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SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Insiders in Washington love tariffs. Politicians and bureaucrats believed they knew better how to set up trade, which is bad for the American people, who will pay higher prices and maybe lose their jobs as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Naturally, little firms are unable to pay lobbyists, therefore their issues are ignored. With its tariff policy, the ostensibly populist administration that represents<\/a> \"Main Street\" is favoring large corporations who already have a strong relationship with the government and can afford to hire costly lobbyists to argue their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insiders in Washington love tariffs. Politicians and bureaucrats believed they knew better how to set up trade, which is bad for the American people, who will pay higher prices and maybe lose their jobs as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Even better if the lobbying company has ties to the ruling party. The fact that Ballard Partners, one of the companies closest to Trump, has seen three times its quarterly sales this year compared to the first quarter of last year is no accident. Its clients include Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, and Chevron, and it advocates on a wide range of topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, little firms are unable to pay lobbyists, therefore their issues are ignored. With its tariff policy, the ostensibly populist administration that represents<\/a> \"Main Street\" is favoring large corporations who already have a strong relationship with the government and can afford to hire costly lobbyists to argue their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insiders in Washington love tariffs. Politicians and bureaucrats believed they knew better how to set up trade, which is bad for the American people, who will pay higher prices and maybe lose their jobs as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Lobbying is an essential component of protectionism, not a regrettable byproduct. A government that has the authority to punish companies may also exempt them from penalty, and it is very profitable for a large corporation to receive an exemption. An exemption that may save a large corporation hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars could be obtained by investing a million dollars in a group of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even better if the lobbying company has ties to the ruling party. The fact that Ballard Partners, one of the companies closest to Trump, has seen three times its quarterly sales this year compared to the first quarter of last year is no accident. Its clients include Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, and Chevron, and it advocates on a wide range of topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, little firms are unable to pay lobbyists, therefore their issues are ignored. With its tariff policy, the ostensibly populist administration that represents<\/a> \"Main Street\" is favoring large corporations who already have a strong relationship with the government and can afford to hire costly lobbyists to argue their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insiders in Washington love tariffs. Politicians and bureaucrats believed they knew better how to set up trade, which is bad for the American people, who will pay higher prices and maybe lose their jobs as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The future of the military in Unalaska is still up in the air, according to Homka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Don't we all want to know?\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It's how we make a living out here. It encompasses many different aspects of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this year's federal lobbying trip, Homka, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr., Vice Mayor Alejandro \"Bong\" Tungul, Councilmember Anthony Longo, municipal lobbyists, and Ounalashka Corp. CEO Natalie Cale represented Unalaska. Like the state lobbying trip to Juneau, the travel to D.C. is a longstanding tradition. Last month, local initiatives were also promoted by city leaders in the state capital.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Unalaska leaders lobby Washington for federal support amid budget cuts","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"unalaska-leaders-lobby-washington-for-federal-support-amid-budget-cuts","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:25:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7652","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7639,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-27 19:14:10","post_content":"\n The $6 million agreement between the Democratic Party and the American firm Continental Strategy has sparked concerns, leading to inquiries by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In April, Flamur Noka, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of the United States, signed the party's lobbying contract with Continental Strategy. Of the $6 million total contract value, $750,000 has already been paid for the first three months. Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American, has offered a payment guarantee for this sum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental Strategy is a U.S.-based consulting and lobbying organization<\/a> that focuses on political strategy and government relations. The firm, which was established in early 2022 by former ambassador and state lawmaker Carlos Trujillo, has close political links to prominent members of the U.S. Republican Party, such as Senator Marco Rubio and Katie Wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the terms of the agreement, Continental Strategy will offer the Democratic Party government relations services, particularly by building connections with influential members of the legislative and executive branches to support policymaking and the accomplishment of the party's goals for governance and elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Democratic Party emphasised in a media statement that the $6<\/a> million will be disbursed via the \"Make Albania Great Again\" foundation, set up by Albanian Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the second deal the Democratic Party has inked with people close to US President Donald Trump in the last three months. Previously, one of Trump's two primary strategists from the previous presidential campaign, Chris LaCivita, controlled the business that handled the PR for the May 11 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SPAK is the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure in Albania, set up as part of a comprehensive system of judicial reform aimed at the fight against high-level corruption and organized crime and bringing the country up to the standards of the European Union. SPAK was set up after Albania's 2013 constitutional reform, which was meant to deal with entrenched corruption in the judiciary and the public sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reforms created an independent institutional framework for the investigation, prosecution, and judicial treatment of organized crime and corruption cases. SPAK is formed by a Special Prosecution Office (separate from other prosecution offices) and a subordinated National Bureau of Investigation. SPAK Courts, which began activities on December 19, 2019, are replacing the previous Serious Crime Courts and exercise nationwide jurisdiction in related cases.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Albania\u2019s Democratic party under investigation over $6 million US lobbying deal","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"albanias-democratic-party-under-investigation-over-6-million-us-lobbying-deal","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-28 19:22:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7639","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":46},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
2018 saw the start of the first Trump administration's trade conflicts and the last significant spike in tariff lobbying. With the number of registered businesses increasing from 71 to 139, tariff lobbying expenditure skyrocketed from $702,500 in the first quarter of 2017 to $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2018. Since the trade battle is bigger this time, there is also a greater amount of lobbying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lobbying is an essential component of protectionism, not a regrettable byproduct. A government that has the authority to punish companies may also exempt them from penalty, and it is very profitable for a large corporation to receive an exemption. An exemption that may save a large corporation hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars could be obtained by investing a million dollars in a group of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even better if the lobbying company has ties to the ruling party. The fact that Ballard Partners, one of the companies closest to Trump, has seen three times its quarterly sales this year compared to the first quarter of last year is no accident. Its clients include Netflix, JPMorgan Chase, and Chevron, and it advocates on a wide range of topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, little firms are unable to pay lobbyists, therefore their issues are ignored. With its tariff policy, the ostensibly populist administration that represents<\/a> \"Main Street\" is favoring large corporations who already have a strong relationship with the government and can afford to hire costly lobbyists to argue their cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insiders in Washington love tariffs. Politicians and bureaucrats believed they knew better how to set up trade, which is bad for the American people, who will pay higher prices and maybe lose their jobs as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Lobbyist spending on tariffs increases by 277% compared to last year","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"lobbyist-spending-on-tariffs-increases-by-277-compared-to-last-year","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-29 12:19:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7653","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7652,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_date_gmt":"2025-04-28 12:06:55","post_content":"\n As part of their yearly lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., local officials from Unalaska travelled to the nation's capital in late March. Speaking to Alaska's legislative members, government agencies, military commanders, and others, they promoted the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meeting in person may help garner funding for high-profile projects, such as geothermal development, which Unalaska has been seeking for decades, according to city manager Bil Homka. Geothermal development is \"one of the hardest projects in the world,\" according to him. Homka remarked, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We're still just getting our bearings in terms of ensuring that the resources are available in the capacity that will be worth the investment.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The visit coincides with nationwide financial reorganisations brought on by new federal cost-cutting initiatives. Grants to several Unalaska organisations that rely on federal funding have decreased. For the Captains Bay waterline project, which would have updated infrastructure along a highway linking to many industrial locations, the city lost around $3.4 million in congressionally ordered funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Homka, demands to recoup that money in the upcoming fiscal year have been made by Unalaska's federal lobbyists<\/a>, the qualified advocates who attest to the city's requirements throughout the year. He did, however, add that the projects may need to be modified in the interim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We have to wait and push back our timelines if that's what we're waiting for,\" <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"That's a huge deal out here because our construction season is so short.\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Additionally, the Unalaska group met with members from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Homka, a scheduled meeting with the Navy was eventually cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military is showing fresh interest in the Aleutians, especially farther down the chain, nearer Russia. According to federal officials, Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, is seeing a sort of comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reopening the naval base in Adak might strengthen the nation's security against escalating foreign threats, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in February. Adak, which had housed 6,000 troops during the Cold War, now has around 50 permanent people and a large amount of abandoned military infrastructure. A new launchpad for launching satellites into low Earth orbit is also anticipated to be built near the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The military's connection with Unalaska is improving<\/a>. Last year, the Coast Guard station on the island was transformed into a Marine Safety Unit. The Navy responds to an increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the Bering Sea and often pauses in Dutch Harbor. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still cleaning up World War II-era contaminants and debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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