Nonprofit Lobbying Rights

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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more news

Will Lobbying Policy Change?

May 8, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

Speaking at a panel hosted by George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, Norm Eisen the special counsel to President Obama for ethics and government reform indicated that the administration is open to suggestions for modifications. According to RollCall ($$), Eisen said this week that, "there is a process" in place for enforcing the new lobbying rules.

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Lobbying Restrictions Generate More Criticism

It appears that the Obama administration’s restrictions on lobbying are drawing criticism even as the administration defends the policies. The controversy surrounds two policy documents: one addresses restrictions on hiring lobbyists and others as political appointees, and the other focuses on communications by lobbyists about use of Recovery Act funds.

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Proof that Lobbying Restrictions Can Be Avoided?

Apr 29, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

Norm Eisen, the White House ethics adviser recently posted twice at the White House blog on "the administration's historic opening efforts" on ethics reform. Eisen details a meeting held with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and the American League of Lobbyists.

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When Following Through With a Campaign Promise Becomes a Contradiction

Apr 21, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

In case you did not already know, many are not happy with the administration's rules on registered lobbyists working in the administration. A New York Times article, highlights our concerns with President Obama's Executive Order on ethics and lobbying.

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Lobbying for Recovery Act Funding Restricted

On April 7, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued interim guidance on how to comply with President Barack Obama’s March 20 memorandum that restricts contact between registered lobbyists and executive branch officials regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

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Some Agencies Disclose Communications with Lobbyists

Apr 17, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

The Office of Management and Budget's guidance on implementing the president's March 20th memo regarding communications with lobbyists is being criticized as still too restrictive. According to The Hill, "the guidance has not lessened the worries of the coalition of groups that have campaigned against the restrictions."

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Lobbying and Ethics Executive Order Should be Amended

Apr 15, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

OMB Watch has signed on to a letter requesting that the administration amend the Jan. 21 executive order putting in place restrictions on lobbyists who work for the federal government. Expressing frustration with the new rules, the letter urges the White House to focus on the influence of money and isolate public interest lobbying.

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OMB Attempts to Explain Lobbyist Communication Rules

Apr 13, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

On April 7 the Office of Management and Budget issued Interim guidance to help employees comply with the March 20 memorandum that put in place restrictions on communications between registered lobbyists and executive branch officials regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the economic stimulus package.

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Public Could Track Lobbying Meetings with Proposed Website

Apr 9, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

A new proposed tool from the Sunlight Foundation could be used to accomplish President Obama's goal of increasing government transparency. According to the Sunlight Foundation, the executive branch could create a website aggregating the disclosure of meetings between government officials and lobbyists.

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New Lobbyist Disclosure at OpenSecrets.org

Apr 8, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

The Center for Responsive Politics has a new database where you can track the number of lobbyists that reported lobbying on a piece of legislation back to 2005. The database is searchable by a bill's name, description, or number.

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