Topic: Lobbying

Google Now Spends More on Lobbying Than Lockheed Martin

Reuters

Google might actually be fulfilling Julian Assange's nightmares and turning into the Lockheed Martin of 21st century lobbying, having spent more than the military defense company on pushing issues in 2012, with a record $18.2 billion that made it the eighth largest lobbyist in DC.

By Philip Bump

Apr 12, 2013

Just Because You're Lobbying Doesn't Make You a Lobbyist

What would you call a person who spends days on end going from one senator's office to another to push for a piece of legislation? If he's paid it's one thing. If he's a family member of a crime victim, it apparently comes down to politics.

Comments | 187 Views

By Liz Day, ProPublica

Mar 26, 2013

How the Maker of TurboTax Fought to Keep Your Taxes Complicated

Why can't you file your taxes in five minutes — and for free? Well, it doesn't help that simpler a system for filing your taxes has been opposed for years by the company behind the most popular consumer tax software — Intuit, maker of TurboTax.

Comments | 1,209 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 28, 2013

Google Sent Cash in the FTC's Direction During Its Antitrust Investigation

Nobody's calling it a bribe, but Google donated $25,000 to honor the Federal Trade Commission chairman while the agency was embroiled in an investigation into the company's alleged anti-competitive practices. 

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Oct 5, 2012

Joe Lockhart Has Left Facebook

After 15 months on the job, Facebook's VP of communications Joe Lockhart is leaving the social network because he doesn't like the West Coast, though the timing suggests otherwise.

Comments | 1,110 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Aug 15, 2012

Congressman Takes a Lobbying Job the Same Day He Resigns

On Tuesday afternoon, California Rep. Dennis Cardoza resigned from Congress, effective at midnight. Before the day was over, he already had another job — as a director at a D.C. lobbying firm.

Comments | 2,327 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 29, 2012

Ray LaHood's Son Can Finally Come Home from Egypt

After more than a month of being detained by authorities, Sam LaHood will be allowed to leave Egypt's borders. We're guessing he's going to head straight home, to the old U.S. of A.

Comments | 1,089 Views

By Eric Randall

Feb 23, 2012

Susan Molinari Now in Google's DC Circle

Google announced they'd hired Staten Island's former U.S. Rep. Susan Molinari as their vice president of public policy and government relations for the Americas, Politico reported Thursday

Comments | 346 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Feb 22, 2012

Stat of the Day

81.9% of Former U.S. House Staffers Going Into Lobbying Went Corporate

If you follow Washington politics, something you've likely suspected can now be confirmed. According to a new analysis, most ex-staffers of U.S. representatives going lobbying worked for corporations.

Comments | 1,787 Views

By John Hudson

Feb 13, 2012

The Difference Between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama's Lobbyist Ties

While both President Obama and Mitt Romney surround themselves with lobbyists, there's a difference between how the two campaigns respond to questions about their K Street ties: Obama actually does it.

Comments | 2,897 Views

By John Hudson

Nov 30, 2011

Newt's Finest Lobbyist Denials

Newt Gingrich deserves a pat on the back for the increasingly diverse ways he's attempted to dissociate himself from the lobbying profession.

Comments | 392 Views

By Ted Mann

Nov 19, 2011

Two Ways to Attack The Occupy Movement

Another video of cops spraying seemingly harmless protesters with pepper spray triggers outrage, while a high-powered lobbying firm offers to attack with "negative narratives," for a fee.

Comments | 6,380 Views

By Erik Hayden

Nov 3, 2011

Jack Abramoff Doesn't Think Much of Congress's Ethics Reforms

Disgraced lobbyist Abramoff says in a forthcoming 60 Minutes interview (leaked this morning to Playbook) he doesn't think Congresses new ethics reforms will do much from stopping lobbyists like him from skirting the law.

Comments | 1,413 Views

By John Hudson

Oct 28, 2011

Obama's Lobbyist Ties Come with Lots of Caveats

In a broad daylight, today's front page story in The New York Times makes it clear President Obama is sliding by on a technicality every time he says he doesn't take money from lobbyists.

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Oct 26, 2011

At Least Lobbyists Love Romney

Anti-Mitt Romney sentiment has proved so stubborn it prompted talk radio host Hugh Hewitt to wonder why "so many conservatives hate him" -- but Hewitt can take comfort in the fact that so many Washington lobbyists think Romney's pretty great.

Comments | 760 Views

By John Hudson

Oct 24, 2011

Obama Gets Dinged for Hiring a Lobbyist

The press release announcing the Obama campaign's new senior adviser slyly refrained from mentioning his past work as a veteran lobbyist, a detail that wasn't lost for long.

Comments | 709 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 17, 2011

Cartoon

D.C. Is Already Occupied

Cartoonist Nick Anderson on Occupy D.C.

Comments | 1,569 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 22, 2011

At Least K Street Event Ban Will Help Bureaucrats Lose Weight

Ban on attending trade events means less free snacks

Comments | 517 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 16, 2011

40 People Have Passed Through Perry's Staffer-Lobbyist Revolving Door

The staffer who once worked for Merck fits a trend at the Texas governor's office

Comments | 969 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 13, 2011

To Build a More Lovable Lobbyist

A firm representing one of the most loathed professions is trying to rehabilitate its image

Comments | 345 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 1, 2011

Now It's the Lobbyists' Turn to Pick Apart the Debt Deal

The creation of a Super Committee creates a lucrative new business for K Street

Comments | 674 Views

By Ray Gustini

Jul 29, 2011

Obama Now Targeting Republicans Via Twitter

The feed hands out GOP representatives' Twitter handles

Comments | 1,766 Views

By John Hudson

Jul 1, 2011

Why Google Needs a Twelve-Firm Lobbying Army

The search giant is embroiled in regulatory challenges on several fronts

Comments | 2,387 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

May 12, 2011

Ethics Committee Would Have Considered Expelling Ensign

Senate panel takes unusual move in making investigation into Ensign's affair public

Comments | 318 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 21, 2011

BP Goes on Suing Spree, Spends $2 Million on Lobbying

The $40 billion BP wants from Transocean is twice what it committed for spill recovery

Comments | 1,639 Views

By Ray Gustini

Mar 8, 2011

Do 'To Catch a Predator' Rules Apply to the Walker Prank Call?

Wisconsin Democrats file ethics complaint over governor's conversation with David Koch impostor

Comments | 665 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Feb 24, 2011

Why Are Lobbyists Being Kept Away From White House?

Lobbyists feel snubbed by private meetings in off-site locations--bloggers, meanwhile, see hypocrisy

Comments | 204 Views

By Erik Hayden

Feb 21, 2011

The Secret Hollywood History of Christopher Dodd

The former Connecticut Senator's glitzy past is coming out now that he is expected to be named Hollywood's top lobbyist as head of the Motion Picture Association of America

Comments | 15 Views

By Ray Gustini

Sep 17, 2010

Morning Vid: Lady Gaga Makes the Case for Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Places a phone call to Chuck Schumer, discovers Chuck Schumer is not in his office

Comments

By Max Fisher

Jun 18, 2010

Conservatives Go to War Against National Rifle Association

Friends don't let friends cut deals with Democrats

Comments | 89 Views

By John Hudson

May 15, 2010

With Palin, Beck, Gingrich, Is the NRA Unstoppable?

An expected 70,000 card-carrying members flock to Charlotte for the annual meeting

Comments

By Max Fisher

Mar 11, 2010

The Great Earmark Ban Wars

Dems discover their inner John McCain

Comments | 40 Views

By Jake Simpson

Mar 5, 2010

Morning Vid: Colbert's 'Heavily Edited Interview' of Hannity

The Comedy Central host becomes Hannity's pimp

Comments | 237 Views

By Max Fisher

Oct 30, 2009

The Impact of the House Ethics Investigations

More than 30 lawmakers are under investigation for alleged ethics abuses

Comments

By Heather Horn

Oct 27, 2009

Everyone's Mad at the Chamber of Commerce

The lobbying group for American businesses has been taking a lot of heat lately

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By Max Fisher

Aug 24, 2009

Strange Bedfellows: Damning Daschle

Two pundits from opposite ends of the spectrum join forces to hammer Tom Daschle.

Comments

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