Holding Politicians Accountable

Posts tagged lobbyists

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As Apple’s Tim Cook heads to the Senate today for a hearing, a new Congressional report finds the company “avoided billions in taxes in the United States and around the world through a web of subsidiaries so complex it spanned continents and went beyond anything most experts had ever seen.” Maybe that’s why, as Sunlight Foundation reports, the top issue for Apple lobbyists over the years is “taxes.”  And those lobbyists know how government works. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 25 of the 27 lobbyists Apple paid in the first quarter of 2013 are “revolvers,” or people who have previously worked in Congress or a federal agency.

As Apple’s Tim Cook heads to the Senate today for a hearing, a new Congressional report finds the company “avoided billions in taxes in the United States and around the world through a web of subsidiaries so complex it spanned continents and went beyond anything most experts had ever seen.”

Maybe that’s why, as Sunlight Foundation reports, the top issue for Apple lobbyists over the years is “taxes.” 

And those lobbyists know how government works. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, 25 of the 27 lobbyists Apple paid in the first quarter of 2013 are “revolvers,” or people who have previously worked in Congress or a federal agency.

Filed under revolving door lobbyists Apple

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In just three months, Missouri lobbyists have spent more than $450,000 on gifts to state lawmakers.

St. Louis Public Radio notes a few of the gifts:

  • March Madness: Legislators received about $7,000 in “entertainment” gifts (most of it for tickets) in March, coinciding with NCAA conference basketball tournaments and the beginning of March Madness. Total entertainment spending this year: $17,000.
  • Bowling Tournament: In March, the Senate apparently had a bowling tournament sponsored by various lobbyists who foot the bill for the lanes, food, drinks, and even shirts.
  • Sweet Tooth: So far this year, Senator Brad Lager has received about $450 worth of jelly beans, M&Ms and soda for his office, bought by James R Moody and Associates and (somewhat ironically) Consumer Healthcare Products Association. According to vigorous research by St. Louis Public Radio, you can buy about 50 lbs worth of jelly beans for that amount of money.

That’s a lot of jelly beans!

Filed under lobbyists Missouri Jefferson City jelly beans

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Great editorial in the Winston-Salem Journal of North Carolina on one state lawmaker’s desire to repeal the ban on gifts from lobbyists. It ends:

“Brawley defended his bill to WRAL-TV, saying legislators have integrity and would not be unduly influenced by gifts.

“We find that hilarious, and suspect the prosecutors who put [Former Speaker] Black in prison do also. HB 640 should die a quick death. Our legislature should not be up for sale to those who can afford to wine and dine our legislators.”

Filed under North Carolina lobbyists influence

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The Hill: Lobbyists fear shakedown if Supreme Court lifts campaign contributions cap

“The high court last week decided to hear a challenge to the aggregate limit on how much a donor can contribute each election cycle. Many court observers expect the justices to abolish the cap and free individuals to donate to as many candidates as they wish. 

“That would be a groan-inducing development on K Street, where lobbyists are already bombarded with requests to attend fundraisers and contribute to campaigns.”

Filed under lobbyists influence campaign finance