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Blog
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Welcome to the Holtzman Vogel Law Blog. We aim to keep you
up to date on important legal developments and other items of interest. On this
blog, we'll track developments in the news and changes to the rules and regulations
affecting political committees, corporate PACs, trade associations, non-profit groups
and advocacy organizations. We'll also keep you updated on the lobbying and ethics
arena. The Law Blog is designed to supplement our regular newsletter.
On behalf of the Holtzman Vogel team, I hope you find this site helpful and interesting.
And we hope you'll become a regular visitor. (If you'd like to receive our newsletter,
please click here to sign up.)
Jill Holtzman Vogel
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
OMB Watch: Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure Laws and the First Amendment
From OMB Watch: "On April 15, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a lawsuit on behalf of two volunteer groups challenging part of Washington State's grassroots lobbying disclosure law as a violation of their First Amendment rights to free speech, assembly, and petition. In Many Cultures, One Message v. Clements, the groups claim that having to register as grassroots lobbying organizations is burdensome, and revealing information about their financial supporters could leave donors open to threats from opponents."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Tea Party Group as Grassroots Lobbyist?
The Baltimore Sun reports "A Democratic blogger is stirring an online discussion over whether Maryland's main tea party group is operating out of bounds by pushing for state legislation without having registered as a lobbying organization....Dave Schwartz, the Maryland state director for the organization, draws a distinction between the work of his group and the activities of mainstream lobbyists that he decries....But Maryland law includes a category for "grass-roots lobbying," which requires groups to register if they spend more than $2,000 on organizing people to talk with lawmakers about specific bills....Schwartz, who used to raise money for former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., said he conferred with an attorney for the organization's national umbrella and determined that his group had not spent the $2,000 that would trigger disclosure."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Eliza Carney, National Journal: A Grassroots Cautionary Tale; Markey Investigation Into Bonner & Associates Shows The Deceptive Tactics Of AstroTurfing
Eliza Carney's latest op-ed in National Journal suggests that the recent Bonner & Associates scandal, involving fraudulent letters to lawmakers, is not an isolated incident. (Representaive "Markey is investigating why three members of Congress received more than a dozen letters opposing climate change legislation that forged the identities of seniors advocates and civil rights leaders, and why the lawmakers weren't notified until weeks after lobbyists discovered the fraud. The Sierra Club has also asked the Justice Department to investigate.") According to Carney, "reform advocates warn that the incident is all too representative of the deceptive tactics that tend to accompany what they call AstroTurf lobbying campaigns. These tend to involve grassroots letters, e-mails and robo-calls from citizens, and what's known as grass-tops communications from opinion leaders, a Bonner & Associates specialty."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Washington Post Editors on the "Read To Vote" Pledge
The "Read To Vote" pledge asks lawmakers to pledge that they will read "every word of every bill" before they vote on it. The Post's editors note that this "proposal would bring government to a standstill." For example, "To read all 1,427 pages of Waxman-Markey [the energy bill], it would take at least 12 hours -- tough on a tight legislative timeline. And that assumes that lawmakers can read complex bills at the same pace they do a John Grisham novel (we tried -- it's not even close)." The editors "also want to see legislators meeting to hammer out legislation, drafting amendments, interacting with constituents, leading hearings -- which, by the way, help to educate the public as well as Congress -- not shuttered for half of every workday just to read through "every word" of every bill that might come to a vote. At some point, it's fine for members of Congress to rely on expert staff members." UPDATE: GOP seeks 72-hour window to read bills.
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, September 04, 2009
New York Times Editors Uncover "Another Astroturf Campaign"
In this editorial, the New York Times claims "the oil lobby has taken a page from the anti-health-care-reform manual in an effort to drum up opposition to climate change legislation in Congress. Behind the overall effort — billed, naturally, as a grass-roots citizen movement — lie the string-pullers at the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s main trade organization and a wily, well-funded veteran of the legislative wars." Their source for this information? Greenpeace.
Click here to read the entire post.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
ABC and NBC Refuse to Air Health Care Ad Sponsored by the League of American Voters
The two networks declined to air the League of American Voters' ad, which can be seen here.
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Politico on "Astroturf" Politics
Politico explores the "Astroturf" debate: "The August recess may not have done much to clarify the health care debate, but it has shined a bright light on one of Washington, D.C.’s secrets: The town is paved with Astroturf." And the author asks the important question, "So what exactly is 'Astroturf?'"
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, August 17, 2009
NYT: Competing Ads on Health Care Plan Swamp the Airwaves
According to the New York Times, total interest group spending on health care reform advertising is up to "$57 million on television advertisements in six months, most of it in the last 45 days. . . . Supporters of Mr. Obama’s plan to overhaul the system have outspent opponents, with $24 million worth of advertising, compared with $9 million from opponents. An additional $24 million has been broadly spent in support of overhauling the system without backing a specific plan."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Washington Post: Loose Network of Activists Drives Reform Opposition
The Washington Post has this article on the forces behind the opposition to President Obama's proposed health care reforms. According to the Post, "The rowdy protests that threaten President Obama's health-care reform efforts have been spurred on by a loose network of activists - from veteran advocacy groups with millions of dollars in funding to casual alliances of like-minded conservatives unhappy over issues from taxes to deficits to environmental laws."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
OMB Watch: Revisiting Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure
OMB Watch weighs in on "the lack of transparency in grassroots advocacy."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Politico: Massive campaign for Obama hits air
Politico reports: "A new coalition on Thursday is launching $12 million in television ads to support President Barack Obama’s health-reform plan, in the opening wave of a planned tens of millions of dollars this fall. The new group, funded largely by the pharmaceutical industry, is called Americans for Stable Quality Care. It includes some odd bedfellows: the American Medical Association, FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, PhRMA and SEIU, the service employees’ union."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, August 10, 2009
CCP on Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure
The Center For Competitive Politics has this posting on the "reform" community's calls for grassroots lobbying disclosure.
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, August 10, 2009
LA Times: Obama's grass-roots network is put to the test
From the Los Angeles Times: "To win the White House, Barack Obama and his political team built a vast grass-roots network of supporters and volunteers that came to be considered one of the most valuable assets in American politics. Their ambition after the election was to reshape the network, with its trained organizers and 13 million e-mail addresses, into a ground-level force to push the new president's policy goals.
But now, entering a crucial congressional recess month in which Obama's healthcare plan faces stiffened opposition, some members of the network say that the group is still figuring out how to operate. Some also say their work has been slowed by tensions over tactics, disenchantment among some core supporters and an effective GOP resistance."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
CNN: RNC commits nearly $1 million on health care campaign
CNN reports "The Republican National Committee will spend nearly $1 million on campaign activities over the next month in an effort to cast doubt on President Obama's proposal to reform health care, a GOP official tells CNN. The Republican campaign will include television commercials already running in Arkansas, Nevada and North Dakota and new radio ads announced Friday that will air in 33 states."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
LA Times: Conservative nonprofit offered clout to FedEx -- for millions; The American Conservative Union asked for up to $3.4 million to support the carrier in a legislative battle. When the firm refused, the group's president backed rival UPS' position and blasted FedEx.
The Los Angeles Times has this report: "In an unusual look inside Washington's lobbying culture, a sequence of letters published last week exposed how a conservative nonprofit advocacy group apparently tried to sell its clout in a legislative battle between FedEx and UPS. For a fee of $2.1 million to $3.4 million, the American Conservative Union offered to 'strongly support' FedEx's position and 'rally [the] grass roots,' according to a June 30 letter from Vice President Dennis Whitfield to a top lobbyist for the package carrier."
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, July 03, 2009
WSJ: In Political Ads, Christian Left Mounts Sermonic Campaigns
The Wall Street Journal has this article on the "Christian left" and its recent political forays. According to the report, "Emboldened by what they see as a kindred spirit in the White House, progressive and liberal Christians are stepping up their political activism in a big way."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
WSJ: Pro-Business Group Targets Obama Agenda
From the Wall Street Journal: "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it will spend $100 million in an effort to stem the "rapidly growing influence of government over private-sector activity," in a major new move by the powerful business group to counter the Obama administration's regulatory agenda. . . . Chamber president Thomas Donohue said his organization is launching its 'Campaign for Free Enterprise' because an 'avalanche of new rules, restrictions, mandates and taxes' could 'seriously undermine the wealth and job-creating capacity of the nation.' Funds from the Chamber's campaign will be largely spent on advertising and lobbying."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Politico: Liberal groups get makeover
From Politico: "Code Pink first made headlines by disrupting congressional hearings with anti-war rhetoric. Today, it’s helping disrupt health care meetings — even though it’s in favor of reform. . . . Call it a classic case of Washington mission creep — and Code Pink is hardly the only group facing it. A host of progressive advocacy groups that spent years warring with Republicans are now finding new causes to justify their existence and stay relevant in the Democratic-controlled city."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Washington Post: Groups on the Left Are Suddenly on Top; Obama's Election Has Elevated The Influence Industry's Liberal Side
The Washington Post has this report on "how Obama's election has dramatically altered the landscape occupied by the advocacy groups, think tanks and lobbying firms that make up Washington's sprawling influence industry. Democratic and left-leaning groups are now ascendant, enjoying clout not seen in a generation and benefiting from close access to a White House brimming with former colleagues. Many of the groups spent the Bush years championing policies that had little chance of being adopted; now, their ideas and positions are at the center of the Washington debate."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
The Hill: Building a better list
The Hill has this article on the use of "microtargeting" by grassroots lobbying advocates. According to the article, "A technique forged to boost voter turnout in tight political campaigns is now pumping up grassroots lobbying efforts on major public policy fights over labor organizing, healthcare reform and climate change. . . . Microtargeting modeling provides more bang for the buck, its proponents say. By cross-referencing hundreds of pieces of information, issue advocates can draw a clearer picture of likely supporters. That means it costs less per person to build a grassroots base of advocates."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Washington Post: Interest groups already engaged in nominee battle
From the Washington Post: "The battle is on between conservative and liberal interest groups to define little-known federal judge Sonia Sotomayor before senators - away from the capital on a weeklong break - return to weigh in on the fate of the woman who would be the Supreme Court's first Hispanic . . . . 'Equal justice under law - or under attack?' a Web ad by the conservative group Judicial Confirmation Network asks. 'America deserves better' than Sotomayor, it concludes. Liberal groups hit back with their own campaign to paint Sotomayor as an experienced and fair judge whose background gives her a better understanding of how the court affects real people and their lives. 'Principled. Fair-minded. Independent,' asserts a TV spot by the liberal Center for Constitutional Values."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Washington Times: Interest groups gird for high court pick
The Washington Times reports "With President Obama expected to announce his Supreme Court nominee soon, judicial interest groups are building their dossiers on potential candidates, digging up past rulings, video clips and anything else that could speak to how an appointee might rule on contentious social issues. . . . The Judicial Confirmation Network launched a Web site, obamasfrontrunners.com, and a series of Web ads targeting Solicitor General Elena Kagan, 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diane Wood and 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, May 11, 2009
CQ Politics: Lobbyists Use the Web to Target Messages
From CQ Politics: "Mobilizing constituencies has long been among the most effective tools policy advocates and lobbyists can use to gain the attention of Congress. But that sort of outreach is now going much further, thanks largely to new online appeals that can put citizens advocating in behalf of a given issue or bill more directly in touch with lawmakers and their congressional staffs."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
CQ Politics: Opponents of Climate Change Bill Launch Ad Campaign
CQ Politics reports "Opponents of federal limits on greenhouse gases are launching ad campaigns in the districts of moderate Democrats negotiating a bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The radio ads, sponsored by the American Energy Alliance, are running in the districts of nine committee Democrats and one Republican, Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania. The ads contend that the bill would hurt the economy and cost jobs. . . . The new campaign is the latest round in an ad war where labor and environmental groups have also jumped into the fray: MoveOn.org, the Alliance for Climate Protection, the Blue-Green Alliance and others are running ads supporting the bill."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
NYT: Activists Urge Top Democratic Groups to Ban Lobby, PAC Donations
The New York Times has this report on the push by "some progressive bloggers" to get the DSCC and DCCC to "forgo contributions from political action committees and lobbyists. . . . Organizations and blogs, from Change Congress, a group created by Larry Lessig and Joe Trippi, to Jack and Jill Politics, have set up a new Web site on Tuesday called Stop Fake Reform."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Politico: Group ups pressure to pass energy bill
From Politico: "An environmental group is increasing the pressure to pass a sweeping environmental measure by taking out ads in the home districts of Republicans who oppose the bill. The League of Conservation Voters will advertise in the Michigan district of Republican Rep. Mike Rogers starting Friday, officials at the group said. It will be the second in a series of ads accusing members who oppose the legislation of lacking faith in America. The previous ad attacked Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Politico: Avalanche! Agenda fuels ad landslide
Politico reports an "avalanche" of issue ads since late January, when President Obama was sworn in. "Television viewers are being deluged by so-called issue ads paid for by corporations, unions, advocacy groups and individuals who have spent a whopping $270 million just since Obama took the oath of office, according to data provided to POLITICO by the Campaign Media Analysis Group."
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
The Hill: Card-check foes transfer lobbying battle to the Web
The Hill reports that "Online search engine ads are the new battleground for business associations and labor unions in the fight over a heavily lobbied labor bill. The groups have purchased ads for and against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) on Google to target members of Congress and the public. Those purchasing the ads include the Service Employees International Union, the Heritage Foundation and the Workforce Fairness Institute."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
CNN: Obama's political arm buys TV time to pressure Congress
CNN reports that "After several e-mail pleas and a nationwide door-knocking campaign, President Obama's political arm will start airing a television commercial Thursday, urging voters to pressure Congress to approve his budget." The "political arm" is Organizing For America, which is run out of the DNC.
Click here to read the entire post.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Washington Post: Obama's Campaign Army on Road Again; Volunteers Rally Support for Budget Plan
The Washington Post reports that President Obama is using his campaign volunteers to go door-to-door in support of his budget. According to the report, "The Obama administration and the Democratic National Committee opened a new chapter Saturday in their ambitious project to convert the energy from last year's campaign into a force for legislative reform on health care, climate change, education and taxes. More than 1,200 groups from Maine to Hawaii spent the day gathering signatures in support of Obama's economic plan, the first step in building what the White House hopes will be a standing political army ready to do battle."
Click here to read the entire post.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Washington Post: Obama Enlists Campaign Army In Budget Fight
From the Washington Post: "President Obama will kick off an all-out grass-roots effort today urging Congress to pass his $3.55 trillion budget, activating the extensive campaign apparatus he built during his successful 2008 candidacy for the first time since taking office. The campaign, which will be run under the aegis of the Democratic National Committee, will rely heavily on the 13 million-strong e-mail list put together during the campaign and now under the control of Organizing for America (OFA), a group overseen by the DNC. Aides familiar with the plan said it is an unprecedented attempt to transfer the grass-roots energy built during the presidential campaign into an effort to sway Congress."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Politico: ACORN, MoveOn target House Dems
Politico reports that "ACORN is taking a swing at some Democrats — with the help of liberal activists at MoveOn.org. . . . Next week this coalition will begin airing TV ads criticizing House Democrats who voted against [a housing] measure, which would for the first time give judges the authority to restructure home mortgages — a procedure known as a cramdown."
Click here to read the entire post.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
AFP: Obama musters campaign army for economic fight
AFP reports that "Barack Obama mustered his powerful campaign army on Monday, calling on his millions of supporters to lobby on behalf of his budget and economic plan. The appeal to back the president was made in an email and video sent out by 'Organizing for America,' the organization which morphed out of Obama's campaign machinery to push his agenda when he entered the White House.
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
National Journal: Groups Adapt '08 Tactics For Lobbying Efforts; Search Engine Advertising Moves From Presidential Campaigns To The World Of Issue Advocacy
National Journal reports on FreedomWorks' new Internet advertising campaign: "The conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks is launching a search engine advertising campaign this week targeting all 49 of the fiscally conservative House Democrats, either criticizing or applauding them for how they voted on the stimulus package. The organization is buying spots in Google's 'Sponsored Links' column, which appears alongside searches for the lawmakers' names."
Click here to read the entire post.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
NYT: Liberal Groups Are Flexing New Muscle in Lobby Wars
From the New York Times: "The rush of activity, particularly as it relates to health care, is illuminating a realignment of interests and a shift in the public debate, with liberal interest groups rising up to run vigorous — and expensive — campaigns in support of Mr. Obama’s agenda in a way they did not for the Clinton White House. And they have brought to their side some unexpected corporate support."
Click here to read the entire post.
Friday, February 27, 2009
New Ad From Americans United For Change and AFSCME
Politico reports that Americans United For Change and AFSCME is airing another ad in support of President Obama's economic proposals.
Click here to read the entire post.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
NYT: Pro-Stimulus Groups Unveil New Television Ad
Americans United For Change and AFSCME will air an ad commending President Obama for signing the stimulus bill.
Click here to read the entire post.
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