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he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nBallard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAlthough individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nThe Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nThe president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nOne of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nTrump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\n\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nA prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nThe non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAnother American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nFor the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAnother legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nIn January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nNine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nPam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAccording to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAs businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAccording to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nOne objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAccording to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAccording to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nThe way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nConcern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nLewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nAccording to Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government affairs at the American Council on Education, \"some institutions have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what they've already been doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nIn an effort to set themselves apart from the Ivy League institutions at the target of President Donald Trump's attacks on higher education, a few of the country's smaller liberal arts colleges are employing lobbyists <\/a>from Washington for the first time. College presidents have always had a major role in handling government relations, but according to lobbying disclosures, at least five of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News & World Report have recently hired lobbyists for the first time in their history: Williams College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Davidson College, and Washington and Lee University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government affairs at the American Council on Education, \"some institutions have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what they've already been doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nBy employing Michael Noble, a former head of the well-known climate advocacy charity Fresh Energy and a supporter of Governor Tim Walz, Google strengthened its lobbying position in the Legislature. Google, like the other data center corporations, wants to change the incentives to make equipment purchase refunds an upfront exemption and extend Minnesota's substantial sales tax discounts for data centers, according to Davids.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google increases lobbying amid Minnesota\u2019s debate on data center tax incentives","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-increases-lobbying-amid-minnesotas-debate-on-data-center-tax-incentives","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7767","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7753,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content":"\n
In an effort to set themselves apart from the Ivy League institutions at the target of President Donald Trump's attacks on higher education, a few of the country's smaller liberal arts colleges are employing lobbyists <\/a>from Washington for the first time. College presidents have always had a major role in handling government relations, but according to lobbying disclosures, at least five of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News & World Report have recently hired lobbyists for the first time in their history: Williams College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Davidson College, and Washington and Lee University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government affairs at the American Council on Education, \"some institutions have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what they've already been doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nOne of the biggest tech firms in the world is Alphabet Inc. It has plans to construct data centers throughout the world to assist its artificial intelligence goals, joining competitors like Amazon. Due to the rapidly increasing demand for YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and other services, a Google employee informed the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in October that the company's energy use has increased fivefold between 2012 and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By employing Michael Noble, a former head of the well-known climate advocacy charity Fresh Energy and a supporter of Governor Tim Walz, Google strengthened its lobbying position in the Legislature. Google, like the other data center corporations, wants to change the incentives to make equipment purchase refunds an upfront exemption and extend Minnesota's substantial sales tax discounts for data centers, according to Davids.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google increases lobbying amid Minnesota\u2019s debate on data center tax incentives","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-increases-lobbying-amid-minnesotas-debate-on-data-center-tax-incentives","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7767","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7753,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content":"\n
In an effort to set themselves apart from the Ivy League institutions at the target of President Donald Trump's attacks on higher education, a few of the country's smaller liberal arts colleges are employing lobbyists <\/a>from Washington for the first time. College presidents have always had a major role in handling government relations, but according to lobbying disclosures, at least five of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News & World Report have recently hired lobbyists for the first time in their history: Williams College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Davidson College, and Washington and Lee University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government affairs at the American Council on Education, \"some institutions have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what they've already been doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another legal firm with a well-known lobbying practice, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported that its first-quarter business was fueled in part by customers in higher education. In the first quarter of 2025, the company recorded earnings of $16.8 million, a 3.5% rise over the same period the previous year. Disclosure reports indicate that the firm represents DePaul University and the University of Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the quarter, two other companies, BGR Group and Cornerstone Government Affairs, also recorded year-over-year gains. Cornerstone reported $13.6 million in sales, while BGR Group claimed $14.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another American legal firm that engages in lobbying, Holland & Knight, reported $13 million in lobbying income for the first quarter of 2025, a 5.4% rise over the same period in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The non-profit organization OpenSecrets, which gathers lobbying data, reports that since 2016, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations have consistently increased their lobbying expenditures. Companies spent over $4.43 billion lobbying government agencies and Congress in 2024.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Corporate lobbying hits new highs as Trump targets institutions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"corporate-lobbying-hits-new-highs-as-trump-targets-institutions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-31 21:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7921","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7728,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content":"\n
A prominent lobbyist who had enraged President Donald Trump<\/a> over a cryptocurrency scam was kicked out of MAGA circles. At a Mar-a-Lago event in early March, a lobby shop employee of Brian Ballard, who has connections to a number of Trump officials, personally pressured the president to advertise a \"crypto strategic reserve\" on his Truth Social account. However, after posting the message, he was incensed to discover that one of their clients stood to gain from his remarks, Politico reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He is no longer welcome in anything,\" Trump later told White House colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump was repeatedly urged to publish the remark by Ballard's employee, who even provided him with a draft of a message she recommended he write. As soon as the post was made public, White House \"crypto czar\" David Sacks phoned chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former Ballard employee, to voice her displeasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the persons with knowledge of the situation stated, \"[Trump] had been brushing her off \u2014 then she kept bothering him and then he finally just gave it to a staffer to put out.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president felt taken advantage of, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, and Ballard has become a persona non grata at the White House, where three people claim that aides have been told not to meet with him. A close Trump friend stated, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"The president believing you're trading on his name is one way to get yourself in the doghouse.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Trump ally said that Ballard \"overstates his importance and value.\" Ballard had previously worked for Wiles and attorney general Pam Bondi, as well as represented the Trump Organization and raised funds for the president's campaigns. That ally said that the president is aware that<\/a> lobbyists earn money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"But I mean, to go out there and brag and hold yourself out?\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Although individuals close to Trump's inner circle contest the denials, a Ballard associate maintains that there was never any intention to deceive him on the crypto statement. One of the four people stated, \"Ballard is portraying himself as this all-powerful Trump lobbyist with unrestricted access to the administration, but that's just not true.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard told Politico that he had never sold on his connection to West Wing officials and that he and his company were \"accustomed to false accusations from unnamed sources due to the success our firm has enjoyed.\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\"Ballard Partners will continue to deliver results and effective advocacy for our clients as we have done for more than 25 years, despite the efforts of these unnamed sources,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Trump cuts ties with MAGA lobbyist after social media controversy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"trump-cuts-ties-with-maga-lobbyist-after-social-media-controversy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-10 15:07:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7728","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":45},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\nFor its planned Becker data center, Amazon wants to relax some environmental restrictions on backup diesel generators. Meta Platforms, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and other developers are represented by the trade group Data Center Coalition, which has openly sought<\/a> to increase and improve tax breaks for these initiatives. However, some DFLers want to impose additional regulations on a sector they believe would jeopardize state climate objectives, use excessive amounts of water, and operate in excessive secrecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the biggest tech firms in the world is Alphabet Inc. It has plans to construct data centers throughout the world to assist its artificial intelligence goals, joining competitors like Amazon. Due to the rapidly increasing demand for YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and other services, a Google employee informed the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in October that the company's energy use has increased fivefold between 2012 and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By employing Michael Noble, a former head of the well-known climate advocacy charity Fresh Energy and a supporter of Governor Tim Walz, Google strengthened its lobbying position in the Legislature. Google, like the other data center corporations, wants to change the incentives to make equipment purchase refunds an upfront exemption and extend Minnesota's substantial sales tax discounts for data centers, according to Davids.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Google increases lobbying amid Minnesota\u2019s debate on data center tax incentives","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"google-increases-lobbying-amid-minnesotas-debate-on-data-center-tax-incentives","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-13 18:17:18","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7767","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7753,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content":"\n
In an effort to set themselves apart from the Ivy League institutions at the target of President Donald Trump's attacks on higher education, a few of the country's smaller liberal arts colleges are employing lobbyists <\/a>from Washington for the first time. College presidents have always had a major role in handling government relations, but according to lobbying disclosures, at least five of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News & World Report have recently hired lobbyists for the first time in their history: Williams College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Davidson College, and Washington and Lee University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Steven Bloom, assistant vice president for government affairs at the American Council on Education, \"some institutions have decided that because of the risk, they feel like they need to hire some outside expertise to bolster what they've already been doing.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis-Burke Associates for Williams College, theGroup DC for Pomona College, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Davidson College are among the firms that were recruited to advocate on education-related matters for those five institutions. According to disclosure forms, Holland & Knight earned $80,000 in the first quarter from Washington and Lee University and Claremont McKenna College, the greatest payout of any company employed by the five institutions. Requests for response from the lobbying companies were either denied or not answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Concern over an enlarged endowment tax, the 1.4 percent levy on university investment income that was originally implemented in 2017 to help offset Trump's larger package of tax cuts, is reportedly a major driver behind the K Street appointments, according to disclosure filings and people familiar with the situation. Depending on endowment size and student enrollment, the number of colleges that pay the tax varies annually. According to IRS data, just 56 schools generated $381 million in 2023 by paying the tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The way the tax is applied allows universities with large enrollments to be exempt, while smaller schools with relatively modest endowments but much smaller student populations must pay. This is because the tax is only applied to schools with more than 500 paying students and an endowment valued at more than $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to four persons who were given anonymity to discuss the GOP tax proposal, House Republicans are thinking of significantly raising taxes on college and university endowments, with some paying exponentially higher tax rates based on a sliding scale of wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to two people with knowledge of the group, who were asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on its behalf, about 30 schools, including some small schools that recently hired their own lobbyists, are worried about the tax changes and have formed a consortium to coordinate their approach. The establishment of an organization devoted to this topic was prompted by the fact that schools subject to the levy vary in size and do not neatly fit into existing higher education trade groups, according to the persons. The consortium chose not to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One objective is evident for several of the tiny liberal arts colleges that are employing their own lobbying firms: to set themselves apart from Columbia. The levy is not currently paid by Columbia University, which has been under fire from Republicans for how it handled the pro-Palestine student demonstrations last year. According to two sources who were given anonymity to discuss the continuing negotiations, part of the motivation for the present modifications is a desire to modify the tax criteria to suit Columbia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Lee University, one of the universities that has engaged an outside lobbyist for the first time, and Washington did not have student encampments similar to those at Columbia during the demonstrations last year, and they are highlighting<\/a> this difference to lawmakers. The tax is now applied to Washington & Lee, which has an endowment of around $2 billion.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Small liberal arts colleges turn to lobbyists as GOP eyes hike in endowment tax","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"small-liberal-arts-colleges-turn-to-lobbyists-as-gop-eyes-hike-in-endowment-tax","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-12 22:29:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7753","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7921,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_date_gmt":"2025-05-11 20:59:32","post_content":"\n
As businesses, trade associations, and others negotiate President Donald Trump's second term in office and a Republican-controlled Congress, leading firms in Washington, D.C., are reporting an increase in lobbying expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the U.S. law firm Akin, lobbying income reached its highest level ever in the first quarter of 2025. It generated $16.4 million, up 18.75% from 2024's first quarter. Ballard Partners had a successful first quarter as well. Politico Influence reports that the lobbying company earned $14 million, a 225% increase from the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pam Bondi, who formerly employed at the Tallahassee-based business before to being appointed U.S. attorney general, is one of Ballard's ties to the Trump administration. Trump in 2016 was among the Republican candidates for whom Ballard's president has been a leading Florida fundraiser. Disclosures reveal that during the first quarter, Ballard Partners received $100,000 from each of two prominent law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher, to lobby on issues pertaining to employment practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine well-known companies, including Kirkland and Simpson Thacher, canceled agreements with the White House in order to avoid being subject to an executive order that aimed to restrict corporate activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, Ballard was also appointed to represent the Harvard <\/a>Corporation, the governing body of Harvard University. Since taking office, Trump has taken harsh measures against prominent American institutions, accusing them of failing to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year and allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. This week, Harvard filed a lawsuit to<\/a> stop the White House from suspending government funds totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n