Trade agreements stem from long-winded talks, some heavy handed diplomacy and, as it turns out, a substantial amount of lobbying. The newest trade deal between South Korea and the U.S. was a massive operation which cost the Koreans $39.9 million in lobbying and PR fees in 2010 alone.
The Department of Justice shows nineteen international contracts currently operating with South Korean entities. Four of those contracts are primarily for lobbying. Four deal with public relations. Three promote trade. Another three offer policy consultation. Other firms provide tourism promotions and distribute broadcast material. In 2009, the Korea lobby spent ...
Continue readingMissing the Forest for the Trees?
It seems the Obama administration has decided the time has come to once again flex its ethics muscles. The Office... View Article
Continue readingTeach-in at #OccupyDC this Sunday
Like many organizers, I’ve been following the #occupywallstreet movement for a while. Last weekend, I was planning to head up... View Article
Continue readingKoch Industries had inside man at the EPA
Koch Industries, the closely held firm led by conservative and libertarian political donors Charles and David Koch, has a long... View Article
Continue readingA Transparent Super Committee Would Be Headline News
That lobbyists are influencing Super Committee members is a “dog bites man” story. Corporate lobbyists are eager to earn their... View Article
Continue readingIsrael, Palestine spend millions on lobbying, PR campaigns
As the United Nations considers the Palestinian referendum for statehood, possibly as early as Friday, both parties are vying for an approval from the UN Security Council and for a U.S. vote. Both Israel and Palestine have a long history of lobbying the U.S. and in the past year alone, the Palestinian Liberation Organization spent over one million on public relations. During the same time, Israel spent over $13 million on lobbying, public relations and related costs. Both interests contacted important policy makers and set up a vast PR campaign.
In the last few months as the issues ...
Continue readingGroups Call for Super Committee Members to Make Avenues of Influence Transparent
The drumbeat continues for the twelve members of the Committee on Deficit Reduction to step up and match their newly... View Article
Continue readingCongress’s Diminishing Budget Strengthens Lobbyist Influence
Yesterday’s Legistorm report on congressional staffers-turned-lobbyists provides more support for the theory that Congress is turning over its work to... View Article
Continue readingLobbyists golfing with Clyburn have friend on Super Committee
In early August, Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., a member of the newly created congressional super committee, held his annual charity golf tournament, welcoming nearly 600 golfers to spend the weekend in Santee, South Carolina.
Prior to the tournament, the charity’s website posted a list of golfers signed up for the tournament, which raises money for college scholarships for needy students. Among those golfers, we identified 34 lobbyists, many of who represent companies with a stake in the decisions of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, a 12-lawmaker body tasked with trimming at least $1.2 trillion from the ...
Continue readingBipartisan Bill Would Expose Efforts to Influence Super Committee
Representatives Loebsack (D-IA), Quigley (D-IL) and Renacci (R-OH) introduced the Deficit Committee Transparency Act today, an important bill that would... View Article
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