Category Archives: lobbying

“Meet the New Super Donors”

November 24, 2014, 10:55 amcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

Kevin Bogardus: “We used to have a standard fax, which we turned into an email, that would go out in response to solicitations that said something like Mr. O’Brien has hit his maximum or something like that,” says O’Brien,… Continue reading

“GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson faces conservative rebellion over online gambling”

November 20, 2014, 2:36 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Fascinating WaPo report.

“Mayer Brown, DOJ Fight Over Fees in Lobbyists’ Case”

November 18, 2014, 1:05 pmlobbyingRick Hasen

BLT reports.

“Invest in Smarter Government”

November 15, 2014, 2:35 pmlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Lee Drutman for Cato: Congressional offices are thus stretched thin. They lack resources to develop and execute policies. What this means is that to get its work done, Congress has to rely significantly on lobbyists representing some very narrow interests,… Continue reading

In Glenn Reynolds’ Proposal for a “Revolving Door” Surtax Unconstitutional?

November 10, 2014, 11:36 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Glenn Reynolds in USA Today proposes six bills for the new Republican Congress to pass, including this: 6. Institute a “revolving door” surtax on those who make more in post-government employment. Leave a Treasury job making $150,000 a year… Continue reading

More on FL AG Pam Bondi’s Relationship with Lobbyists Via Eric Lipton NYT

November 9, 2014, 8:07 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

Here.

“Capitol Book Club, With a Bonus”

November 3, 2014, 11:29 amcampaign finance, campaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

NYT: It’s the first Tuesday of the month, and the book club is in session. Between bites of their lunch buffet, two dozen members leaf through classics, best sellers and the latest nonfiction. The scene, though, seems more country… Continue reading

How to Use Negative Ads to Preserve the Status Quo

October 31, 2014, 12:05 pmcampaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

Another Rick Berman nugget: “You get in people’s minds a tie. They don’t know who is right. And you [, the energy industry, win] all ties because the tie basically insures the status quo.” As a reader wrote: “Or in… Continue reading

Read the Entire, Eye-Opening Rick Berman Speech on Undisclosed Money to Influence Public Opinion

October 31, 2014, 9:42 amcampaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

Following up on this quote of the day, the NYT has posted it here. There is lots in here that didn’t get in Eric Lipton’s excellent story, including how Berman demonized the Humane Society.

“At fast-growing Brookings, donors may have an impact on research agenda”

October 31, 2014, 7:25 amlobbyingRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General”

October 28, 2014, 9:39 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

Must-read A1 Eric Lipton for the NYT: Attorneys general are now the object of aggressive pursuit by lobbyists and lawyers who use campaign contributions, personal appeals at lavish corporate-sponsored conferences and other means to push them to drop investigations, change… Continue reading

Role of Lobbyists Issue in AZ Governor’s Race

October 26, 2014, 12:38 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

See this Arizona Republic report.

“My One Minute of Campaign Finance Fame”

October 14, 2014, 6:15 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingJustin Levitt

More movie news. Ciara Torres-Spelliscy reviews “Pay 2 Play” and pay-to-play.

“In Wisconsin, Dark Money Got a Mining Company What It Wanted”

October 14, 2014, 6:14 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingJustin Levitt

ProPublica and the Daily Beast track a mining company’s donations to conservative nonprofits lobbying and launching state legislative campaign ads operating to the company’s benefit. It’s not clear whether the story laments the lack of disclosure or the spending and… Continue reading