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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.

Yes Men Behind Chamber Hoax

Oct. 19, 3:13 p.m.

Three activist groups are taking credit for a hoax Chamber of Commerce press release and press conference at the National Press Club saying that the business trade group had changed its position on climate change.

U.S. Chamber Reports Record Spending on Lobbying

Oct. 19, 2:29 p.m.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce shelled out a record $34.7 million for federal lobbying in the third quarter of this year as the powerful business group sought to influence a wide gamut of issues from health care to legislation involving pythons.

Chamber Hoax Remains a Mystery

Oct. 19, 12:22 p.m.

No one is claiming responsibility for a hoax press release claiming that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had changed its position on climate change legislation.

Groups’ Brawl Heads to Congress

Oct. 19, 12 a.m.

A long-standing battle over payday lender regulations is moving to Capitol Hill, with the Consumers Rights League trying to use recently enacted lobbying reforms against the anti-predatory lender group Center for Responsible Lending.

Netflix Heads to the Hill

Oct. 19, 12 a.m.

After persuading Americans to look in their mailboxes rather than the local video store, online DVD distributor Netflix Inc. is fast discovering that its next business move requires a Washington, D.C., presence to do battle with Internet service providers and other industry foes.

A Royal Feud: To Pay or Not to Pay for Radio Play

Oct. 19, 12 a.m.

Musicians and broadcasters are gearing up for the next step in their high-pitched battle over royalties now that Senate and House committees have approved bills that would force radio stations to pay performers for playing their songs.

Industries Launch Defensive

Oct. 15, 12 a.m.

The day after the Senate Finance Committee approved its massive health care legislation, Jody Dietel, an executive with WageWorks, a California-based benefits management company, flew to the nation’s capital to do damage control.

Chamber Defections Cast Shadow Over Latest Effort

Oct. 15, 12 a.m.

As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce rolled out its multimillion-dollar Campaign for Free Enterprise on Wednesday with all the pomp and circumstance of a political campaign rally, the business group was still dogged by questions surrounding its position on climate change legislation.

Witnesses Named for Hearing on Forged Letters

Oct. 14, 12:59 p.m.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee and a co-author of the cap-and-trade bill, named the four witnesses that will testify at an investigative hearing Thursday morning on forged letters sent to Congress on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

U.S. Chamber Kicks Off Jobs Campaign

Oct. 14, 11:03 a.m.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched its multimillion-dollar Campaign for Free Enterprise on Wednesday with the goal of creating 20 million jobs over the next decade.

Generics Seek New Prescription for Influence

Oct. 14, 12 a.m.

The generic drug industry, outmanned and outspent on the lobbying front compared to its name-brand counterparts, has been struggling to be heard on Capitol Hill throughout the health care debate.

Insurance Industry Sparks a Brawl

Oct. 14, 12 a.m.

After months of holding its fire, the insurance industry is moving to aggressively push back against health care legislation moving forward in the Senate.

Markey Calls New Hearing on Forged Letters

Oct. 13, 3:24 p.m.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee and a co-author of the cap-and-trade bill, has called an investigative hearing Thursday morning on forged letters sent to Congress on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

Managed Funds Group Teams With Local Associations

Oct. 13, 10:52 a.m.

The Managed Funds Association is moving to form alliances with regional hedge fund groups, starting with the Mid-Atlantic Hedge Fund Association.

No Verdict in Ring Case; Jurors Break for Weekend

Oct. 9, 1:30 p.m.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle this afternoon sent home jurors deliberating in the public corruption trial of former lobbyist Kevin Ring. They are set to return Tuesday morning, according to a court spokeswoman.

Opponents Blast Google’s Hire

Oct. 8, 12 a.m.

As the lobbying battle over net neutrality is reaching a fever pitch, opponents are crying foul after a top staffer to Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced her departure for Google.

Health Bills Get Religion

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

And on the eighth day, God created the health care debate.

Tax Measure Fuels Business Bonanza

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

Even as health care continues to dominate Capitol Hill, lobbyists are ramping up their efforts behind the scenes to add legislative sweeteners to a tax bill Congress is expected to take up before the end of the year.

Watchdogs Want More Tariff Details

Oct. 7, 12 a.m.

Despite new disclosure rules that require more specifics from lobbyists who are pushing for tariff measures, watchdog groups complain that it is still too hard for the public to determine which companies are seeking these lucrative trade breaks.

U.S. Chamber Fights Back Against Defections

Oct. 6, 6:40 p.m.

Just a day after Apple Inc. announced its decision to quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the trade association’s president, Tom Donohue, aggressively pushed back, sending the tech company a letter disputing its characterization of the chamber’s climate change policy.