Latest news with #lobbying
Bloomberg
12 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
US Agencies Open Debate on How to Define Ultra-Processed Foods
Three US agencies on Wednesday announced plans to formally open debate over how to define the term 'ultra-processed' food, which is sure to prompt fierce lobbying from companies eager to exempt their products from the distinction. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture are jointly asking for public feedback regarding the establishment of a uniform definition for ultra-processed food.
Associated Press
20 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
State and Federal Communications Works With One-Third of America's Fortune 100 Companies; Launches Enhanced, Secure Client Portal
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / July 23, 2025 / State and Federal Communications, Inc., a national leader in lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement lobbying compliance, is proud to announce its partnership with one-third of Fortune 100 companies in America, representing industries from technology and finance to healthcare and energy. A powerful testament to the trust major corporations place in the firm's expertise and commitment to excellence, five of those on Fortune's Top 10 list rely on State and Federal Communications for clear, reliable, and timely compliance guidance. As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and service for those it serves, State and Federal Communications has launched a new client portal designed for greater ease of use, increased speed, and best-in-class security. The platform is built with advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication, providing clients with a seamless experience and enhanced backend capabilities, including improved browser functionality and increased ease of use. 'For over 30 years, our firm has built trusted relationships by delivering customized compliance solutions with integrity,' said Elizabeth Bartz, President & CEO. 'Our new client portal is just the latest example of how we're investing in technology to better serve the companies that shape the national and global economy.' The State and Federal Communications team of experts provides tailored consulting and access to comprehensive online guidebooks covering compliance laws across the federal government, all 50 states, more than 300 municipalities, and internationally in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. For more information on State and Federal Communications and its new client portal, visit # # # Contact InformationKat Allen Martucci 3307142274 SOURCE: State & Federal Communications, Inc. press release
Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
French minister and fugitive tycoon face trial over ‘corruption pact'
Rachida Dati, France's ambitious culture minister, and Carlos Ghosn, the fugitive car tycoon, have been sent for trial over an alleged €900,000 corruption pact. The move will cast a shadow over Dati's campaign to become mayor of Paris next year and add to the legal woes besetting Ghosn, the former chief executive of Renault and Nissan who fled to Lebanon in 2019 after being charged with financial misconduct in Japan. Both deny wrongdoing. Prosecutors allege that when Ghosn, 71, headed the Renault-Nissan alliance, he paid Dati, 59, then an MEP, €900,000 to carry out lobbying work on the companies' behalf in the European parliament between 2010 and 2012. MEPs are not allowed to engage in such lobbying work. However, Dati and Ghosn say the payments were consultancy fees to help with the group's expansion in the Middle East and north Africa, which was legal. The 175-page indictment says investigators could find no trace of Dati's consultancy activities, however. Dati has been charged with corruption, influence peddling, breach of trust and receiving the proceeds of abuse of power. Ghosn is accused of breach of trust, abuse of power, corruption and influence peddling. Le Monde said a preliminary hearing was due in September and the trial is likely to be scheduled next year, after March's council elections. The timing leaves Dati facing the prospect of having to campaign in the mayoral race against a background of corruption allegations. Polls suggest that the centre-right minister is an overwhelming favourite to succeed Anne Hidalgo, the socialist incumbent, who is her longtime rival. A political street fighter, Dati will almost certainly seek to shrug off the case, but internal opponents are waiting to pounce if her campaign is derailed. Foremost among them is Michel Barnier, the EU's former Brexit negotiator who was a short-lived prime minister last year. • The fugitive CEO Carlos Ghosn on how he escaped jail in Japan Although, like Dati, a member of the centre-right Republicans, Barnier wants to stand in a by-election in the wealthy Paris constituency that is her backyard. His initiative, seen as a stepping stone to the mayoral race, has infuriated Dati, who has indicated that she will run against him. The trial is a fresh setback for President Macron, who lured Dati into his centrist government in January 2024 although she had previously been critical of him. With her tough-talking style she is one of the few ministers well known to voters in what is otherwise widely viewed as a weak, ramshackle cabinet.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Crypto Industry Boosted Lobbying to Pass Coveted Stablecoin Bill
Crypto companies and advocates of digital assets boosted their lobbying this year to ensure passage of landmark legislation, delivering the nascent industry its first major policy victory in Washington. The firms reported spending $6.9 million in the second quarter, congressional disclosures show, a 21% increase over their outlays in the previous three months. The expanded spending came as Congress advanced industry-backed bills, including stablecoin legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law last Friday.
Skift
2 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Travel Companies Spent Big in Q2 on Lobbying — Here's What They Want
Just about all the travel companies want lower taxes and they've got their own initiatives where they want to see more spending. From April through June, the tourism and travel industries grappled with several political challenges at once: President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff turbulence. Messy debates over the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' U.S. travel bans and declining tourism from abroad. In response, many of the nation's biggest airlines, hotels, travel service companies, and associated trade associations spent bigger-than-usual amounts to lobby Congress and the Trump administration, according to a Skift analysis of new federal lobbying disclosure documents filed Monday. This government influence spending, which includes money spent on both in-house and for-hire lobbyists in Washington, D.C., is designed to defend industry and corporate interests and advocate for favorable policies and legislation. Among the notable revelations: Where Spending Rose Trade Groups: The U.S. Travel Association reported a spike in its lobbying activity during the second quarter ($1.03 million) versus a year earlier ($900,00). It was also well beyond what it spent during the same period in 2021 during Joe Biden's first year as president ($840,000) and in 2017 during the first year of Trump's first term ($640,000). 'Lobbying expenditures during the first year of a new presidential administration or new Congress typically increase — along with legislative and regulatory action — compared to the previous year,' U.S. Travel Association spokesperson Spencer
