Lobbyists

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• ANALYSIS-Medicare premium support idea rising from ashes?

  *Democrats seen backing away from Medicare enrollment age hike. WASHINGTON, Jan 31- Just months after President Barack Obama's re-election ended Republican hopes of controlling U.S. healthcare policy, one of the most controversial Republican proposals for Medicare is showing signs of rising from the political ashes.

• U.S. corporations fear big tax hikes in White House budget

  WASHINGTON, Jan 30- U.S. corporations fear they will be the main course on a menu calling for hundreds of billions of dollars in new tax revenue that President Barack Obama is expected to seek in his annual budget proposal, expected within weeks.

• Neb. cities push to cut time between keno games

  LINCOLN, Neb.-- Nebraska cities want lawmakers to reduce how long keno players must wait between games, a proposal that would increase the the maximum number of games a person could play in one hour.

• UPDATE 3-Republican Chambliss says retiring from US Senate because of gridlock

  *Was target of conservative Tea Party movement. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia announced on Friday he will not seek a third term in 2014, saying he was fed up with the partisan gridlock in Congress that has left the country lurching from one fiscal crisis to another.

• UPDATE 2-Republican Chambliss to retire from US Senate, cites gridlock

  Senator Saxby Chambliss announced on Friday he will not run for a third term in 2014, saying he was fed up with a lack of leadership in the White House and partisan gridlock in Congress.

• AIG Back in the Lobbying Game 

  

  CNBC's Eamon Javers reports the insurance giant is quietly marking its return to the K Street lobbying game.

• Wis. GOP begins mining bill push with hearing

  MADISON, Wis.-- A lobbyist for a company looking to open a giant iron mine near Lake Superior promised Wednesday it would return to Wisconsin and hire residents if legislators pass a bill easing the regulatory path. Gogebic Taconite lobbyist Bob Seitz told lawmakers during a public hearing that the company intends to return to Wisconsin if the bill passes.

• Texas cancer agency probe clears some officials

  AUSTIN, Texas-- Criminal prosecutors investigating a troubled $3 billion cancer-fighting effort in Texas have cleared current state officials and board members with the agency, a spokesman for the board chairman said Tuesday.

• Lawmakers announce deal on spaceport legislation

  Virgin Galactic plans to fly tourists into outer space at $200,000- a-ticket from Spaceport America near the community of Truth or Consequences. Top House and Senate leaders said an agreement to limit the liability of parts suppliers was negotiated by trial lawyer representatives and officials of Virgin Galactic at the prodding of lawmakers.

• Bank lobby preached to the converted in liquidity talks

  *Central banks faced funding banks indefinitely. LONDON/ PARIS, Jan 21- Lobbyists found themselves preaching to the converted: the European Central Bank and Bank of England needed little persuading in the end that new global liquidity rules for commercial banks needed loosening.

• Scientists urge end to limits on US gun safety research

  *Congress has slashed gun violence research funding.

• Plan to prevent spike in US milk prices stalled by GOP leaders

  *Slender hope for Congress to avoid milk price surge. WASHINGTON, Dec 31- Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate refused to go along with a farm-state plan to avert the "dairy cliff" on Monday, the last day to act before retail milk prices may begin climbing toward $7 a gallon.

• US farmers hustle to avoid 'fiscal cliff' blowback

  CHICAGO, Dec 21- As the United States inches closer toward the "fiscal cliff," Iowa farmer Brian Van Meetern is hurriedly selling his grain before year's end and buying a new $50,000 sprayer for his farm.

• SNAP ANALYSIS-NRA tries to seize initiative on US gun debate

  WASHINGTON, Dec 21- At a news briefing interrupted by angry protesters, the leading U.S. gun lobbying organization, the National Rifle Association, proposed on Friday putting armed guards in American schools and offered to put money and support into an idea in keeping with its longstanding positions.

• WRAPUP 5-U.S. Republicans push own 'fiscal cliff' plan; talks frozen

  WASHINGTON, Dec 20- Republicans in the U.S. Congress pushed ahead on Thursday with a "fiscal cliff" plan that stands no chance of becoming law as time runs short to reach a deal with President Barack Obama to avert a Washington- induced economic recession.

• After Michigan victory, Republicans target unions in other states

  *Michigan outcome a "catastrophe" for unions. CHICAGO, Dec 13- Laws that weaken the power of organized labor could spread to more U.S. states in 2013 after supporters of the measures scored a major victory over unions in Michigan this week, and earlier in the year in Indiana, experts said.

• Mortgage Break No Longer Sacred As Belt Tightens

  

  The U.S. tax code has many politically sacrosanct tax breaks and few rank higher than the deduction for home mortgage interest.

• Why Is India Launching a Probe Into Wal-Mart?

  

  India's government has announced an inquiry into the lobbying practices of Wal-Mart after a report that the giant retailer had pressed U.S. lawmakers to help gain access to foreign markets.

• UPDATE 1-India launches probe into Wal-Mart lobbying report

  NEW DELHI, Dec 12- India's government announced an inquiry into lobbying practices by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Wednesday after a report that the giant retailer had pressed U.S. lawmakers to help gain access to foreign markets.

• UPDATE 2-US defense CEOs say budget deal must address taxes

  *Executives sent letter to Obama, Congress, urging action. WASHINGTON, Dec 3- U.S. weapons industry executives on Monday urged the White House and Congress to end what one CEO called "political theater" and act to avoid looming automatic budget reductions that will cut projected military spending by another 10 percent this year.