Category Archives: lobbying

Supreme Court Case Today Discusses Earlier Case Banning 501(c)(3) Lobbying and Elections Case

June 20, 2013, 7:46 amlobbyingRick Hasen

From AID v. Open Society Int’l: A comparison of two cases helps illustrate the distinction: In Regan v. Taxation With Representation of Washington, the Court upheld a requirement that nonprofit organizations seeking tax-exempt status under 26 U. S. C.… Continue reading

Bauer on Federal Lobbying Disclosure Prosecution

June 12, 2013, 7:05 amlobbyingRick Hasen

Here.

Sen. Bob Casey “Boozing with Some Lobbyists”

June 11, 2013, 9:42 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

That’s CPI’s characterization.

“DOJ Files First Real Lobbying Disclosure Act Enforcement Action”

June 10, 2013, 4:54 pmDepartment of Justice, lobbyingRick Hasen

Robert Kelner: On Friday, June 7, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia filed what appears to be the first ever complaint in a Lobbying Disclosure Act (“LDA”) enforcement action that was not the product of a… Continue reading

“DOJ Asks DC Circuit to Uphold Lobbyist Ban”

June 6, 2013, 9:35 amlobbyingRick Hasen

BLT: The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday fired back at six lobbyists who are in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging the Obama administration ban on federal lobbyists serving on agency boards and commissions. The D.C.… Continue reading

“Rep. Gutierrez pays Chicago lobbyist with tax dollars”

June 6, 2013, 7:44 amlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

USA Today: Over the past 10 years, Rep. Luis Gutierrez has paid a Chicago lobbyist more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds to work side-by-side with his congressional staff. Lobbyist Doug Scofield, Gutierrez’s former chief of staff, can train staff,… Continue reading

“New NRA-Backed Kansas Law Seeks to Limit Lobbying”

June 5, 2013, 4:34 pmlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

AP: “Fresh off a series of legislative victories across the country, the National Rifle Association has launched a new effort starting in gun-friendly Kansas seeking to clamp down on the use of government money to lobby on gun-control issues.”

“War on Democracy in Wisconsin: Bill Would Enact Voter ID, End Disclosure, Limit Early Voting, Expand Lobbyist Influence”

May 29, 2013, 7:14 amcampaign finance, election administration, lobbying, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Brendan Fischer blogs.

“Lack of Bright Line IRS Nonprofit Rules Provide Free Trips for Members of Congress”

May 28, 2013, 7:42 pmcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

Kent Cooper: Members of Congress have benefited from the lack of bright line IRS rules for the close and intertwining relationships between 501(c)(3) nonprofits and their 501(c)(4) lobbying arms. There is a distinction but not much difference. Five members… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

May 24, 2013, 12:33 pmcampaign finance, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

“I won’t dispute for one second the problems of a system that demands immense amount of fund-raisers by its legislators…It’s appalling, it’s disgusting, it’s wasteful and it opens the possibility of conflicts of interest and corruption. It’s unfortunately the world… Continue reading

“Banks’ Lobbyists Help in Drafting Financial Bills”

May 24, 2013, 7:36 amlegislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Front page NYT: Bank lobbyists are not leaving it to lawmakers to draft legislation that softens financial regulations. Instead, the lobbyists are helping to write it themselves. One bill that sailed through the House Financial Services Committee this… Continue reading

“Kill Bill”

May 23, 2013, 7:33 amcampaign finance, legislation and legislatures, lobbyingRick Hasen

Tom Edsall reviews the literature on lobbying and rent-seeking for corporations. (I cover more of this in some detail in this Stanford Law Review article).