The Federal Reserve continues to hike interest rates in its fight to bring an end to historic inflation. The central bank has driven up borrowing costs and slowed the economy in an effort to reduce demand for goods and services, which leads to lower prices. But several other factors that weigh on prices, such as…
Author: Karl Evers-Hillstrom
Lobbying World: Herrera Beutler, Katko land new gigs
Former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) joined the Children’s Hospital Association as a strategic adviser. Herrera Beutler, who served six terms before losing her primary last year, was a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and was the ranking Republican on the Legislative Branch Subcommittee. In 2013, Herrera Beutler’s daughter became the first child to…
On The Money — Fed drives down wage growth
All eyes are on the Federal Reserve after new data showed wage growth slowing. We’ll also look at billions of dollars in potential pandemic loan fraud, Biden’s late budget proposal and a report finding that the IRS is far more likely to audit Black taxpayers. But first, see which members of the last Congress have…
7 ex-lawmakers make quick shift to private sector
Out of office for only a few weeks, seven members of the 117th Congress have made the shift from legislating to lobbying. Lobbying is the most popular profession for ex-lawmakers, who often leverage their deep connections and expertise to earn a payday from corporate clients that far exceeds their congressional salary. The list will likely grow…
Bottom Line: Southwest Airlines lobbies on FAA reauthorization
TRANSPORTATION Southwest Airlines hired the Jerry Costello Group to lobby on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization. Lawmakers are preparing to pass the five-year FAA funding package, which airlines see as an avenue to help the agency upgrade its archaic systems. Southwest, which suffered its own system meltdown over the holidays, brought on former Rep. Jerry…
Southwest hires former congressman as lobbyist amid scrutiny
Southwest Airlines hired a lawmaker-turned-lobbyist amid investigations into the carrier’s catastrophic system meltdown over the holidays. Southwest contracted with former Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), a for-hire lobbyist who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee during his time in Congress, according to a congressional filing. The airline is dispatching Costello to lobby on the…
EV price war underway as Ford slashes electric Mustang prices
Ford Motor Co. will slash the price of its top electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E, after Tesla announced a series of major price cuts earlier this month. Ford on Monday announced price cuts ranging from $600 to $5,900 on certain Mach-E models. The American automaker added that it will “significantly” increase production of the electric…
House passes bill to improve FAA system that grounded flights
The House on Wednesday passed a bipartisan bill aimed at reviewing and recommending improvements to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NOTAM pilot alert system that went haywire earlier this month. The NOTAM Improvement Act would create a task force under the FAA to offer solutions aimed at boosting the system’s stability and keeping it safe…
Lobbying World: DeFazio, Bustos head to lobbying firms
Former Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) joined Summit Strategies as a senior strategic adviser. DeFazio, who served as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he is forging a “strategic collaboration” with the transportation-focused firm. The 18-term lawmaker, who retired at the end of last Congress, recently launched his own consulting practice. Mercury hired…
On The Money — House GOP’s plan to change the way you pay taxes
A controversial plan from House conservatives would swap out your income tax with a 30 percent sales tax. We’ll also look at the bipartisan backlash Ticketmaster faced in the Senate and an attempt to ban lawmakers from trading stocks. But first, five incredible pictures of space from the Webb telescope. Welcome to On The Money, your guide…