Photograph by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Thomas “Tom” Wheeler, managing director of Core Capital Partners LP and President Barack Obama’s nominee as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), right, laughs as Obama makes the announcement in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2013.

In President Barack Obama’s administration, being a prolific fundraiser seems to be among the critieria to chair the Federal Communications Commission.

For the second time, Obama reached into his list of campaign bundlers and chose one of the most prolific, Tom Wheeler, who brought in more than $500,000 for the president’s re-election campaign. Wheeler succeeds Julius Genachowski, who raised more than $500,000 for Obama the first time he ran for the White House.

“That is the classic tool for getting appointed,” said Craig Holman, who lobbies on campaign finance issues for the advocacy group Public Citizen. “Most of the bundlers really get appointed to more ceremonial jobs, like ambassadorships. Tom Wheeler is moving into a very important position. Let’s hope that it isn’t just his bundling and fundraising that got him that appointment.”

Original post is As Obama Bundler, Wheeler Follows in Genachowski’s Footsteps by Political Capital.

Photograph by Damon Winter/The New York Times via Redux

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama had their first dance at an appearance at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of many of the evening, at the Convention Center in Washington on Jan 20, 2009.

President Barack Obama’s decision to reject contributions to his inaugural committee from registered lobbyists isn’t keep them away from the hoopla surrounding the start of his second term.

Lobbyists are helping to fund the state societies’ inaugural bashes and inviting clients and public officials to get out of the cold and watch the swearing-in ceremony and parade from their offices.

“This is just a wonderful, easy way to endear themselves to those who have authority over their business,” says Craig Holman of Public Citizen, a Washington-based advocacy group that supports stronger campaign finance laws. “These events will be staffed full of members of Congress, political officials and those who are in the Obama administration. This is a like a lobbyist nirvana.”

MCapitol Management, paid $2.4 million to lobby the federal government during the first nine months of 2012, and Barnes and Thornburg, which paid $2.1 million, are among the sponsors of the Illinois State Society’s black-tie inaugural gala on Jan. 19.

Crowell & Moring is inviting clients to its Pennsylvania Avenue offices to watch the parade passing by its office windows. The firm was paid $1.6 million from January to September by Bank of America Corp., Novartis AG and other clients.

Holland & Knight LLP, located at the end of the route, is offering hot drinks and snacks. The firm was paid $13.4 million to lobby during the first nine months of 2012 by such companies as Dow Chemical and Raytheon Co., according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group that tracks lobbying. Holland & Knight represents several municipalities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors is holding its annual conference in Washington this week.

Holland & Knight also is a sponsor of the inaugural luncheon and fashion show, put on every four years by the state society of California, home state of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Two other lobbying firms, Cassidy and Associates, which paid $11.5 million in 2012, and Elmendorf Ryan LLC,, which paid $6.3 million, are helping to sponsor the Nevada State Society. The society, which represents the home state of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, is hosting a cocktail reception Friday.

The lobbyists’ activities come at a time when the Obama administration’s hostility has abated, says Rich Gold, head of the public policy and regulation practice group at Holland & Knight. He says the administration is more concerned about issues such as gun control, immigration overhaul, improving the economy and reducing the budget deficit.

“It’s not high on the list to vilify lobbyists,” Gold says. “The White House is focusing like a laser beam on those things that matter.”

MCapitol’s president, Gary LaPaille, a former state lawmaker and state Democratic chairman, says the Illinois society dinner is a chance to schmooze with old friends and make sure they know he’s in business.

“It polls out well to be anti-lobbyist but we still are the only legal entity that can talk to a member of Congress and we are legally doing that in accordance with all laws and rules and procedures,” LaPaille says. “Until somebody puts a bill in to prohibit lobbyists, we’re there.”

Original post is ‘Lobbyist Nirvana:’ Inaugural Festivities — Despite Obama’s Ban by Political Capital.

Photograph by Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington.

A coalition of groups pressing for disclosure of corporate political contributions said today that it is heartened by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to include plans for a proposed rule on its agenda.

“We congratulate the SEC for listening to investors and the public, in moving forward on a rule that would require publicly traded companies to disclose their political spending,” said Lisa Gilbert, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch, a Washington-based advocacy group that supports stronger campaign finance laws.

An SEC spokesman, John Nester, said the inclusion of the topic simply means “the staff is considering whether to recommend a proposal.”

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, introduced legislation last week that would require all groups spending at least $10,000 to disclose their expenditures and their donors. And Sen.John McCain, an Arizona Republican and co-author of the 2002 law banning corporate and union donations to political parties, said in an interview that he was talking with other lawmakers about increasing transparency.

“It may take another scandal, and there will be one,” he said.

At issue is the increasing amount of secret money spent on U.S. elections since the Supreme Court in its 2010 Citizens United decision relaxed curbs on corporate and union campaign spending.

Groups that do not disclose their contributors spent $318 million on the 2012 elections, 85 percent to support Republican candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group that tracks campaign spending.

In 2008, non-disclosing groups spent $79 million. Such groups include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Crossroads GPS, founded with the help of Karl Rove; Americans for Prosperity, linked to energy billionaires Charles and David Koch, and the League of Conservation Voters.

“Sometimes we feel like we’re walking around in a fog,” said Rep. John Sarbanes, another Maryland Democrat, on a conference call with reporters today. “You can’t see clearly exactly what’s happening in these campaigns because the money is hidden and the source of the money is unknown. There are legislative responses but there is a lot we can do at the regulatory level.”

Original post is Political Disclosure on SEC Agenda by Political Capital.