“Campaign Finance Reform Panel with Jack Abramoff “
“Former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Campaign Finance Reform Leaders to
Discuss How to Fix Washington” at National Press Club March 5 at 7 pm.
Category Archives: legislation and legislatures
What’s Wrong With Washington, Continued
If Senator Snowe moves to K street, she could make $1 million per year as a lobbyist. As I explain, the revolving door is one of the most dangerous aspects of Washington lobbying.
I’ll have more to say about… Continue reading
STOCK Act Will Pass, Do Nothing
So says Politico.
New, Important Report on Senate Cloture Rule
The following announcement arrived via email:
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is pleased to announce the publication of the Senate Cloture Rule, prepared by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. The last time such a… Continue reading
Financial Times on Rent-Seeking and Economic Decline
See this interesting article.
I discuss how the prevention of rent-seeking and the promotion of national economic welfare could justify some additional regulation of lobbying activities in my just-published Stanford Law Review article.
“Rep. Joel Kleefisch allegedly caught voting for absent member”
More news from Madison (via Political Wire).
“House panel OK’s shielding lawmakers from having to testify”
More news from Florida: “A late-emerging measure that would shield legislators from having to testify or turn over public records in lawsuits cleared the House Judiciary Committee in a partyline vote Thursday. Democrats ripped the wide-ranging immunity bill as designed… Continue reading
Quote of the Day
“It’s our system of checks and balances. They deposit checks—it increases their balances.”
Jon Stewart, on Congress’s insider trading controversy and the STOCK Act
Were Obama’s Recess Appointments an Abuse of Power?
Howard rounds up news and opinion.
“Lobbyists sue Obama administration after being booted from boards”
The Hill reports. In my Stanford Law Review piece, linked below, I am critical of this aspect of the Obama administration’s approach to lobbyist regulation.
“California Set to Send Many New Faces to Washington”
NYT: “California’s Congressional delegation, the largest and most influential in the nation, is undergoing a major upheaval, the result of reapportionment and retirements, threatening the state’s influence in Washington next year and forcing members to scramble to withstand what… Continue reading
Final Version of “Lobbying, Rent Seeking, and the Constitution” Now Available
Stanford Law Review has published my article, Lobbying, Rent Seeking, and the Constitution. Here is the abstract:
Politicians across the political spectrum, from Barack Obama to Sarah Palin and Rand Paul, routinely castigate lobbyists for engaging in supposedly corrupt activities… Continue reading
What’s Wrong with ALEC?
NYT Editorial: “There is nothing illegal or unethical about ALEC’s work, except that it further demonstrates the pervasive influence of corporate money and right-wing groups on the state legislative process. There is no group with any comparable influence on… Continue reading
“Rep. Bachus faces insider-trading investigation”
AP: “The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), who holds one of the most… Continue reading