Special Interest Business Groups Win Regulatory Favors After Booking Conventions At Trump Properties
Hat tip, Joe.My.God: Special Interest Business Groups Win Regulatory Favors After Booking Their Conventions At Trump Properties
Book Trump? Interest groups press case at his properties
By TAMI ABDOLLAH and STEPHEN BRAUN
Today
WASHINGTON (AP) Payday lenders got regulators to rethink rules on how closely to vet borrowers. E-cigarette makers got a delay in federal oversight of many vaping products. Candy makers praised a decision to hold off on more stringent labeling standards. And title insurers declared victory for getting changes that benefited them in the tax overhaul.
What do all these American special-interest groups have in common? They were among those that booked meetings, retreats and conferences at hotels and golf resorts owned by President Donald Trump.
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An Associated Press analysis of the special interests that visited Trump properties in the first year of his presidency found several instances that at least created the appearance of pay for play. And lobbying experts say as long as the president fails to divest from his businesses and can still profit from such bookings, special interests will take full advantage.
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In the first year of the Trump presidency, the watchdog group Public Citizen counted at least 19 interest groups that held events at Trump properties, including those representing miners, oil drillers, hedge fund operators, insurers, funeral home directors and commercial real estate investors. ... But its difficult to know exactly how many such meetings were held and how much money those groups spent because, unlike political organizations or campaigns, interest groups are not required to reveal their expenditures at private facilities. ... And the Trump Organization declined to even discuss such meetings.