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How accurate are lobbying figures?

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As part of our Statelight project, we’re reaching out to open government and open data activists around the country to contribute to (and expand!) the #opengov dialogue. Today, we welcome Diana Lopez to give some insight into the complications of lobbying reform. Lopez is the Senior Editor of Government Lobbying at Sunshine Review. She focuses on government lobbying disclosure and moderates #FOIAchat, a weekly Freedom of Information Act Twitter chat held every Friday at 2PM EST.

Sunshine Review

When looking at lobbying figures, it is important to keep in mind that you're looking at reported lobbying data. Not all lobbying is reported, however. Under federal law, lobbyists must register only if they:
  • make more than one contact,
  • spend more than 20 percent of their time lobbying
  • have more than $11,500 in expenses, or
  • have $3,000 in income from lobbying per quarter.

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A Mashup. The Real Story of Lobbying

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Last week, when the American League of Lobbyists announced a new PR offensive to help change the public perception of the profession, including this video, we just couldn’t contain ourselves. Their Lobbying-as-American-as-Mom-and-Apple-Pie PR effort deserved a classic Internet video mashup – one, that in Sunlight-style involves “data jamming” – telling the real story of how lobbyists work to control the Washington agenda:

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Day in Transparency 12/3/2010

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Here is Friday’s look at transparency-related news items, congressional committee hearings, transparency-related bills introduced in Congress, and transparency-related events. News Roundup:

  • House ethics investigators are looking into why the House Financial Services Committee did not turn over all documents relevant to its investigation of subcommittee chairwoman Maxine Waters. (Washington Post)
  • Incoming House Leaders lay out rules changes at a press conference; they changes will be considered by the Republican conference this upcoming Wednesday. (Washington Post) (New York Times)
  • Dan Lungren (R-CA) will chair the House Administration Committee. (Roll Call $) (Boehner Press Release)
  • 2 Super-PACs raised $70 million since spring. (Washington Post)
  • Charlie Rangel censured 333-79. (Politico)
  • H. Approps committee’s new digs a sign of less influence? (Politico)
  • S. Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander will lay out GOP agenda Friday. (Roll Call $) (Watch video from the Hudson Institute) (Text of Speech)

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Peter Orszag and Obama’s ethics pledge

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Peter Orszag, the former star director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during President Barack Obama's first two years, is said to be in talks to join Citigroup. According to the Financial Times, "People familiar with the situation said Mr Orszag, who left the White House team in July, was likely to be offered a position dealing with clients and top government officials rather than running a business." If Orszag were to take such a position it would likely be complicated by an Executive Order signed by President Obama on his first full day in office.

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Ethics broadens Waters probe to examine communications with key committee

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The House Ethics Committee is said to have broadened its inquiry into Rep. Maxine Waters by examining whether the Financial Services Committee fully complied with requests to turn over documents. Waters was scheduled to go on trial last month for inappropriately using her position in Congress to aid a bank that her husband had an ownership stake in in receiving money from the government bank bailout fund. That trial was delayed due to the revelation of a new e-mail that could be used as corroborating evidence. The revelation of that e-mail has led to broader questions of whether there is other evidence being withheld. The Washington Post reports:

Four officials, congressional staff members, and others familiar with the probe confirmed on Thursday that her trial was postponed two weeks ago in part to explore the delay in not turning over that e-mail and to examine whether other evidence was withheld.

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