28, 12 a.m.

While much of Washington, D.C., has been focused solely on health care reform, the technology industry has been quietly undergoing a massive shuffling of the decks on the personnel front.

Republicans Slam AARP on Health Care Reform

Oct. 26, 6:25 p.m.

A group of House Republicans is questioning AARP’s support of the Democrats’ health care overhaul efforts, saying the reform plan could prove costly to seniors enrolled in the Medicare Advantage program.

White House Invites Chamber, NFIB to Obama Event

Oct. 26, 2:31 p.m.

Amid reports the White House is trying to marginalize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, officials have invited chamber members to the White House on Thursday to hear remarks by President Barack Obama.

Appropriations Shops Restructure Their Business Models

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

Lobbying firms that once specialized in securing earmarks for their clients appear to be weathering both the economic downturn and public outrage over the “Bridge to Nowhere” and other pet projects that have been cast as a misuse of federal tax dollars.

Return to Hill Isn’t Cheap

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

After years of living in a Republican world, most Democrats on K Street are cashing in on the new political reality.

Young Firms Hit K Street Scene

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

As computer-savvy Americans have grown accustomed to routinely checking their Facebook pages, this year the online social- networking venture decided to give serious face time to Members of Congress and their staffs.

What’s in Banks’ Wallets? Less for Lobbying

Oct. 26, 12 a.m.

While the recession has not made much of a dent in the lobbying budgets of many companies, particularly those trying to influence health care and energy legislation, the beleaguered banking and financial services sector has been more restrained in its spending.

Podesta Bash Lures High-Profile Democrats

Oct. 24, 10:59 a.m.

A parade of women and men wearing cherry red loafers and berry pumps converged at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Friday night, all in the name of Democratic powerbroker Tony Podesta's 65th birthday.

Debbie Dingell Motors to New Group

Oct. 23, 6:46 p.m.

Debbie Dingell, the wife of Energy and Commerce Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-Mich.), has been hired by the American Automotive Policy Council, a new coalition of domestic automakers Ford Motor Co., the Chrysler Group and General Motors Corp.

Hewlett-Packard Leaves Patent Coalition

Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.

Tech giant Hewlett-Packard has dropped out of the Coalition for Patent Fairness, according to sources.

Big Business Opens Up Deep Wallets to Sway Bills

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

Locked in a bitter legislative battle, package delivery giants FedEx and United Parcel Service this summer decided the way to woo lawmakers was to ramp up their lobbying budgets.

Defrauded Credit Unions Want Their Money Back

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

More than a dozen credit unions are launching a lobbying offensive against Fannie Mae, asking Congress to cut off funds to the government-sponsored enterprise until $125 million in stolen mortgages is returned.

Spending on Health Lobbying Jumps in Third Quarter of Year

Oct. 21, 12 a.m.

Just as Democrats stepped up their rhetoric this summer against the health insurance industry, the sector’s lead association increased the amount it spent on federal lobbying.

Chamber Discloses a Record Lobby Sum

Oct. 20, 12 a.m.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which on Monday found itself the target of a hoax by climate change advocates, reported spending a record amount on federal lobbying in the third quarter of this year.

Rangel Is Tops With K Street Bundlers

Oct. 19, 6:03 p.m.

Embattled House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) was the top recipient of bundled campaign contributions from lobbyists during the third fundraising quarter of this year, new reports show.