i'm it rock
marika
By Roxana Tiron
Posted: 03/23/09 07:21 PM [ET]
Several clients of the FBI-raided PMA Group are signing on with a new lobby
shop created by former PMA lobbyists who defected from the troubled firm.
Flagship Government Relations, launched in early February by some of PMA's
best-known lobbyists, has attracted eight former PMA clients, including
several with strong ties to Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the
House Appropriations Defense subcommittee.
Concurrent Technologies, often referred to as Murtha's "pet rock" because he
was instrumental in its foundation, and Advanced Acoustic Concepts, a
company Murtha lured to his district nine years ago, registered with
Flagship on March 1 and 13, respectively, according to lobbying records.
Another company with ties to Murtha and several other veteran appropriators,
Argon ST, also signed on with Flagship on March 1.
Other former PMA clients who have signed on with Flagship include Coda
Octopus Group, L-3 Communications, Parametric Technology Corp., The
Consulting Network and Weidlinger Associates.
Flagship's founders include Kaylene Green, a former Senate Armed Services
Committee staffer and congressional Navy liaison and the former PMA chief
operating officer; Sean Fogarty, a former Navy liaison to the Senate; Rich
Efford, a longtime appropriations staffer who worked for former Rep. Ernest
Istook (R-Okla.); and Dan Cunningham, who served as the director for the
Army's congressional liaison team and has a close relationship with Murtha,
according to multiple K Street sources.
The lobbyists defected from PMA after they could not strike a buyout
agreement with PMA founder Paul Magliocchetti, who is reportedly under
federal investigation for questionable congressional campaign donations and
has retired.
PMA will officially close its doors at the end of March, but former clients
with strong ties to Murtha will now retain access with some of PMA's most
seasoned former lobbyists. None of the companies or Flagship lobbyists have
been implicated in any wrongdoing or have been mentioned as part of the
investigation into Magliocchetti's campaign donations.
"Clients choose Flagship as their representation in Washington because we
are seasoned veterans that have been providing excellent client services for
decades," Green, Flagship's president and CEO, said in a statement e-mailed
to The Hill. "Our leadership is comprised of experienced government
relations professionals who have a diverse range of military, congressional,
administration and business backgrounds."
Green also said that as a new firm, Flagship is "actively pursuing new
clients who specialize in issues related to defense, energy, homeland
security, healthcare and education."
marika
By Kevin Bogardus
Posted: 03/23/09 07:29 PM [ET]
New lobbying rules for the $787 billion stimulus package put in place by the
Obama administration are being met with consternation and anger on K Street.
Lobbyists say the new policy will have a chilling effect on their
interaction with the administration. And while lobbyists are the target, the
constituencies they represent could be the ones that are ultimately hurt.
"It is a bunch of hogwash. He continues to demonize lobbyists and it is not
in the interest of the public or of his administration," said Howard
Marlowe, president of Marlowe & Company. "I am totally outraged by what they
are doing. I think it is just ridiculous."
The president announced last Friday that administration officials will have
to disclose their communications with lobbyists on stimulus matters online
for the public to see.
Government officials would not be allowed to consider the views of lobbyists
regarding specific stimulus projects unless the requests are put in writing,
according to the executive memo released Friday. The materials must also be
posted on an agency's website within three business days of receipt.
Obama announced the new requirements Friday in a speech before the National
Conference of State Legislatures.
"Decisions about how Recovery Act dollars are spent will be based on the
merits. They will not be made as a way of doing favors for lobbyists," Obama
said.
The restrictions "will help ensure that lobbyists do not stand in the way of
our recovery," Obama said.
Lobbyists say the new policy is the latest example of the contempt with
which the administration views their industry.
"marika" <marik...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:B7ednaiF86ZHXEvU...@rcn.net...
marika
tonight. Oreilly called himself a journalist. Dave called him a goon.
Actually Oreilly was mild when He interviewed Obama on his
show in a 3 parter I think. He actually was exceptionally fair. Even
where they disagreed. I was impressed. He has it in him when he wants
to have it in him
Limbaugh does not have it iin him
I did see that fox was snubbed,
I loved the Sustern interview with Palin.
They read part of the interview on air on msnbc. She sells John down
the river, apparently. old, not new, not mavericky enough. She will
probably take stevens place, or so I thought at the time, but everything has
flipped
Justice dropped Stevens case this week. Some are saying he should run as
governor and oust her
"marika" <marik...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:LMqdnVyZU_sOX0vU...@rcn.net...