Posted on 07/03/2009 8:26:16 PM PDT by FormerACLUmember
The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) regulates federal lobbyists and organizations that lobby. The law defines and specifies the following:
Who is a Lobbyist?
Any person who:
Receives compensation of $5,000 or more per six-month period, or makes expenditures of $20,000 or more per six-month period, for lobbying; Makes more than one lobbying contact; and Spends 20 percent or more of his or her time over a six-month period on lobbying activities for an organization or a particular client. Unless each of these criteria is met, there is no registration requirement for that individual.
An organization is required to register under the LDA if it plans to engage in lobbying activities during any six-month period and incurs at least $20,500 in lobbying expenses.[1]
What Are “Lobbying Activities”?
The time spent on a lobbying contact and efforts in support of such contacts. These include the preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others.
(Excerpt) Read more at lobbyinginfo.org ...
Such activity would ordinarily be perfectly legal, except that the Washington Post has not registered as a federal lobbyist, as required by law.
In addition the Washington Post must now prominently and clearly identify itself as a for-profit lobbying firm, with a disclaimer at the top of its front page. Such a disclaimer must notify Post readers to the fact that the Post is in the business of selling access to the Obama Administration.
It’s not only the Post. It’s every paper in the Dem controlled states.
I don't know about that. The Post, and only the Post, was caught red-handed in this illegal activity.
Unfortunately, there is no ‘official’ controlling legal authority to do anything about it.
We’ll add them to the long list of grievances though.
I am sure that the honest and ethical Attorney General, Eric Holder, will be investigating this real soon.
The Washington Post Violates Federal Lobbying LawNot to mention ethics and standards and I think more like fifth columnists than lobbyist.
I think the founding fathers made a mistake by not including a provision forbidding clandestine state run news organizations...A seperation of church journalism and state.
Can anyone file a lawsuit?
Since the Washington Post is now a for-profit federal lobbying firm selling access to the Obama Administration, the Post is no longer fully protected by the First Amendment. As such it is more vulnerable to such potential litigation as slander (in its editorial pages) and securities fraud & securities class action suits (for misinformation in its financial pages).
Yeah, just as soon as he finishes searching for the 'gun toting, bible thumping' conservative 'terrorists'!
No.
(from Public Citizen):
The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House are responsible for enforcing the LDA. If either the Secretary or the Clerk is made aware that “any lobbyist or lobbying firm…may be in noncompliance” with the LDA, they must notify the lobbyist or lobbying firm in writing. The lobbyist or lobbying firm then has 60 days to respond and provide appropriate information. Failure to do this triggers notification to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia to initiate an investigation. However, efforts by the House Clerk and the Senate Secretary to ensure compliance are very limited, and referrals for repeated noncompliance to the Department of Justice had been non-existent until very recently when both offices have come under increasing public pressure to fulfill their mandate.
A lobbyist or lobbying firm found to be in violation of the LDA may be assessed civil fines of up to $50,000 for knowingly failing to comply with the LDA or for failing to resubmit a complete filing within 60 days of notification.
The Department of Justice’s enforcement of the LDA appears to be very weak, only recently finding anyone in violation of the law. Even in these few cases, the Department abides by a policy of confidentiality that is at odds with the purpose of the LDA. The Department will not discuss any LDA enforcement actions, even those that have been completed.
“Can anyone file a lawsuit?
No.”
Huh? Anyone can - if you have the bucks and knowledge. Best to hire an attorney.
WaPo will get a free pass. Another disillusionment.
File a complaint with the FTC for deceptive marketing.
They were representing themselves as a news and journalism company when in fact they were a lobbying and propaganda service for hire.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
Since the Washington Post is now a for-profit federal lobbying firm selling access to the Obama Administration, the Post is no longer fully protected by the First Amendment. As such it is more vulnerable to such potential litigation as slander (in its editorial pages) and securities fraud & securities class action suits (for misinformation in its financial pages).Kewl!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.