Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, has hired Capitol Counsel, a firm that includes former Ways and Means chairman Jim McCrery, to monitor corporate tax issues. McCrery was also among the lobbyists hired by Renco Group, which hired a slew of lobbyists in its battle with the government of Peru. We reported on Renco here.
Deloitte Tax LLP, part of the audit, financial advisory, tax, consulting and lobbying firm Deloitte, has signed up a pair of international clients, the Investment Funds Institute of Canada and the Life Insurance Association of Japan, opposed to provisions in the Foreign Account Tax ...
Continue readingCurrent and former officials intervene on billionaire’s behalf in battle with Peru
Facing a battle with the Peruvian government over a smelting operation that has caused severe environmental damage to a town... View Article
Continue readingIn Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a lobbyist hired by Gov. Sonny Perdue is taking heat for his ties to Jack Abramoff. … Lobbying reform, passed last year by the Florida Legislature, is already having an effect, and lawmakers are unhappy. The Miami Herald reports that lawmakers must now shell out $28 to go a big annual party thrown by the biggest lobbying group in Florida. Some lawmakers are challenging the legislation in court claiming that it bans lobbyists from making campaign contributions, a violation of the First Amendment. … New York legislator and union leader Brian McLaughlin’s offices were raided last Thursday as “part of a joint city and federal probe into an alleged bid-rigging scam,” according to the Village Voice. … REVOLVING DOOR ALERT: Bob Brooks, the chief of staff to Rep. Jim McCrery (R-FL), who is in line to be the next Ways of Means Chairman, will soon be lobbying on issues that come before his boss’ committee. Roll Call reports that Brooks has left Capitol Hill to work as a lobbyist at the Alpine Group where he will work on tax and financial services legislation. … According to the Washington Post, Maryland legislative leaders are calling for an investigation into government officials’ ties to Comcast. … The Hill reports that Democrats are indecisive in how they should treat their K Street affiliates. Should they court them? Should they avoid them? Should they avoid them before they court them? … Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) is being targeted by the Dem affiliated Senate Majority Project for his son’s work as a lobbyist, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Lobbyist Leaves Key PACS:
Bruce Gates, a lobbyist who served as treasurer to the political action committees of Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA), has quietly left those PACs, according to Roll Call. Bruce Gates is one of the most influential lobbyists in Washington working for RJ Reynolds, the American Banking Association, and Citigroup, among other clients. Gates’ wife is former aide to Boehner.
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