Getting served: New special interest comes to PA liquor privatization party

By   /  May 22, 2013  /  Business, Legislature, Lobbying, News, Pennsylvania, State Government  /  1 Comment

Liquor 008

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — In Pennsylvania’s liquor privatization debate, everyone wants a taste.

A new special interest is suddenly asking for a seat at the table after the state legislature’s actions threaten the financial fortunes of its members.

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Senator: New bill may expand use of tax money for lobbying

By   /  April 17, 2013  /  Colorado  /  No Comments

Kansas is getting more than $1 million in tobacco-settlement money from a Canadian cigarette maker, the state attorney general says.

DENVER — A new Senate bill could use taxpayer money to fund lobbying against the tobacco industry, according to a Colorado lawmaker.

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KS legislators, unions clash over political funding mechanism

By   /  January 23, 2013  /  Featured, Free Market, Free Speech, Kansas, Lobbying, News, public sector, unions  /  3 Comments

MONEY TALKS: Supporters and opponents clashed in a war of words during the initial hearing for HB 2023, which would prevent public employee unions from making deductions from member paychecks for the purpose of funding political initiatives.

State Sen. Greg Smith is an educator to the core.

A union man he is not.

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MO: Emerson takes heat for NRECA job

By   /  December 5, 2012  /  Missouri WatchBlog, WatchBlog  /  No Comments

EMERSON: Stands to make a mint in her new post.

By Johnny Kampis | Missouri Watchdog
ST. LOUIS – Jo Ann Emerson is getting widely slammed in the media and among the Missouri populace for leaving her congressional seat so soon after her re-election.
Emerson is giving up the U.S. House District 8 seat in January after 16 years in the post to run the National Rural [...]

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OR: Lobbyists spending more to sway Salem lawmakers

By   /  October 9, 2012  /  Northwest WatchBlog, WatchBlog  /  No Comments

Dollars spent to lobby legislators are increasing

 
By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
PORTLAND – Lobbyists spent about $31.1 million in 2011 trying to sway Salem legislators, according to data from the Oregon State Ethics Commission.
That’s up from $21.2 million spent during the 2010 session and $29.8 million in 2009. Both 2009 and 2011 were long legislative sessions where the lawmakers were in Salem [...]

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