November 17th, 2008
The Virginia Public Access Project has a brilliant new feature—lobbyist disclosures. They’re connecting the dots between companies, the lobbyists who they hire, and the bills that those lobbyists are trying to influence. For instance, twelve organizations hired lobbyists to influence the outcome of this cigarette fire-safety bill, including the Virginia Fire Chiefs’ Association and S&M Brands (a Virginia-based cigarette maker). The Virginia Fire Chiefs hired one lobbyist to shepherd dozens of bills, while S&M hired three lobbyists for seven bills. VPAP is shining some sunlight on a crucial link in the connection between money and politics in Virginia.
