Lobbyists

Oil Industry Voter Guide Gives Inhofe Perfect Score

WASHINGTON, DC (November 3, 2009) – The National Wildlife Federation has uncovered a little-known legislative scorecard and Voter Guide from the American Petroleum Institute, revealing Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) earned a perfect score from the oil industry’s top trade association last year.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Robert J. Cabelly, 61, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted in the District of Columbia in an eight-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate the Sudanese sanctions regulations and to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign power, four counts of violating the Sudanese sanctions regulations, as well as one count apiece of money laundering, passport fraud and making false statements.    » read more »

Law builds on recommendations of Governor's Public Integrity Task Force, answers calls to renew confidence in government

BOSTON – July 1, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, joined by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, today signed sweeping ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform legislation that institutes a strong ban on gifts to public officials, increases penalties for civil and criminal violations of ethics laws and expands the investigative and enforcement powers of a number of state authorities.

Coming directly on the heels of landmark changes to the state's pension and transportation systems, the law delivers on promises made by the Governor to restore public trust in government by bringing real reform to Beacon Hill.    » read more »

New Rule Requires that Applications for Competitive Spending Projects be Submitted Exclusively in Writing and That All Earmark Requests be Posted on Internet

May 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public Citizen applauds the Obama Administration’s decision to require all requests for competitive spending grants from the stimulus package by non-governmental persons, including registered lobbyists, be made exclusively in writing and then posted on the Internet within three days.

Requests for non-competitive grants, such as those made to governmental agencies, may be made orally, but these requests must also be posted on the Internet. Until today’s executive order, the requirement that requests be submitted exclusively in writing applied only to registered lobbyists.    » read more »

March 06, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley has formally asked the chairmen of two legislative committees to bring his anti-corruption proposal up for debate.

“Alabama needs to declare war on corruption. The proposal I’ve submitted is a sweeping anti-corruption bill that increases transparency and will change the political culture of our state forever,” said Governor Riley.

The Governor’s proposal has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Representative Marcel Black and the Senate Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Election Committee chaired by Senator Quinton Ross.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - During a news conference at the state capitol this morning, Alabama Governor Bob Riley outlined the details of a proposal he has submitted that is “a total and complete” overhaul of the state’s ethics code.

The Alabama Code of Public Ethics, which is sponsored by Senator Ben Brooks and Representative Mac Gipson, would bring greater transparency to dealings between lobbyists and public servants, prevent conflicts of interests, and empower the state’s Ethics Commission to enforce the law.

Governor Riley first announced the ethics reform proposal during his State of the State Address earlier this month.    » read more »

February 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – CtW Investment Group Director of Value Strategies Michael Garland released the following statement today in response to Principal Financial Group’s claim that they haven’t taken a position on the Employee Free Choice Act.

“In a transparent attempt to rewrite history to qualify for $2 billion in TARP assistance, the Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PFG), issued a statement last night asserting that it has not taken a position on the Employee Free Choice Act. The public record indicates otherwise.    » read more »

Principal Financial Focus Of Call To End TARP-Subsidized Lobbying

February 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Change to Win has called on the Treasury Department to plug the hole that has allowed TARP recipients to lobby against the interests of the taxpayers who bear the burden of paying for the Wall Street bailout. Change to Win specifically registered its opposition to granting assistance to the Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PFG), which has applied for up to $2 billion in TARP funds.    » read more »

August 18, 2008 -- On the same day John McCain bragged about how proud he is of the lobbyists running his campaign, McCain is accepting campaign cash raised by one of the central figures in the culture of corruption surrounding a convicted lobbyist.

According to published reports, the chair of McCain's Georgia fundraising committee asked Ralph Reed, a central figure in the scandals surrounding disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff,to help raise money for today's fundraiser in Atlanta. Reed then asked his friends to send money to McCain in an email in which Reed advertised himself as a member of John McCain's Victory 2008 team.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today launched the first web ad of the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign. The ad, called "Exxon John," highlights McCain's promise of more giveaways for his new friends in Big Oil. Released on the same day activists across the country are participating in an Exxon-McCain '08 National Day of Action, "Exxon John" is a parody of the "Big John" video released earlier this year by Republican Senator John Cornyn.    » read more »

Exxon-McCain '08

August 11, 2008 -- Activists across the country will take part in a National Day of Action to protest the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign on Tuesday, August 12. Tomorrow's events are the cornerstone of a week of grassroots activism in as many as 18 states aimed at highlighting Exxon John's promise of four more years of gimmicks and giveaways that line Big Oil's pockets but do nothing to help Americans deal with skyrocketing energy costs.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- This week, with energy in the headlines and at the forefront of the economic struggles for America's families, Americans are demanding real solutions to soaring gas prices and the long-term energy crisis. But instead of looking ahead for comprehensive solutions to our nation's energy problems and towards reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and developing alternative energy sources, John McCain is turning to the Bush-Cheney play book which puts the interests of oil companies ahead of the interests of Americans. In fact, John McCain has at least 33 former oil lobbyists who advise him or fund-raise for his campaign.    » read more »

Barack Obama-Backed Bill Would Require All Lobbyists Representing Foreign Clients To Register with the Justice Department, Eliminating Exemption Carved Out By Lobbying Disclosure Act

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today unveiled legislation that would close legal loopholes allowing U.S. lobbyists to influence government officials on behalf of foreign clients without having to disclose their activities.

The issue surfaced last month in the U.S. presidential campaign, as reports spotlighted a trend of lobbying firms performing work for a range of foreign entities without ever registering with the Department of Justice, as is required in most circumstances.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today joined with Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to introduce the Closing the Foreign Lobbying Loophole Act, which would close loopholes that allow American lobbyists, representing foreign clients, to lobby U.S. government officials without disclosing these activities. Obama is an original cosponsor of the bill.    » read more »

May 22, 2008 -- The Washington Post reveals the cozy relationship between John McCain and the Washington lobbyists he once railed against. Despite his rhetoric about reducing the role of lobbyists in Washington, McCain's inner circle is dominated by lobbyists like Charlie Black, who the Post describes as a "longtime uber-lobbyist" and "a pioneer of the revolving door between campaign consulting and lobbying."

John McCain: Photo by Chris Denbow (CC)    » read more »