How Andy Stern Got Around Obama’s “No Lobbyist” Policy; He Just Didn’t Register
by Brian JohnsonPresident Obama has always made a pretty big deal about not working with “lobbyists”. Registered lobbyists can’t get stimulus money, can’t be White House advisors and are not allowed access to meetings and summits. So how does one get around that? It’s simple; you just don’t register as a lobbyist. That’s what Andy Stern did and it may come back to bite him.
Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and me, as Executive Director of the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) formally requested an investigation by the acting United States Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Esq., into the potentially illegal lobbying activities of the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern.
In a letter hand delivered today to Mr. Phillips, Senate Secretary Erickson and House Clerk Miller, we wrote:
By this letter, we urge you to investigate the activities of Mr. Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), regarding meetings and other lobbying contacts with administration, White House and Congress during 2009. Specifically, it is important to determine whether those and related activities could constitute unregistered “lobbying” by Mr. Stern in violation of the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), 2 U.S.C. 1601, et seq. In fact, Mr. Stern was a registered lobbyist for SEIU until January of 2007 when he terminated his registration. For the reasons discussed below it appears that Mr. Stern continued to lobby extensively after he terminated his registered status, and in 2009 devoted so much time on lobbying and related activities that he should have re-registered as a lobbyist under LDA.
The evidence appears to put Mr. Stern in quite the pickle. The LDA defines a “lobbyist” as a person who spends over 20% of his time on “lobbying activities” and has two or more “lobbying contacts.” It is important to note that the calculation of the 20% of time spent on lobbying activities includes numerous activities beyond direct lobbying contacts, and is with respect to a calendar quarter of a year. A lobbyist must be registered by his or her employer and both must file reports disclosing their lobbying activities.
A “lobbying contact” includes any oral or written communication with certain individuals in the federal government (“covered” officials) regarding the formulation, modification or adoption of legislation, programs, policies or positions of the government, as well as government contracts or nominations of individuals subject to Senate confirmation. The public officials in government who are “covered” officials include any person in the White House and any Member, Senator or staff member of Congress.
Lobbying activity” under LDA includes time spent on lobbying contacts as well as time spent by the individual on any efforts to support his or her, or another’s, lobbying contacts such as preparation or planning activities, research and other background work, as well as time spent coordinating the lobbying activities of others.
Failure to file accurate reports or to register under LDA is a violation of the Act, which provides for civil penalties of up to $200,000 and criminal penalties of up to 5 years in prison. Reports must be filed electronically with the Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate. Responsibility for enforcement of the Act rests with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, under 2 U.S.C. 1605. In addition, the Government Accountability Office is required under the LDA to conduct random audits of filers. It does not appear that there has been an audit of the SEIU reports.
During the first calendar quarter of 2009, Mr. Stern went to the White House on 11 separate days, including twice on February 18. In the second calendar quarter, Mr. Stern visited on 9 days, and twice on April 13 for a total of 10 visits. Since White House personnel, including the President and Vice President, are considered “covered” officials under LDA, all of Mr. Stern’s communications with them during these 22 visits covering 20 days would constitute “lobbying contacts.” The time spent at the White House also constitutes “lobbying activity” time which must be captured for determining whether Mr. Stern spent more than 20% of his time during any calendar quarter engaged in lobbying. (Incidentally, in 2008, on his own LM-2 disclosure form filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Mr. Stern disclosed that he spent at least 24% of his time on lobbying and political activities, without separating those two activities out.)
Below are some of Mr. Stern’s personal “tweets”. The full letter and accompanying documents can be viewed on www.atr.org and www.workerfreedom.org
Lobbying with Mayor Bloomberg on health care. Leaving Senator Snowe. Mayor big proponent of keeping people healthy and the right public plan”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 6/24/09)
“Great discussion last 2 days with many Senators. Complicated issue but commitment to change. All understand-longer we wait worse it gets”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 6/17/09)
“At Springsteen Concert. Lots of fundraisers in box. Good free choice meetings with key Senators today “
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 5/18/09)
“Great White House meeting with serious, real discussion on cost savings. June 1 deadline for real results. Glad we could get this started.”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 5/11/09)
“Leaving White House. Serious , real discussion with great possibilities. Now work to be done by June 1 deadline. Glad we get start this.”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 5/11/09)
“At White House for meeting with President on Health care.”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 5/11/09)
“Congressman Sestak impressive on CNN. Visiting him tomorrow.”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 5/3/09)
“Specter, Sebelius, Washington Capitols, and 100 great days. On a roll Now let’s fire Ken Lewis at B of A today to keep a great week going”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 4/29/09)
“just left White House where group from MoveOn to Chamber of Commerce but mostly progressives had cocktails with Prez and VP”
(https://twitter.com/SEIU_ANDYSTERN, 2/18/09)<
Full copy of the letter below.
AndySternInvestigationRequest_FINAL –
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87 Comments
I am afraid any real investigation might have to wait until 2011, right after both houses are returned to a minumum of insanity.
The Dem's are just not acting too bright on this one, clean your own house, or risk having your enemies do it for you.
He is a lobbyist and as an insider, they seem to be above the law. This is chicago style.
Guess it's time for Andy to send over a few purple shirted overwieght thugs to Erickson's and Miller's house to counsel them.
Afterwards Obama can have a beer with Andy and Erickson
He probably just talked to the folks at his local ACORN office to figure out what to do about it, just like in the Maryland ACORN Video:
"We don't want to pay taxes …. "
"That's easy, just don't file!"
Andy Stern is a Crook!
Probably promised a pardon just before Obama has his Nixon moment.
Holder has lots of experience as a bag man as well so he can set Andy up in some nice Swiss digs.
More power to the authors for doing this, I hope it gets some attention,my cynical meter is just way up when it comes to anyone with close ties to Obama ever being held accountable for anything that they do or don't do.
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Dirty Bertie said they didn't need to file.
Although this is a completely black and white case, these dolts in government will never let this go forward… Who in this government will EVER put one of their own on trial; especially when its Andy Stern who is probably responsible for more campaign contribution cash to more legislatures than anyone else. . . But maybe, just maybe, if we ever get some conservatives/republicans with backbone into positions of power in the next elections, we can use the Nancy Pelosi precedent and RETROACTIVELY punish Andy Stern et al. . . The precedent is set, now we just need some good guys in power, NOT these weak-kneed republicans who SOUND tough, but NEVER act tough.
America is doomed. Totally, completely, utterly doomed.
I say we REPLACE THEM ALL!!!! I HATE when people say "we can't replace them all, that means we will lose some good ones," Well that doesn't hold water…….WE ARE AT WAR with the government and sometimes in war there is collateral damage – so if by replacing EVERYONE that means that some good ones go, then so be it….the point would be to replace them with GREAT people, so if we lose a GOOD and replace them with a GREAT, then so what??? I'm sorry Eric Cantor, I'm sorry Boehner, I'm sorry to all the good ones, but if you really believe in conservatism, then you will be able to RUN AGAIN in the future….. I have a feeling that we MIGHT get republicans back in power next year (and hopefully 2012), but i also have a feeling that they will quickly resort to their old ways and NEVER try to do what's right and repeal bills….they will just "alter" them and tell the public that they made the bad bill better……
America is doomed. Totally, completely, utterly doomed.
What's a $200,000 fine to someone who stands to make billions from the legislation he's proposing?
He should be water boarded on C-Span until he confesses he illegally lobbeyed! That would be awesome.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Chavez and Big Government, DNC Fail!. DNC Fail! said: #tcot #sgp #orca How Andy Stern Got Around Obama’s “No Lobbyist” Policy; He Just Didn’t Register http://url4.eu/llsm [...]
As usual the liebaggers of the left will find a way to wiggle out of this.When have they not lied through their teeth
when caught in a bold faced lie. Answer? NEVER.
seiu is obama's brown-shirts(or is that purple-shirts?). it seem mr. stern and mr. obama are "planning" something big.
This should come as no suprise to anyone. Obama appointed Patrick Gaspard, a former SEIU lobbyist (as recent as mid 2008 no less) as his political advisor. Why would there be any doubt in anyone's mind that Obama is simply paying lipservice to his own rules regarding lobbyists while openly violating them. As if anyone in his own party is going to hold him accountable. It's going to be up to us to clean house in 2010 and 2012.
President Narcissist Liar has 5 lobbyists in his cabinet. What a joke of an article. Nothing surprises me anymore about what Obama says or does. He does the opposite of what he says and when he says something you can bet he will not adhere to what he said. He is a professional liar.
Where's scott_z? Doesn't he want to weigh in on this? After all, SEIU and Acorn are two sides of the same coin? Both ARE Obama.
Are we surprised? Obama lies like a rug and STILL his minions lap up his kool-aid.
http://noliberalspin.blogtownhall.com/
The Anti Liberal Zone
The Second Amendment will hold them back. Now IF O-BOW-MA can get Eric the Red Holder to banish it… all bets are off.
They'll send a dead fish over first to announce their visit.
Didn't you get the memo? They're not liebaggers, they're "salad tossers"
Reading about some new escapade each day reminds me of the story of releasing hundreds of feathers in the wind – you can never get them all back. By the same token, how can all these missteps be undone. It becomes overwhelming, but we must never lose hope!
Of course Andy Stern is corrupt. Rahm Emanuel is corrupt. The White House is full of corruption, brought there by Obama, who is corrupt. It's the Chicago way!!! Government by Gangsters. Anyone who cannot see that by now is just dumb or a Yellow Dog Democrat who would vote for Satan if he were a Democrat candidate. Or maybe just some do-gooder who thought electing a Black as President would wash away all the nation's guilt from once practicing slavery. To the latter I offer this: Name me just one country where slavery was not practiced at sometime in the whole of past history.
Beyond all that, the tweet is pushing for a man to be fired. (”Specter, Sebelius, Washington Capitols, and 100 great days. On a roll Now let’s fire Ken Lewis at B of A today to keep a great week going”) Who the h3!! does this clown this he is. Getting someone fired is his way of having a great week…nice!
This is just the beginning! There will come a point when even the liberal electorate can no longer tolerate this administration. Unfortunately, the Obama administration will be unstoppable by then.
Just wait folks. The Chicago fix is in. The hollow promises of more 'freebies' for votes are just around the corner to capture the vote for 2010. The progressives will play the same old 'gimme' game and the suckers will bite again. The liberals will use the same snake oil to lubricate the hinges of the plantation once more. The rank and file of Acorn and SEIU will again taint the results of the election from their bogus "non-partisan" ballot box stuffing efforts and the AG will look the other way, AGAIN.
Yup. We are doomed. There is no hope for any change.
s/b plantation gate.
MSM+ACORNxSEIU = JOKER!
[...] How Andy Stern Got Around Obama’s “No Lobbyist” Policy; He Just Didn’t Register from Big Government by Brian Johnson Posted in Uncategorized [...]
Well if the House wasn't so darned busy looking into Charlie Rangel's complicated tax problems they'd be all over this. Maybe they can find the time to look into this (and Tom Daschelle's situation, too) in 2011 or so….
Hey, no worries — in OhBummer's holy book "It's OK to lie to infidels."
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#...
I haven't seen him post at ALL today. Vacation time? or did the 10.2% catch up to him?
I'm with you on your remarks about ThuggObama, but I can't get behind your saying "What a joke of an article."
While the actions described in this article might not get anywhere, I do appreciate the author's efforts. Even if the efforts only serve to mildly harass or annoy our Dear Leader, I'm glad someone is trying something.
This is the "Change you can believe in" in action.
I agree 100%. A message needs to be sent to anyone with political hopes. DO OUR BIDDING OR GET THROWN OUT ! ‘You can fool some of the People all the time, all the People some of the time,…and that’s enough.”
Really?? I mean…really? Your name is appropriate.
Argues for introducing a:
Disclose
All
Senate
Contacts
House
Legislative
Endeavors Lobbying Reform Act.
He got past his own rules the same way he got lobbyists in his administration and cabinet. He lied. This is nothing different. Each of his speech have to be fact checked for his lies.
TO READ SOME OF THESE ARTICLES: http://www.americanparchment.com
SEIU & ACORN = OBAMA
All this info was out there to find before Obama was elected. The problem is the media who you thought was telling you the truth knew most Americans do not take the time to check for themselves. Obama depends on the uneducated to keep his Chicago (corrupt) style politics. It worked for the big city of Chicago, why not the United States.
Great work! Make the opponent live up to its own book of rules
I suppose he didn't pay his taxes either………..
thats Oh-Bow-ma…..
This anti-Capitalist needs to be taken down, and quickly. ACORN and SEIU are scourges that need to be irradicated. They are giving good unions a bad name, however few there are.
Dirtbags. Every stinkin' one of them. Is everyone happy? I want my Country back. Am I alone?
Perhaps his pay, for being a troll here, didn't arrive………so he's on strike.
Or is it that his new script didn't arrive yet?
Stern should sue Norquist for defamation….then, have Obama jail him indefinitely.
OBAMA!!!!
And people wonder why the Nazis came to power!
I could not say this better……….. "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth" – Albert Einstein.
I think Albert was a wicked smaht guy (its hard being red in a blue state) ….. wake up America and stop being the lapdog of any politician.
The Chicago way….looks like SEIU is making preparations for taking over all of the ACORN vote rigging business since they've got the spotlight shining on them…for now. SEIU will more than likely find more voters for the Dem candidates next year during the mid-term elections and well, Republicans will just have to sit on their hands and keep their mouths shut because there's not a lot they can do. When you have a fasicst president and both houses of congress who will do anything to win, up to and including fraud, there's not a lot anyone can do but sit back and take it. Comes a day of reckoning though but it's not going to be done at the ballot box because liberals have figured out a way to game the system and they're rigging it right now to ensure a Dem majority and ensure Barry Soetoro has the 'votes' to win re-election in 2012.
Let's see if the WH just ignores this or simply lies about Stern. They are marxists and they will not be honest nor forthcoming. Look to be ignored at best, targeted at worst.
Where is it written that the scum of the left are the only people who can take to the streets? Do these morons want violence? They seem to be saying this is the only option.
Since SEIU is a bunch of govt. worker burreaucrats they are paid by us taxpayers, so they pay their union dues with our tax dollars, so Stern gets paid with our tax dollars, do you think these fools are for higher taxes across the board…you betcha…so they kind of have an incentive to do poorly at their job because the worse they do the more tax money/budget money they need to solve the problems, of course they are altruistic, benevolent, civil servants..the servants are telling the owners(the People) where to put it, thats for sure
When the PEOPLE fear the government you have TYRANNY…when the government fears the PEOPLE we have FREEDOM!!! They need to be afraid, very afraid! If we don't act hard and fast we will end up like the UK…God help us! We need to REVOLT NOW!!!
I think that WE THE PEOPLE can take them on…let them try to restrain us…won't happen!!!
On;y one problem with that scenario: No matter what people think of him, Nixon had respect for the office of the President, and resigned: Bill Clinton and Barack Obama will drag it through the mud instead of doing the honorable thing!
You are NOT alone!!!
Your quite right, on his own I suspect he never would of course, his ego precludes being wrong, even if convicted in a court of law I suspect.
On the other hand, his puppet masters might decide to cut and run vs. being looked into too closely.
First part of original post was not meant as anything other than wishful thinking I am afraid.
Einstein was a socialist, so i partially agree-he was wicked
One useless man is a shame. Two useless men are a Law Firm. Three or more useless men are a Congress.
John Adams 1735-1825
I think SEIU needs a tase of its own medicine.
[...] (unions) has managed to grab the levers of power over the other 90% of us. Complete story here: How Andy Stern Got Around Obama’s “No Lobbyist” Policy; He Just Didn’t Register var addthis_pub = ''; var addthis_language = 'en';var addthis_options = 'email, favorites, digg, [...]
This guy needs to be behind bars with his Union thugs. Someone needs to pay him his "DUES". Just looking at him makes me want to p@ke.
Is there anyone in Obama's administration or Congress that is not a crook, cheat or liar?
Good info. I admire the whole respect for the "rule of law" thing. But it's a little old fashioned eh? This won't rise to the level of reportable news to the oldstream media. And if it did Obama would pardon his buddy Andy without blinking. HE'S BRINGING TERRORISTS TO TRIAL IN NYC — there's nothing he won't do.
Being a formers SEIU member in disgust of this horrible organization, that ONLY cares about the union dues taken from each of it’s members checks they are just “legal thugs.” Impeachment needs to start ASAP, CHARGES against all criminal activity charghed accordingly. We need to take our WHITEHOUSE back!
WELL….Well…….well, imagine that, if it wasn't so SERIOUS it would be funny!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEAR YEE……HEAR YE, All you believers….. lock this in the vaults of your minds and never think about it again!!!!…..Be a good follower now, don't forget the rules to ensure pure unadulterated indoctrination, nothing shall burst your bubble of belief!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MUST BE A RIGHT WING RADICAL/EXTREMEST/TEABAGGER/TRUTHER/HARD WORKING AMERICANS' LIE!!! Ocean front property in Arizona is still for sale for any believers that anything is possible……. make offer!!!!!!!
"We are going to have to change the culture in Washington so lobbyists and special interests aren't driving the process and your voices aren't being drown out." –Barak Hussein Obama (Oct. 2008)
ACORN, LAWYERS, UNIONS AND SUCH OH MY …. SORRY, DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH – NO SUCH MIRACLE ON 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. … THE ONLY CULTURE CHANGE GOING ON IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
de facto President….just wait and see. It all comes out in the wash.
DEF-YOU must be one of those paid “rats!” Indoctrinated either by ACORN/SEIU! Tell you what though DEF-I have seen 1st hand how SEIU WORKS! They sympathize with the employees to get their votes/voted in. Secondly, once they get in -for a few years they’re hard on the employer. Thirdly, once they “think” they have a firm hold on the business, they start working with the EMPLOYER! Slowly taking away benefits and ridiculous absentism policies. So ridiculous, that sick employees go to work sick to avoid getting fired. Consequently exposing senior citizens(nursing home residents) and other employees to the crud! In the last union election they took away the income protection days and sick pay does NOT start till the 7th day unless you’re hospitalized. Sounds to me like the UNION isn’t giving a damn about the employees. But, they sure take their DUES! Oh wait-the “messiah” needed the dues! Makes me wanna hurl! So, DEF or is it “DEAF”—YOU BEST start realizing if this horrible healthcare bill passes YOU will have to pay through the nose for WAITING LINE ACCESS to healthcare! Doctors will quit-Graduate’s won’t entertain the going into this field of slavery. I won’t let my daughter take ONE STEP into this profession-over my DEAD BODY! There is NO SHORTAGE of nurse’s, nursing assistants, emt’s-just alot of physically damaged professionals TOSSED ASIDE from the irresponsible healthcare industry.
Good Lord, is there ho way we can stop these corrupt imbeciles from destroying the country? I am so sick of Barack Hussein Obama and his corrupt gang of ACORN/SEIU Thugs who have a revolving door to and from the White House. Andy Stern is as corrupt as they come and owns this president, lock, stock and barrel. Now he wants to collect on the $60-100 million dollar investment he made in the Wuss in the White House. If the Health Care SCAM doesn't pass, how is poor old Andy going to unionize every health care worker in the nation? This administration is the most corrupt that I have seen in my lifetime. It's disgusting. Why can't we do something about it???? We need an investigation by the FBI for racketeering! Doesn't anyone in Washington D C have any balls?
Anyone checked out the "prayer" for Obama? Google Psalms 109.8 When desperation sets in we will grasp at any straws. lol
9-12 washington d.c. …….unstoppable? not hardly.watch the 10 minute slide show on youtube – search starznbarzphoto for it. turn up speakers.
nope,not this time. things are different now – the commie in chief and crew have made a serious miscalculation.we simply won`t allow them to do what they want to do.want proof? put starznbarzphoto into youtube search – then click on 9-12 d.c. , turn up your speakers – there is the solution to barry and company. they mock what they fear.
[...] last month make clear, Mr. Stern was the most frequent White House visitor. Now the great team at BigGovernment.com has raised another angle about the visits. Could they have constituted federal lobbying subject [...]
The number one visitor to the White House! Obama and Stern have a great present in store for America! Bend over and they will show you what it is!
$200K is a parking ticket to Andy. Nicolas Cage is in bigger trouble that Stern. Of course, because of these acts, Americans are the ones who are in trouble. Coruption is the name of the game. Have a cigar.
Now let’s see … Federal filings indicate that Grover Norquist and ATR were paid $11,554,000 for lobbying from 1999 to 2009. Does that represents less than 20% of Grover’s time? Maybe Channing Phillips can look into that?
So glad I haven't eaten yet; seriously.. anyone else physically sickened by this?
Stern's a Communist: http://www.commieblaster.com/acorn/index.html
So's Obama: http://www.commieblaster.com/obama/index.html
[...] [...]
[...] and did you know that Stern is not a registered lobbyist? And isn’t his refusal to register actually an admission of the lack of his influence, [...]
The truth is Chicago politics and bernie obama and all his cronies and the extremist need to go get them all out.Prosecute the crooked politicians which would probably turn out to be 80-90% of them. Go after all the politicians who break the law the tax cheats, the ones whom "forgot" to file or pay, The embezzlers, the pay for votes (we call it bribes) . WE NEED GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE we need the reluctant politicians not the career politicians who never worked a day in there life it's time for a change.
[...] up-to-snuff. And who knows that every contact is disclosed? Here’s how the game is played: more and more lobbyists are simply not registering as lobbyists…like Andy Stern. AP THE FACTS: …[to make this work] Congress would have to change the law, and that’s [...]
[...] up-to-snuff. And who knows that every contact is disclosed? Here’s how the game is played: more and more lobbyists are simply not registering as lobbyists…like Andy Stern. AP THE FACTS: …[to make this work] Congress would have to change the law, and that’s [...]