Sunrise (4/27/11)

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CHAMBER BLASTS OBAMA ADMIN OVER PROPOSED EO

NYT: “After a brief truce of sorts between the White House and business leaders, the top lobbyist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took aim at President Obama on Tuesday over an as-yet unannounced plan to force government contractors to disclose their political giving. … The lobbyist, R. Bruce Josten, said in an interview that the powerful business bloc “is not going to tolerate” what it saw as a “backdoor attempt” by the White House to silence private-sector opponents by disclosing their political spending. … “We will fight it through all available means,” Mr. Josten said. In a reference to the White House’s battle to depose Libya’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, he said, “To quote what they say every day on Libya, all options are on the table.”

FINANCIAL LENDERS WHO LOBBIED HARDEST IN 90s WERE MOST RECKLESS

WSJ: “Three International Monetary Fund researchers said the mortgage lenders who lobbied most aggressively in Washington for less regulation took more risks and exposed themselves to worse outcomes during the financial crisis than more conservative firms that didn’t lobby. … Deniz Igan, Prachi Mishra and Thierry Tressel said these same lenders were more likely to receive money under the federal government’s bank bailout, possibly because these firms were hit harder during the crisis and had relationships with key lawmakers. (Read the full paper) … The researchers noted that Citigroup Inc., for instance, which nearly collapsed during the crisis and which required $45 billion in government support to stay alive, lobbied intensely against a 2001 bill that aimed to put tighter restrictions on lenders. A Citigroup spokesman declined to comment.”

LOBBYISTS BANKING IN ON CORPORATE TAX REFORM TALK

The Hill: “Corporate tax reform has been big business for K Street this year. … A review of lobbying disclosure records shows that more than 80 companies, lobby firms and trade groups have lobbied on plans that could lower corporate tax rates at the expense of loopholes and subsidies that are beneficial to many businesses and industry sectors. … The companies lobbying on tax reform include many of the biggest names in the business world, including Caterpillar, ExxonMobil and Intel, according to records.”

NORM TO LOBBYING FIRM

MPR: “Former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman has joined the Washington law firm Hogan Lovells as a senior government advisor. … That means he’s likely to be involved with lobbying, and even if he doesn’t formally register as a lobbyist, Coleman will certainly be advising the firm’s lobbyists.”