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domingo, julio 27, 2008

Lobbying expenses criticized

Lobbying expenses criticized

State agencies defend using public money

The Post and Courier
Sunday, July 27, 2008


COLUMBIA — In the lobby between the stately chambers of the House and Senate, they stand, 200, 300 of them, packed in like freshmen at a frat party. Each waiting, watching with an agenda.

They want money. They want say-so. They are power brokers.

These are the Statehouse lobbyists, and the salary for about 100 of them is paid for by taxpayers.

In 2007, Charleston-area public agencies and organizations sustained, at least in part, by taxpayers were on pace to have spent about $400,000 on lobbying elected officials, according to information from the South Carolina Policy Council, which compiled the most recent data available.

The nonpartisan think tank asserts that in 2006 taxpayers spent almost $3 million on publicly financed lobbyists, up 15 percent since 2005. The information is based on disclosure forms filed at the State Ethics Commission and includes national and state lobbying efforts.

"Instead of spending public dollars on core functions of government, South Carolina counties, cities and school districts are paying high-powered lobbyists to fight for more public money and thwart accountability and transparency," Bryan D. Cox, the council's communications director, said in a statement.

Ask the agencies spending the money on lobbying, and they'll argue dozens of reasons why it's a sound investment, why it makes sense to have someone on hand to answer questions and provide information to part-time legislators.

The term "lobbyist" has a bad connotation, but lobbyists function more as advocates or government affairs liaisons, the organizations say.

The Medical University of South

Carolina spends about $100,000 a year on its "legislative liaisons." MUSC President Dr. Ray Greenberg said the school uses nonstate funds when possible to pay for its three liaisons, two of whom are full-time. Greenberg also said that MUSC is a $1.7-billion-a-year enterprise that relies on only about 7 percent in state funding.

To point to "big wins" to prove the worth would be misleading, Greenberg said. The the liaisons help legislators, for example, address constituent concerns such as referrals for medical care and questions about applications for degree programs.

Further, the legislators, who earn $10,400 and work in Columbia just half a year, often need information on short notice, Greenberg said. Since MUSC is about 115 miles from the Statehouse, having the liaisons in the capital also helps guide regulatory and administrative tasks through the government processes, he said.

Charleston schools got into a flap in 2006 over hiring a contract lobbyist. That session dealt with high-stakes issues for districts as lawmakers were changing the basis for school funding. At the time, at least three districts had hired lobbyists in addition to the dues paid to advocacy groups, including the S.C. School Boards Association and the S.C. Association of School Administrators.

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill of Daniel Island said that he's introduced bills every session to outlaw the practice among agencies or quasi-government groups.

Gov. Mark Sanford banned his Cabinet agencies from contracting lobbyists. Merrill said, though, stopping the practice by legislation gets tricky; he hasn't received the needed support, and agencies can slip around a potential law's language. It's common for groups to change the title to reflect a different job description, even if the functions are essentially lobbying, Merrill said.

The Charleston County School district does not have a lobbyist per se but hires Clara Heinsohn, director of public affairs and volunteers, to work closely with the local delegation. "I wear a lot of hats, but I am definitely not a lobbyist," she said, adding that she had been to Columbia only twice during the legislative session.

Heinsohn said the majority of her time is spent engaging the public in the education process. She also works to keep the delegation apprised of district happenings and its needs.

"It's very important that every district develop a relationship with their delegation," said Heinsohn, who previously worked for the Senate Education Committee. "Public education is integral to the community. These are representatives appropriating money."

Howard Duvall, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, views its lobbying efforts as critical. The association spends about $245,000 a year on lobbying, which includes salaries for three staff members and the cost to put on receptions.

"Without having people to defend the powers of local elected officials, I think they would be quickly taken away by the General Assembly," Duvall said.

For example, he said, the association this year helped influence a new law to offer incentives to get fire sprinklers in more homes and businesses, an effort prompted by last year's Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston.

Municipal dues make up less than 7 percent of the association's budget, Duvall said. He also said that lobbyists are banned by the State Ethics Commission from trying to gain influence by providing elected officials with campaign contributions, entertainment, food and drinks or other perks.

Lobbyists help the lawmakers learn the difference between good and bad legislation and unintended consequences in a system that takes on about 2,000 bills every two-year session, Duvall said.

"Part of the function of the lobbyists is to give accurate, reliable information, to answer the questions of the part-time legislators," he said.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control is one state agency that employees lobbyists, spending $37,551 for the first part of 2007.

During the last session, an agency lobbyist was able alert lawmakers of the potential impact of a seemingly innocuous bill that would have cost the state an estimated $10 million and required pharmacists be stationed at all county health offices and clinics, said Thom Berry, director of the agency's media relations division.

"What we deal in is information, providing information to members of the General Assembly," Berry said.

Ashley Landess, president of the Policy Council, does not buy that argument. She said an elected official can get the same information for the good of the state from any local mayor, school board member or agency executive by picking up the phone.

"The public needs to be aware," Landess said. "They are paying the salaries of lobbyists who work to convince the General Assembly to spend more money."


Lobbying costs

The South Carolina Policy Council asserts that taxpayer-funded lobbying cost the state $3 million in 2006, although the impact on the budget is measured in exponential growth because the aim is for the lobbyist to bring more back to the agency or organization.

The agencies and organizations argue that the positions are needed, in part, to ensure that accurate and timely information is presented to the part-time Legislature. The following information also includes money spend on lobbying efforts in Washington.

The Policy Council released this data for the first five months of 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively:


2007 2006 2005

MUSC: $48,227 $104,808 $103,174

The Citadel: $33,023 $39,702 $51,965

College of Charleston: $0 $31,394 $82,579

Charleston Water System: $15,000 $20,000 $20,000

Berkeley Electric Co-op: $3,501 $17,414 $14,791

Edisto Electric Co-op: $3,655 $8,293 $0

City of Charleston: $44,000 $68,000 $140,000

DEPT. OF HEALTH & eNV.: $37,551 $47,537 $46,393

DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES: $9,414 $15,687 $17,444

S.C. Judicial Department: $55,000 $55,000 $29,167

State Ports Authority: $46,879 $124,772 $115,468

Municipal Association: $124,269 $244,104 $245,997

Association of Counties: $63,589 $97,519 $151,502

School Boards Assoc.: $27,516 $68,237 $69,554

Assoc. of School Admin.: $53,220 $123,635 $97,620

Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 orywenger@postandcourier.com.



CONSULTEN, OPINEN , ESCRIBAN LIBREMENTE
Saludos
Rodrigo González Fernández
Diplomado en RSE de la ONU
www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
www.el-observatorio-politico.blogspot.com
www.lobbyingchile.blogspot.com
www.biocombustibles.blogspot.com
www.calentamientoglobalchile.blogspot.com
oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02-  8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación  y consultoría en LIDERAZGO -  RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES  ,   y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles  para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

 

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In this June 9, 2008 file photo, Mark Roh, U.S. Food and Drug Administration's acting regional director, holds a bag of tomatoes being tested for salmonella bacteria at FDA's southwest regional research lab, in Irvine, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

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AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

By LARRY MARGASAK – 2 days ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the worst outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S. is teaching the food industry the truth of the adage, "Be careful what you wish for because you might get it."

The industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators quickly trace produce that sickens consumers, according to interviews and government reports reviewed by The Associated Press.

The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records that could be reviewed easily during a crisis to search for an outbreak's source. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers' favorite foods.

The apparent but unintended consequences of the lobbying success: a paper record-keeping system that has slowed investigators, with estimated business losses of $250 million. So far, nearly 1,300 people in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada have been sickened by salmonella since April.

Investigators initially focused on tomatoes as a culprit. Now they are turning attention to jalapeno peppers.

A former member of Bush's Cabinet and three former senior officials in the Food and Drug Administration told the AP that government food safety experts did not get the strong record-keeping and trace-back system originally proposed under a bioterrorism law to cope with a major foodborne illness.

"In retrospect, yes, if they (the regulations) had been broader and a bit more far-reaching, it could have helped with this," said Robert Brackett, senior vice president of the Grocery 

 


CONSULTEN, OPINEN , ESCRIBAN LIBREMENTE
Saludos
Rodrigo González Fernández
Diplomado en RSE de la ONU
www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
www.el-observatorio-politico.blogspot.com
www.lobbyingchile.blogspot.com
www.biocombustibles.blogspot.com
www.calentamientoglobalchile.blogspot.com
oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02-  8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación  y consultoría en LIDERAZGO -  RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES  ,   y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles  para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile

Miners stage election-year lobbying at conference

Miners stage election-year lobbying at conference

Miners are mounting a major lobbying campaign in the run-up to the general election and calling for a re-think on support for exploration.

"It's an election year, and that always means that parties take another look at what they are doing and where they stand on issues," said Minerals Industry Association chief executive Doug Gordon.

The campaign will be given a high public profile at this year's Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) conference, which starts in Wellington at the end of August. It will be formally opened by Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven on September 1.

The conference was at a pivotal time for the mining sector, said Mr Gordon.


CONSULTEN, OPINEN , ESCRIBAN LIBREMENTE
Saludos
Rodrigo González Fernández
Diplomado en RSE de la ONU
www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
www.el-observatorio-politico.blogspot.com
www.lobbyingchile.blogspot.com
www.biocombustibles.blogspot.com
www.calentamientoglobalchile.blogspot.com
oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02-  8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación  y consultoría en LIDERAZGO -  RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES  ,   y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles  para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile

New biofuels lobbying group formed by some of the biggest players in agribusiness

New biofuels lobbying group formed by some of the biggest players in agribusiness

ST. LOUIS: The argument over using crops to make biofuels is about to get a little louder, courtesy of a new group formed by some of the biggest agribusiness companies in the world.

The new group — formed by Monsanto Co., Archer Daniels Midland, Deere & Co. and DuPont Co. — announced Thursday it will use national advertisements and lobbyists on Capitol Hill to build the case that new technologies can make it feasible to produce crop-based fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, even as grain prices climb worldwide.

Just a niche market three years ago, the biofuels industry has blossomed because of federal mandates requiring the United States to use 9 billion gallons (34 billion liters) of alternative fuel annually by 2009.

The mandates are under attack from a wide variety of groups that blame the new industry for rising food prices that have sparked riots and hoarding everywhere from Haiti to southeast Asia.

Organizers of the newly formed Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy said Thursday they want to change the debate about biofuels. Their plan is to convince consumers and politicians that both goals can be met at once by increasing agricultural productivity.

"I think the only path forward is one that meets both food and energy security demands," said Monsanto's Chief Technology Officer Robert Fraley. "I think we can add a component of science and technological perspective to the discussion."

Monsanto hopes to double the yield-per-acre (yield-per-hectare) of crops like corn and soybeans by 2030, he said. Pioneer Hi-Bred, a division of DuPont, plans to boost yields of its seeds by 40 percent within a decade.

The alliance plans to lobby federal lawmakers to keep current ethanol mandates while increasing funding for agricultural research and development that could increase crop yields. It also plans to try to sway consumers by telling them new technologies will make it possible to grow enough food to affordably fill gas tanks and grocery carts.

Companies behind the alliance stand to benefit from any increase in farming and grain consumption, whether it be increased use of Archer Daniels Midland's new ethanol plants, Monsanto's seeds or Deere & Cos. farming equipment.

The alliance didn't say how much it will spend on the campaign, beyond saying the project has a budget worth several million dollars. But even that kind of cash doesn't guarantee Congress won't revisit the wisdom of biofuels mandates.

The alliance faces opposition from well-funded agricultural interests that are suffering under rising in food costs, including the American Meat Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

The GMA is already funding a campaign to highlight the negative effect of rising grain costs for average consumers, and it wants Congress to reconsider the federal ethanol mandates.

The GMA isn't swayed by the idea of waiting for agricultural productivity to improve, GMA Vice President for federal affairs Scott Faber said in a statement.

"While improvements in global agriculture are vital, this work must not distract us from the fact that while we wait, millions of people will be pushed deeper into hunger and poverty because we are diverting more and more food and feed supplies to producing ethanol," Faber said in a statement. "Congress and the administration can take immediate action to curb hunger by revisiting these flawed policies."

About 22 percent of the U.S. corn crop went to produce biofuels this year, which is virtually the same as last year, according to the National Corn Growers Association. A full 33 percent of this year's harvest, or 3.9 billion bushels, is expected to go toward ethanol production.

While virtually all experts agree that using crops for biofuels drives up the price of grain, opinions vary greatly as to how much.

White House economic advisers said the ethanol industry accounts for just 2 percent to 3 percent of the recent jump in grain prices, which are up more than 40 percent this year over last year. Estimates cited by the International Food Policy Research Institute and others say biofuels account for more than 30 percent of the increase.

Cutting back U.S. ethanol mandates would badly damage a booming U.S. biofuels industry that is just now starting to deliver domestically produced fuel to consumers, said Archer Daniels Midland Vice President Todd Werpy.

The newly built infrastructure could be used in future years to blend and deliver biofuels that are not crop based, such as ethanol made from grass or wood chips, he said.

"We will lose valuable ground that will take years to make up," Werpy said.


CONSULTEN, OPINEN , ESCRIBAN LIBREMENTE
Saludos
Rodrigo González Fernández
Diplomado en RSE de la ONU
www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
www.el-observatorio-politico.blogspot.com
www.lobbyingchile.blogspot.com
www.biocombustibles.blogspot.com
www.calentamientoglobalchile.blogspot.com
oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02-  8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación  y consultoría en LIDERAZGO -  RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES  ,   y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles  para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile

Leading Lobbying Firm Celebrates Growth and New Name: Troutman Sanders Strategies

Leading Lobbying Firm Celebrates Growth and New Name: Troutman Sanders Strategies

Comtex

ATLANTA, July 25, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group (TSPAG), Georgia's leading lobbying firm for healthcare, taxation, banking and developer issues, has changed its name to Troutman Sanders Strategies.

"The name change reflects the firm's substantial growth since its founding in 2002 and its expanding business and geographic presence," said Pete Robinson, Chairman of Troutman Sanders Strategies.

"We've chosen a name that better defines a national firm that impacts government through advocacy," said Robinson. He noted that Troutman Sanders Strategies has grown from a single office into a comprehensive, bi-partisan, national-issue management firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Richmond, with more than 20 federal and state lobbyists.

Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group was founded six years ago by Troutman Sanders LLP, a 111-year-old international law firm with more than 650 attorneys and 12 offices in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition, Troutman Sanders LLP recently announced it will merge with Ross, Dixon & Bell LLP, a 100-lawyer firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Diego and Orange County, California.

The rapid growth of Troutman Sanders Strategies has been partially fueled by the acquisition of veteran, top-notch talent and practices. Robinson said the firm's lobbyists are executing on everything from Capitol Hill's major federal legislation battles to state procurement issues, coalition building and grasstops advocacy, while also leading the way in public-private partnership initiatives. This has helped the firm develop into a "truly full-service practice."

"We have always followed the philosophy that average and ordinary are not good enough, and we intend to showcase that in 2008," said Robinson. "This is an incredibly talented and focused group of veterans with proven expertise across the board as shown by our many satisfied clients."

For more information on Troutman Sanders Strategies, visit their new Web site, http://www.troutmansandersstrategies.com and call Robb Willis, Principal, at 404.879.6501 or Pete Robinson, Chairman, at 404.885.3699.

Keywords: government relations, state government affairs, federal government affairs, procurement, coalition building and grasstops advocacy, agriculture, natural resources, energy, environment, insurance, healthcare, finance, taxation, trade, appropriations, project funding, public-private partnerships, telecommunications, technology, transportation, infrastructure, Atlanta, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Troutman Sanders LLP, Troutman Sanders Strategies.

SOURCE Troutman Sanders Strategies

FOR MORE INFORMACIÓN:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/leading-lobbying-firm-celebrates-growth-new-troutman-sanders-strategies/-1822635270#

 


CONSULTEN, OPINEN , ESCRIBAN LIBREMENTE
Saludos
Rodrigo González Fernández
Diplomado en RSE de la ONU
www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
www.el-observatorio-politico.blogspot.com
www.lobbyingchile.blogspot.com
www.biocombustibles.blogspot.com
www.calentamientoglobalchile.blogspot.com
oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02-  8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación  y consultoría en LIDERAZGO -  RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES  ,   y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles  para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile