Protestors from Billionaires for Wealthcare interrupt a meeting of insurance lobbyists America’s Health Insurance Plans, which is doing its darndest to stop health care reform — in song!
Lobbyists
Video of the Day: Public Option Annie: an impromptu insurance industry musical
Soros spends $1b on a green paint job
Billionaire George Soros has received plenty of positive press for pledging to invest $1 billion in green technology and forming an environmental lobby group. But is lobbying for your investments really philanthropy? Or just rent-seeking?
Political snippets: Funeral lobby leaves regulation in its wake
This week in lobbyville, the nation’s undertakers appear to be embarking on a campaign to keep the cost of dying high by calling on governments to regulate low cost operators out of business.
Obama vs the lobbyists: who’s winning?
On his first day in office, Barack Obama issued an executive order targeting lobbyists’ power. But with 3,300 lobbyists working on health care alone, he underestimated the task ahead. Andy Kroll checks out the scorecard.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Paul Kelly, John Howard and East Timor
Crikey readers weigh in on John Howard’s involvement in East Timor’s independence, the lobbyist to MP ratio and Senator Steve Fielding’s spelling.
Four to one: our lobbyist to MP ratio
Federal Parliament now has at least four lobbyists for every MP and Senator, according to the Government’s Register of Lobbyists. And that’s only counting third-party lobbyists.
Lobbyists fall on hard times
Washington now has 2,200 fewer registered lobbyists than a year ago, even though it’s prime time for political lobbying, with health care and energy legislation up for grabs. Companies just don’t have the money, says Dan Eggen
Lobbyists’ MP form guide: Hockey “buffoon”, Wong “least impressive”, Bishop “no cred”, Turnbull “no contest”
As an insight into the views of a senior Canberra lobbying outfit, these notes from Endeavour Consulting are priceless and very informative of what well-placed insiders think of key players in Canberra.
Pearson: Wild Rivers run with the stink of lobbyists
The handling of the Wild Rivers process indicates a complete disequilibrium in power, writes Noel Pearson. The indigenous community must have equal access to government.
Tips and rumours: Lobbyists on the move
Labor spinner Alex Cramb will be returning to lobbying outfit Government Relations Australia next week, a tipster tells Crikey today.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: A clarification on children in detention
Lobbyists … Detention centres … that Grech guy … First Dog on christianity … Walkmans and Helen Razer … MJ jokes. It’s all on Crikey readers’ minds today.
New lobbyists land in Canberra every week
The Rudd Government’s Lobbyist Register celebrates its first birthday today and is in rude health.
Tips and rumours: Memo to lobbyists: update your details please
In today’s Crikey tips and rumours, a request for lobbyists to update their details and NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal tries to avoid “dirty dancing” incident.
Hot tips for lobbying Ministers
Our source — who’s been both a lobbyist and the recipient of lobbying — is now doling out advice. For example, why not use the Opposition to raise your issue?
A golden age for lobbyists
As Obama spreads Washington’s reach, big government can mean big opportunities for lobbyists.
The top ten firms lobbying Washington on climate change
A new analysis of Senate disclosure records shows that more than 880 businesses and interest groups registered to lobby on climate change in the first quarter of 2009 — up more than 14%.
More smoke and mirrors from the coal lobby
What happened to the analyses by Nicholas Stern and Ross Garnaut who showed that spending big on renewable energy could be a net benefit to the economy?
Backman column: Israeli lobby censorship
Greg Barns and Michael Potter critically assess the Backman article, the Australian Jewish lobby and media censorship.
Backman column: a hollow apology?
Michael Backman has apologised to the Jewish community, but when the controversy first broke, he blamed The Age for the way the paper edited his words, writes Margaret Simons.
Are drug companies hijacking consumer advocacy?
When an industry-funded so-called consumer advocate is a keynote speaker at such a conference, it shows how effectively pharmaceutical companies are hijacking consumer advocacy, writes Melissa Raven.
Lobbyists, planes and code breaches
If Qantas sells 40% of its Frequent Flyer unit, it will make David Epstein’s life a little more complicated in his new role at our major airline, writes Bernard Keane.
The food additives story: what the headlines didn’t tell you
Many parents may be feeling anxious this week in the wake of alarmist media reports and lobbyists’ statements about the impact of food additives on children’s health, writes Dr Robert Loblay.
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Meaty snippets from the home of government, Richard Farmer writes.
Lobbyists are behind community forum site Bang the Table
The consultants behind community website builder Bang the Table wear two hats - on one hand they work directly for big developers and on the other they offer a platform for online community consultation for councils through Bang the Table.
