Lobbying and Ethics

New Posts

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

  UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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Amicus Briefs Filed in Challenge to Member Disclosure Law

Mar 5, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

Campaign Legal Center, Democracy 21 and Public Citizen filed an amicus brief in support of the Justice Department to defend a member disclosure requirement in the new lobbying disclosure law. National Association of Manufacturers v. Taylor challenges Section 207 of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (HLOGA).

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House Ethics Task Force Proposal Likely To Get Vote Soon

Feb 26, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The House is expected to vote soon on the recommendation to create an independent office to consider ethics complaints made against lawmakers. The task force, led by Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA), was created last year as part of the House's overall effort to reform House ethics standards. Many expect passage of the measure that will set up the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), a panel of six board members appointed by the House speaker and the minority leader, with current members and lobbyists ineligible to serve.

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Lawsuit Challenging Lobbying Disclosure Law Could Be Decided by April

Feb 12, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics ($$) reports that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) lawsuit that is trying to block enforcement of a disclosure provision of the new lobbying and ethics law, has in fact been put on a fast-track schedule that could lead to a court decision before the first disclosure reports are due on April 21. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said in a court order filed Feb. 8 that a briefing schedule was agreed on that ends in March. All parties agreed to convert the application for a preliminary injunction to a request for a decision on the merits.

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National Association of Manufacturers Sues to Block Member Disclosure Law

Feb 6, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has filed a lawsuit, National Association of Manufacturers v.

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Democrats on House Task Force Propose Independent Ethics Panel

Dec 20, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Hill and the Washington Post report that Democrats on the House Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement support the creation of an independent panel to review ethics complaints and make recommendations to the House ethics committee. The "Office of Congressional Ethics" would consist of six members jointly appointed by the speaker and minority leader who would serve four-year terms and be served by a nonpartisan professional staff. Current lawmakers and lobbyists would not be able to be on the panel.

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New Senate Rules on Privately Sponsored Travel

Dec 11, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Senate Ethics Committee has released new guidelines on Senate travel rules in accordance with the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. According to BNA Money and Politics ($$);

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To Protect Donors Trade Groups Seek Clarification on New Disclosure Provision of S.1

Nov 29, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Trade associations still do not want to be included in the stealth lobbying coalition provision of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (S.1). The Hill reports, "Trade groups like the U.S.

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New Guidance for Federal Lobbying Disclosure

Nov 15, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics ($$) reports on further implementation of the new lobbying and ethics law (S.1) which amends the Lobby Disclosure Act of 1995. Reportedly, new federal lobbying disclosure reports will allow lobbyists to make one single electronic filing, as opposed to filing separately with both the Senate and House. Many are also anticipating instructions on how to comply with the gift and travel restrictions. The Senate Ethics Committee also released on Nov.13 new forms on privately sponsored travel.

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Another Bump In the Road to Implement new Ethics Law

Nov 9, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics ($$) reports that after a decline in privately sponsored travel by members of Congress, sponsors have now increased their spending, paying to send lawmakers to conferences and on fact-finding trips. The article examines how the new rules have affected some of the biggest private sponsors of congressional travel, including the nonprofit Aspen Institute and the American Israel Education Foundation (AEIF). As it turns out, both suggest that the new rules have increased attendance at their events.

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Trade Associations Protest Stealth Lobbying Disclosure Provision in New Ethics Law

Nov 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

An article in Roll Call ($$) addresses another element of carrying out the ethics and lobbying bill that was signed into law in September, the stealth lobbying coalition disclosure provision. Coalitions will have to disclose any organization that contributes at least $5,000 per quarter and actively participates in the lobbying campaign. Trade associations are not exempt from the rule, which means they could be forced to disclose their members. As a result, many trade associations are threatening to sue, arguing that forcing groups to name their members could violate First Amendment rights.

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Resources & Research

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

People of color and people living in poverty, especially poor children of color, are significantly more likely...

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A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us

The 100 largest CEO retirement funds are worth a combined $4.9 billion, equal to the entire retirement account savings of 41 percent of American fam...

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Blowing Smoke: Chemical Companies Say “Trust Us,” But Environmental and Workplace Safety Violations Belie Their Rhetoric

Large chemical companies a...

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Gasping for Support: Implementation of Tougher Air Quality Standards Will Require New Funds for State Agencies

New scientific research shows that the current levels of...

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