TheRepublic.com - Lobbying News

Man behind gay marriage drive seen as 'brilliant'

Sat, 25 May 2013 16:05:14 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - No single person ever became the public face of the successful drive for gay marriage in Minnesota, but the man who gets the most credit from his allies for making it happen is Richard Carlbom.

Automaker Tesla takes fight to North Carolina

Sat, 25 May 2013 12:35:33 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Tesla Motors is fighting a bill in North Carolina that would effectively ban the company from selling its electric cars in the state, pitting it against auto dealers who say the car maker has an unfair advantage selling directly to consumers online.

Ethics, integrity of lobbyist touted at Nev. trial

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:46:21 -0400

RENO, Nevada - Two long-time associates of a developer and high-powered lobbyist charged with making illegal campaign contributions testified Friday that he is well known for his generosity and integrity.

Hobby Lobby tests birth-control coverage mandate

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:23:14 -0400

DENVER - In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. asked a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

Group spends $2M lobbying for gay marriage

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:11:14 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - The group that pushed Minnesota lawmakers to legalize gay marriage disclosed Wednesday it invested more than $2 million in the successful lobbying effort.

NH House rejects latest effort to allow gambling

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:36:33 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - In line with decades of opposition to casinos, the House turned aside lobbying by the governor and arguments that New Hampshire should compete with Massachusetts for gambling dollars to vote down yet another casino bill Wednesday.

Idaho rep complains lobbying helped kill gun bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:56:47 -0400

BOISE, Idaho - A lawmaker who had his firearms bill killed in the 2013 Legislature has complained to the secretary of state that it was torpedoed by lobbyists who weren't properly registered.

Rule on lobbying for ex-Maine lawmakers enacted

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:41:54 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers who look to take up lobbying after their state service would be subject to new rules in a bill approved by the Legislature is signed by the governor.

Kan. lawmakers give final approval to gun bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:44:30 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators gave final approval Tuesday to restrictions on using state funds to promote or oppose gun-control policies, despite criticism that the new law would violate public officials' free speech rights.

Calif. to post raw campaign filings online daily

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:36:23 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California - California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has agreed to expand the way her office presents campaign finance data online after initially rejecting the request from a coalition of good-government groups, research organizations and newspapers, her spokeswoman said Tuesday.

House OKs disclosure, lobbying rules for lawmakers

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:23:11 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House has voted to tighten disclosure and lobbying rules against state lawmakers - including its own membership.

Ga water negotiator's role may be seen as conflict

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:56:01 -0400

ATLANTA - One of Georgia's negotiators in a tri-state water dispute also is president of a lobbying firm that has sought to commercially develop a technology billed as a partial solution to that feud, a situation that a top state official and others say could look like a conflict even though it is legal.

NC lawmakers nearing 'crossover' deadline

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:49:10 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - The North Carolina General Assembly worked Wednesday through dozens of bills - both commonplace and contentious legislation - before a self-imposed cutoff designed to whittle down the topics they can consider through 2014.

Delaware House approves 2 gun-control bills

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:17:17 -0400

DOVER, Delaware - The state House on Tuesday approved two gun control measures proposed by Gov. Jack Markell following the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school last year.

Without secrecy, donations stop for NY Cuomo group

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:28:23 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Donations for a lobbying group that promotes Gov. Andrew Cuomo's policies dropped from $17 million to zero after the state ethics board began requiring that donors be named, a 2012 federal tax filing provided Friday to The Associated Press shows.

Gun control group waged New Mexico ad campaign

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:58:41 -0400

SANTA FE, New Mexico - Lobbying disclosures show that a national group founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pumped nearly $32,000 into an advertising campaign in New Mexico for legislation to expand criminal background checks of gun buyers.

Haslam consultant Ingram faces lobbying questions

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:25:24 -0400

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - A top Republican political consultant and adviser to Pilot Flying J is facing possible civil penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist.

Lobbyist transparency bill sent to Perry

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:12:28 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Senate has passed and sent to Gov. Rick Perry a bill requiring lobbyists who also work as campaign consultants to disclose that information.

UC lifts caps on student health insurance

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:11:48 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO - University of California officials have agreed to lift a cap on health insurance coverage that threatened to leave students suffering from catastrophic illnesses such as cancer with big medical bills.

Internet sales tax bill faces tough sell in House

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:58:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - Traditional retailers and cash-strapped states face a tough sell in the House as they lobby Congress to limit tax-free shopping on the Internet.

Cooling off bills get chilly reception in Senate

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:54:52 -0400

CARSON CITY, Nevada - Bills seeking to restrict influence pedaling by slowing the revolving door between leaving public office and returning to the same halls as a lobbyist received chilly receptions from lawmakers Tuesday.

NH medical marijuana advocates push for home-grow

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:43:22 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Medical marijuana advocates in New Hampshire appealed to Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday, urging her to support a provision allowing patients to grow marijuana at home, saying it's crucial to ensuring immediate access for terminally ill patients.

Mother who lost sons to drunk driver arrested

Tue, 07 May 2013 09:05:13 -0400

BOTTINEAU, North Dakota - A woman who lobbied the North Dakota Legislature for tougher drunken driving laws after her two sons were killed by a drunken driver last summer faces a misdemeanor charge in an alleged alcohol-related driving incident.

Del. House to vote on lobbying reform bill

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:46:04 -0400

DOVER, Delaware - The state House is set to vote on a bill prohibiting a former member of the General Assembly from working as a lobbyist for one year after leaving office.

Stadium decision hurts Miami's Super Bowl chances

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:21:43 -0400

MIAMI - As Dan Marino campaigned for Miami to be chosen the site of the 50th Super Bowl, he made no pretense about being objective on the subject.