![\"earmarkcow.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/news\/earmarkcow.jpg\")
<\/a>THE IMPERILED EARMARK:<\/strong> Perennial earmark opponent Rep. Jeff Flake<\/a> (R-Ariz.) wants to force the House Committee on Standards to report what documents and interviews it conducted while last year investigating campaign cash-for-earmarks allegations involving now-disbanded PMA Group<\/a>. The committee recently exonerated all members but released only a five-page report on the situation. Investigations by Roll Call<\/em><\/a> have failed to turn up a single member or former PMA employee who was even interviewed as part of the investigation.<\/p>\nThe issue has been heating up as a March 19 deadline to submit earmark requests for inclusion in this years appropriations bills approaches. Just this week, David Obey<\/a>, House Appropriations Committee<\/a> chairman, announced the panel would not approve<\/a> any earmarks going to for-profit groups. House Minority Leader John Boehner<\/a> indicated that Republicans are considering a self-imposed moratorium on earmarks this year and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi<\/a> has made similar assertions in recent days. The White House also included improved earmark disclosure as part of a memorandum outlining how it plans to tighten the reins on special interests.<\/p>\n In addition to the cash being spent on targeted advertising, the companies and industry trade groups behind the television campaign have some serious clout from years of campaign contributions and lobbying. Listed among the group\u0092s members are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce<\/a>, the Associated Builders and Contractors<\/a>, the National Association of Manufacturers<\/a>, and the National Retail Federation<\/a>. The Chamber alone spent $144.5 million last year on lobbying.<\/p>\n CRP IN THE NEWS:<\/strong> Jim Puzzanghera at the Los Angeles Times<\/em> finds<\/a> that legislation to create a new financial regulatory agency will likely exempt payday lenders, including some big donors to key Senators, from expanded oversight \u0085 Deborah Zabarenko reports<\/a> for Reuters<\/em> that the massive spending by the energy industry to influence climate change legislation will only increase in the wake of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission<\/em> decision\u0085Forbes<\/em> reporter Liz Moyer uses<\/a> CRP data in a story on the lack of regulatory reform for risky securities trading \u0085 the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em>‘s Jeff Shields tackles the issue<\/a> of taxing soda and quotes CRP’s Dave Levinthal regarding industry lobbying activity \u0085 CNNMoney.com’s Jennifer Liberto notes our research in this piece<\/a> about student loans.<\/p>\n![\"employersforahealthy.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/news\/assets_c\/2010\/03\/employersforahealthy-thumb-170x38-668.jpg\")
<\/a>NEW BUSINESS GROUP PLANS BIG SPENDING:<\/strong> A new business-backed group, Employers for a Healthy Economy<\/a>, plans to spend up to $10 million on advertising in an attempt to stop the latest action on health care reform. The group is funded by nearly 250 lobby groups and companies and includes money from the health insurance industry. The Washington Times<\/em> reports<\/a> the group\u0092s ads will run nationally, and then in districts targeting key House members whose votes would be needed to achieve final passage.<\/p>\n