State asks lobbying firms to prove they can work with Democrat-controlled Congress

[sabra]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/11/22/22osfr.html

State asks lobbying firms to prove they can work with Democrat-controlled Congress
Firms have angered Texas' Democratic representative with their Republican-leaning ways.

WASHINGTON — Two state-paid lobbying firms under fire for their Republican-leaning work have been asked to show what strategy and staff changes they will make to build bridges with the new Democrat-controlled Congress, the governor's office said.

In a letter to the Federalist Group and Cassidy & Associates, Office of State-Federal Relations Executive Director Ed Perez asked that each firm be ready to present an "in-depth analysis" of their strategy and contacts with the new Democratic leadership and committee chairmen and to offer "any team alterations within your firm that would assist (the office)."

The request reflects not only the changed political atmosphere on Capitol Hill but also the partisan bent that Texas' lobbyists pursued under former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The latter has proved costly to the state's clout, and it's doubtful the principals at each firm who steered the work contracted by the state office for the past few years would be able to effectively work with the new Congress, several Texas Democrats have said.

The Federalist Group and Cassidy & Associates have earned $880,000 for pushing Texas priorities with congressional offices and federal agencies in Washington, and their state contracts run through August.

[liberal N proud]

1. Better idea: abolish the lobbying altogether

[Morgana LaFey]

9. Exactly my thought. EXACTLY.

Why try to rehabilitate a very broke, ill-advised system?

[lcordero2]

14. AMEN!!! n/t

[Pryderi]

2. Competitively bid out all gov't contracts, and you won't need lobbyists.

[leveymg]

3. The K-Street Strategy can work in reverse, it seems.

Drive the GOP operatives naked through the streets of shame.

[stepnw1f]

4. F*ck Them

Seriously.... we need less corpo lobbyists in Washington DC, more than EVER.

[Vincardog]

5. We need Public Financing of elections and an end to the lie of "Corporate Person Hood".

No more fund raising or bribes allowed.

[annabanana]

8. Boy Howdy, THAT'S the truth. . . . n/t

[Vidar]

11. Aye, Aye.

[stepnw1f]

12. There Never Was any Such Thing as "Corporate Personhood"

It was all a mistake. In fact "Corporate Personhood" comes from a mere footnote, and not an actual decision on any case.

I suggest everyone read Thom Hartmann's, "Unequal Protection". He lays it all out.

Corporate Personhood is unconstitutional and a fucking myth. Down with corporate tyranny....

[Vincardog]

13. Right you are. Does that keep them from suing over violations of their "Rights"?

We need a constitutional amendment that states that humans have rights corporations do not. Eminent Domain can not be used to take property from people for corporate gain.

[Robbien]

6. These lobbyists also funded attacks on Dems in the last election

article here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2609556

Why in heck is a Democratic Texas governor keeping such obvious GOPer firms.

[okasha]

10. Perry is a Republican.

I wish we did have a Democratic governor.

[annabanana]

7. I did not realize that our State taxes were spent on lobbyists.

The states should not NEED lobbyists.. I have decided that they are just dealers in bribery. They should be outlawed completely.