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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBipartisan Agreement: Foreign Governments Pay Former Senate Leaders to Sell TPP
In a scene all too typical in present day Washington, the culmination of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, along with the push for passage of related legislation such as Trade Promotion Authority (or Fast Track) have set off a lobbying frenzy.
While liberal organizations and members of Congress deride the TPP as the biggest boondoggle since NAFTA and President Obama defends it as the most progressive trade treaty ever, the influence peddlers who populate K Street see opportunity.
Policy makers arent simply facing a lobbying barrage from the typical slate of domestic interest groups. Foreign governments are running sophisticated operations to influence Congress and gather intelligence in Washington as the negotiations proceed.
This is now par for the course, according to Lydia Dennett, an investigator at the Project on Government Oversight [POGO], a nonprofit watchdog. If a certain country wants trade legislation that will be beneficial to them they can hire an American lobbyist to get them the access the need.
Leading the way among TPP nations seeking to sway American policy makers is Japan, which signed up former Democratic Leader Tom Daschles firm as well as well-connected public relations firm DCI.
We wont know the full extent of Mr. Daschle or DCIs work on behalf of Japan until their next series of Foreign Agent Registration Act [FARA] disclosure reports are filed with the Department of Justice in a few months.
Read more at http://observer.com/2015/06/many-foreign-governments-pay-k-street-big-money-to-peddle-tpp-to-congress/
merrily
(45,251 posts)Another non-surprise:
Prior to recruiting Mr. Daschle, the highest profile lobbyist on Japans team was Tony Podesta, brother of Hillary Clintons campaign chairman John Podesta. His firm, The Podesta Group, receives $15,000 per month to counsel Japan on U.S. policy.
Read more at http://observer.com/2015/06/many-foreign-governments-pay-k-street-big-money-to-peddle-tpp-to-congress/#ixzz3coJ7duwh
In addition to being Hillary's campaign chair, Podesta founded Center for American Progress, yet another third way think tank and yet another reason I avoid the word "progressive." Not very long ago, Podesta founded another think tank, supposedly devoted to more populist ideas. Not buying it.
neverforget
(9,437 posts)It's the American, uh Corporate way.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Everyone's for Sale these days...