The lobbyist numbers game is in the news and the latest is here. As of June, there were 12,553 federal lobbyists registered in Washington, down from 14,800 at the end of 2008, and well below a record 15,137 in 2007, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit group that tracks such activities.
Day: September 15, 2009
Lobbyist Gifts in Missouri
What would an audit of lobbyist gift-giving reveal? That’s precisely what happened in Missouri and some of the results are reprinted in this Kansas City Star report. Missouri Auditor Susan Montee criticized lawmakers for potential conflicts of interest Monday for soliciting lobbyists to pay for meals, parties and retirement receptions.
Trial Lawyers on the Brink
The Politico reports on the political and lobbying battle faced by trial lawyers. For more than a decade, trial lawyers used their deep lobbying bench and fundraising muscle to beat back Republican efforts to curb medical malpractice lawsuits. Given that their political donations went overwhelmingly to Democrats — generally, by a 3-to-1 ratio — this […]