Lobbyism: The Erosion of Democracy (tags)
The developments of the last decades point in a dangerous direction. Democracy threatens to become an empty husk with formal demands for democratic decisions while the contents are defined by tiny elite circles (catchword “post-democracy”). A living democracy is vital.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul, 90 Congress Leaders Supports Equity of Filipino WW II Vets (tags)
A week after the Bataan Day celebration, lobbyists will visit the US Congress the second time in a month’s time to press for sub-committee hearing on HR 210, “The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011,” which will provide full recognition to the US military services of the remaining 50,000 Filipino WW II veterans and full benefits to the veterans, widows, and their families. Lobbyists find inspiration in Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a war veteran himself and Republican presidential candidate who openly endorsed the bill in a public rally in Nevada. “We are pleased to announce Ron Paul’s unwavering legacy of supporting veterans by announcing he will support and co-sponsor HR 210,” said John Tate, national campaign manager. “HR 210 provides a small thank you for an enormous debt of gratitude owed the Philippines and America’s most heroic individuals.”
VIDEO: Banks are still the powerhouse in D.C. (tags)
Twenty months after the financial meltdown of 2008, the US congress is moving ahead with its financial system reform.
Nevada Supreme Court Rules Against SNWA Water Grab. (tags)
Recent articles discuss the ruling by Nevada Supreme Court Judge Robinson that prevents another potential water grab by the SNWA and their developer funders. Additional research reveals the intent of the SNWA pipeline from northern aquifers would benefit the developer of Coyote Springs, one Harvey Whittemore. The urban residents of Las Vegas would cover the bill of SNWA's misadventures in sheep ranching, pipeline lawsuits and other related issues for the benefit of some far out developer's scheme.
Wall Street Ends Hope for Homeowners Via Congress (tags)
As if the bank bailouts weren’t proof enough that Wall Street owned Congress. History will likely show that these bailouts involved the largest transfer of wealth ever — from the working class to that small group of billionaires who own the corporations. This fact is recognized by most people now and is such common knowledge that even the mainstream media feels comfortable discussing it…matter-of-factly.
A Posthumous Concern, Another kind of Racism (tags)
VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES in the Far East (Usaffe) here at home and in America thought that, at long last, the US Congress was poised to pass legislation addressing their generations-old claim for benefits. But as the American economy unraveled, politicians began sniping at the bills (pending before the US Congress) aimed at increasing the benefits of Filipino veterans. Filipino-American veterans groups and lobbyists began to fear that the promise to bring the bill to a vote in the US House of Representatives would fall by the wayside. No one, of course, predicted that the US Congress would be plunged into a crisis atmosphere by US President George W. Bush’s proposed bailout, which the US Senate and House Democrats have agreed to, but whose approval has been delayed and, possibly, foiled by a group of House Republicans anxious they will be defeated in November if they vote for a bailout.
U.S.Public's Class Action Lawsuit against Washington's Lobbyists! (tags)
The sick reality that Lobbyists are spending "$3 Billion a Year" in Washington to influence and bribe the American Govt. is in reality a form of "Racketeering" and can be prosecuted under the Rico Act and many more statutes!
Lobbyists find more ways to bond with lawmakers (tags)
Government of the people, by the elected officials and appointed bureaucrats, for the elected officials, appointed bureaucrats and special interest groups that got them elected!
Forward: AIPAC Case: Bush Officials May Face New Subpoenas (tags)
Forward: AIPAC Case: Bush Officials May Face New Subpoenas
NEW MEXICO BIDS FAREWELL TO CONSUMER PROTECTION: LOBBYISTS KILL ASPARTAME BAN (tags)
How corporations destroy consumer protection legislation to product their product from liability suits, questions, and legislative action
Pfizer, Halliburton Grab Democrats as Hearings Loom (tags)
Jan. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Pharmaceutical companies and Iraq war contractors, both heavy Republican contributors, are among the companies scrambling to hire lobbyists with Democratic ties as they prepare for congressional investigative hearings next week.
If Teachers Were Congressmen (tags)
Enough Said!
The DeLay Transformation (tags)
author: Jamie Malanowski / Washington Monthly Sep 29, 2005 09:12
by Admin. (No verified email address) 24 Apr 2005 Here's a decent article I came across in the Reader.
The "special interests" behind Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign (tags)
While Schwarzenegger has criticized Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante for taking money from unions and Indian tribes, the Republican candidate has collected at least $2.5 million from individual donors, attorneys, business interests, venture capitalists and California companies. Some of them employ full-time lobbyists in Sacramento.
Microsoft's new interest in Washington (tags)
Bill Gates is no stranger to the Cato Institute, the prominent libertarian/free-market think tank -- Microsoft's annual donations are acknowledged but undisclosed and its lobbyists are frequent guests at the Institute's conferences and panels. But things are beginning to change...
Public Citizen Report Exposes Drug Industry Spending Blitz to Keep Prices High (tags)
The pharmaceutical industry launched an unprecedented lobbying blitz last year to stop Congress from enacting a Medicare drug benefit, spending a record $262 million on political influence in the 1999-2000 election cycle, including $177 million on lobbying, $65 million on issue ads and $20 million on campaign contributions - more than any other industry in 1999-2000. It hired 625 different lobbyists last year - or more than one lobbyist for every member of Congress. More than half were either former members of Congress (21) or worked in Congress or other federal agencies (295).