Author Archive: Charles Case
Charles Case is a freelance writer and political journalist. He has contributed to The Hill among a variety of publications.
Global Image-Making On K Street
1994. The small central African nation of Rwanda implodes, unleashing a genocide that will claim an estimated 800,000 lives. Now, almost twenty years after the nation was plunged into chaos and bloodshed, Rwanda is attempting to “re-brand” its battered image. To facilitate this overhaul the Rwandan government contracted with Racepoint Group, a Boston-based P.R. operation. [...]
Debate Intensifies on Holocaust Railway Justice Legislation
On Capitol Hill the struggle to come to terms with the legacy of Nazism continues as politicians and lobbyists debate the Holocaust Railway Justice Act. The Act, which has broad bi-partisan support, would allow U.S. survivors of the Holocaust to press reparation claims in American courtrooms against the French railway giant SNCF. SNCF has responded [...]
Lobbyists Wage Uncivil War Over Virginia Uranium Mine
Virginia, the cradle of the Civil War. In a state dotted with more battlefields than any other, new forces are mobilizing, pitting Virginian against Virginian in another epic test of wills. But this time it’s not blue versus gray but “green versus greenbacks,” with the charge being led on both sides by legions of lobbyists. [...]
There Is Room On The Bus For Local Transit Lobbying
$286.4 billion. This is the number of Federal dollars directed at transportation related issues in the highway and transit bill signed into law in 2005. Intricate behemoths dense with provisions, earmarks and “pork,” Federal transportation measures have more on-ramps of opportunity for lobbyists than a California freeway cloverleaf. High-speed rail, road construction, environmental mandates — [...]
Political Stampede Over Horse Meat for Human Consumption
Horse. It’s what’s for dinner. Or it could be as Congress lifts the ban on slaughtering horses for human food. Not at all surprisingly, reaction to the decision has been visceral and extreme, whipping up conflict between western ranching and agri-business interests and animal rights activists. Horse meat production had been bridled since 2006 when [...]
Lobbying Finds Religion
God is playing the influence game. The media caricature of lobbyists as shills for big business is upended in a new study by the esteemed Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, which reveals that religious institutions spanning the faith spectrum spend a least 390 million dollars a year on political advocacy. Examining 212 religion-related [...]
It’s Still Meet Over Tweet With Veteran Lobbyists, But For How Long?
Dinosaurs beware, as the business of government increasingly trends through social media connections, many lobbyists just aren’t linked in. A survey of Washington’s most prominent lobbying firms reveals that about half of them, including many of K Streets’ power brokers, lack any effective presence on Twitter, Facebook or other online networking services. Indeed, while lobbyists [...]
Lobbyists Jam For Gibson Guitars Amidst Wood-Stock Outrage
As the Feds look into allegations that Gibson Guitars violated the Lacey Act, the legendary instrument maker is playing its own power chord with the retention of six lobbyists from the Washington firm of Crowell & Moring. In August Federal agents raided Gibson’s facilities, impounding wood imported from India. While the government has yet to [...]
