Under The Influence: Report: Lobbyists Earn Millions for Nothing http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1 en Copyright 2011 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:06:15 GMT http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Report: Lobbyists Earn Millions for Nothing Over the past decade, lobbyists have reported to Congress that they collected more than a half billion in fees, but appeared to have done no actual lobbying for that money, according to a new report by the Center for Responsive Politics, criticizing firms' lack of disclosure.

The non-partisan Center found 19,000 reports filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act where firms reported receiving $565 million in fees, but listed no lobbyist name, no issue and no government contact information. The forms were essentially blank, except for the name of the registrant and the fees they collected. For more on what the Center calls "stealth" lobbying, read the report.

                                                                                                                --Bara Vaida

Update @3:30 PM: here's a comment from a campaign finance lawyer, who is also a reader:

"Lawyers who lobby are still bound by the rules of legal ethics, which, among other things, prevent a lawyer from representing two different clients on opposing sides of the same issue.

 So if Lawyer A was hired by Company 1 to lobby in favor of H.R. 100, Lawyer A would be ethically precluded from lobbying against H.R. 100 if Company 2 approached Lawyer A to do so.

 Sometimes lobbyists - especially very well connected lobbyists - get hired just so no one else can hire them to work on the same issue. " 

]]> http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1 http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:06:15 GMT Anthony responded on June 30, 11 01:07 AM <div class="ad" style="float:right;margin: 0px, 0, 10, 10;"> <h6>Advertisement</h6> <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" border="0" alt=""></a> </div> The non-partisan Center found 19,000 reports filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act where firms reported receiving $565 million in fees, but listed no lobbyist name, no issue and no government contact information. Anthony

...]]> http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#2019642 http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#2019642 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:07:14 GMT Caroline James responded on March 2, 11 01:30 AM <div class="ad" style="float:right;margin: 0px, 0, 10, 10;"> <h6>Advertisement</h6> <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" border="0" alt=""></a> </div> The non-partisan Center found 19,000 reports filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act where firms reported receiving $565 million in fees, but listed no lobbyist name, no issue and no government contact information. Redirect Virus

...]]> http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1897428 http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1897428 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:30:47 GMT Mike Jones responded on January 16, 11 02:42 AM <div class="ad" style="float:right;margin: 0px, 0, 10, 10;"> <h6>Advertisement</h6> <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" border="0" alt=""></a> </div> Over the past decade, lobbyists have reported to Congress that they collected more than a half billion in fees, but appeared to have done no actual lobbying for that money, according to a new report by the Center for Responsive Politics, criticizing firms' lack of disclosure. Mike @ excessive sweating and how to stop excessive sweating

...]]> http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1857948 http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1857948 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 07:42:06 GMT james ryan responded on August 18, 10 11:03 PM <div class="ad" style="float:right;margin: 0px, 0, 10, 10;"> <h6>Advertisement</h6> <a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/nationaljournalgroup/njonline;feature=under_the_influence;series=lobbying;medium=rss;sz=300x250,336x280;ord=181010715?" border="0" alt=""></a> </div> I cannot believe that these lobbyist make this much money from fees. I think this is way out of hand. We have to control this in the future. There is no way that they should be making this much from fees.

bed bugs...]]> http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1617781 http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/03/lobbyists-collect-500-mln-for.php?rss=1#1617781 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:03:12 GMT