CQ.com - MoneyLine

Storm Gives Toyota More Time to Speed Up Lobbying Effort

Toyota, beleaguered with the fallout over a massive recall, will have a little more time to roll out its public offensive in Washington, D.C., after House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) postponed Wednesday’s hearing on Toyota’s vehicle acceleration problems because of the impending snowstorm.

Feb. 9, 2010 - 1:47 p.m.

Lobbyist Prepares for Real Battle Far From Capitol Hill

On Sept. 11, 2001, Patrick Wilson was just another Hill staffer. Wilson, now a lobbyist, was working as legislative director for Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) on the day the Capitol was evacuated and later when Pence received anthrax in the mail. Those terrorist threats made him want to fight back, but joining the military was impossible since he had passed the maximum age limit of 34. Roll Call (paid content)

Feb. 9, 2010 - 1:39 p.m.

Big Business Pushing FTAs

With renewed White House support but tough midterm elections expected this fall, the business community says this year’s legislative window is closing quickly for a trio of trade deals still awaiting Congressional approval. Roll Call (paid content)

Feb. 9, 2010 - 1:37 p.m.

Lobbyists Looking Busy While Hill at a Standstill

As most of Washington, D.C., spent Monday digging out from the weekend’s blizzard and bracing for another snowstorm expected today, lobbyists continued to press ahead even though some of their signature issues are hanging in limbo. Roll Call (paid content)

Feb. 9, 2010 - 1:37 p.m.

Spreading the GOP Wealth With an Eye on 2012

It’s never too early to line up support for a presidential run, so it’s not surprising that several possible 2012 Republican contenders are using their political action committees to dole out large amounts of cash to an array of GOP members and candidates this cycle. Full story

Feb. 9, 2010 - 12:39 p.m.

Earlybird Candidates Collect Campaign Cash

Some candidates have large campaign funds they can’t use right now because the seats they’re eyeing aren’t open just yet.
Take Michael Wildes (D), the former mayor of Englewood, N.J., who had $648,000 in his House campaign committee as the year began.Full story

Feb. 9, 2010 - 12:36 p.m.

Wamp Sees Foe’s Early Spending As Desperation

Sometimes the back-and-forth in a campaign for high office speaks for itself. Check out this story out of Tennessee, in which one candidate for governor -- Rep. Zach Wamp interprets the early campaign spending of Bill Haslam, his Republican primary rival, in an interesting way. Full story

Feb. 9, 2010 - 12:37 p.m.

Brunner’s Unconventional Senate Campaign In Ohio

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) is trying to win a Senate race this year with what is a shoestring budget by the standards of today’s big-money, media-heavy campaigns. Full story

Feb. 9, 2010 - 12:51 p.m.

Best-Funded Senators: The Big Three

Charles E. Schumer , D-N.Y., with $19.4 million in his campaign account, probably doens’t have to worry about spending as the election year begins.
The figure puts him at the top of the list of well-funded senators facing re-election. Schumer, a shoo-in to win a third term this November, took in $3.1 million in the final three months of 2009 and spent $317,000. His campaign is so well-stocked that it collected $153,000 in interest during the reporting period — more than some credible Senate candidates raised in contributions. Full story

Feb. 5, 2010 - 11:32 a.m.

Ring’s Corruption Trial Postponed Until July

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle agreed Friday to postpone the retrial of former House-aide-turned-lobbyist Kevin Ring until July. Roll Call (paid content)

Feb. 5, 2010 - 11:32 a.m.

Sheriff-Turned-Congressman Reichert Starts PAC

Add one more to the list of House members with two campaign committees rather than just one.
In addition to the committee that raises money for his re-election, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) now is in the Federal Election Commission’s records with a political action committee to use to raise money for other candidatates. The new entity is appropriately named Sheriff PAC. Full story

Feb. 5, 2010 - 11:33 a.m.

Colorado Candidate Wiens 90 Percent Self-Supported

Former Colorado state Sen. Tom Wiens (R) was the source of almost nine out of every 10 dollars that went into his U.S. Senate campaign in late 2009.
Wiens’ campaign said in a Feb. 2 release that it raised $728,418 through the end of last year, “which included contributions of over $188,418 and a candidate-provided loan of $540,000.” Full story

Feb. 5, 2010 - 11:34 a.m.

Lawyer Behind Citizens United has More Changes to Come

James Bopp Jr. launched the landmark case of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, which has the potential to remake political advertising and grant corporations and advocacy groups new powers to influence elections.
But as political organizations are trying to understand what the new rules mean, Bopp is getting ready for the next fight. He is preparing for other legal challenges that could roll back McCain-Feingold bans on large donations, widen how political parties coordinate spending with campaigns and repeal many disclosure rules. Congress.org

Jan. 29, 2010 - 1:12 p.m.

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