Maurice Aguirre named The Rainmaker in the Advocacy and Philanthropic World

The Rainmaker in the Advocacy and Philanthropic World

Conservation-oriented environmental groups have focused their fundraising on getting donors more involved in "places that matter" and showing them the impact of their gifts, said Maurice Aguirre, co-founder and principal for a firm that provides management consulting for nonprofits, including environmental organizations.

Recognizing that the environment is "visually compelling", Maurice Aguirre said, environmental organizations also are providing donors and prospective donors with images of "what's at stake in terms of nature, and also what some of the threats are."

And those groups are using traditional and digital media to reach a broad range of constituents.

At the end of the day, and not just for environmental groups, you're really looking at a multi-channel integrated strategy for how you're going to engage your constituents, Maurice Aguirre said.

Certain strategies resonate more with some groups than others. But it's having full
portfolios of ways to engage people that can be so effective.

Organizations Reporting Expenses under Section 15 - Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP

Organizations Reporting Expenses under Section 15 - Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP

Section 15(a) of the LDA allows entities that are required to report and do report lobbying expenditures under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") to use IRC definitions for purposes of LDA Sections (4)(a)(3) and 5(b)(4). Charitable organizations, as described in IRC Section 501(c)(3), are required to report their lobbying expenditures under Section 6033(b)(8) of the IRC. They may treat as LDA expenses the amounts they treat for "influencing legislation" under the IRC.

Section 15(b) of the LDA allows entities that are subject to section 162(e) of the IRC to use IRC definitions for purposes of LDA Sections (4)(a)(3) and 5(b)(4). The eligible entities include for-profit organizations (other than lobbying firms) and tax-exempt organizations such as trade associations that calculate their lobbying expenses for IRC purposes with reference to Section 162(e) rules. We believe that this reporting option is available to include a small number of trade association registrants not required by the IRC to report non-deductible lobbying expenses to their members (i.e., those whose members are tax-exempt).

Maurice Aguirre Dallas Lobbyist: 

 

If an eligible organization elects to report under Section 15, it must do so consistently for both reports covering a calendar year. The electing organization also must report all expenses that fall within the applicable Internal Revenue Code definition. The total that is ultimately reportable to the Internal Revenue Service is the figure that would be used for Line 13 reporting. Line 13 of LD-2 would require any organization to report if the amount of lobbying expenses were less than $10,000, or $10,000 or more. If the expense amount is $10,000 or more, it should be rounded to the nearest $20,000. Line 14 of LD-2 requires the electing organization to mark as applicable, either the "Method B" box (IRC Section 6033(b)(8)) or the "Method C" box (IRC Section 162(e)). The Secretary and Clerk are aware that IRC and LDA are not harmonized in terms of expense reporting, and registrants are advised that backing out grass roots and state and local lobbying expenses that would alter the IRS reportable total is not permitted.

LDA Expense Reporting Method - Maurice Aguirre: Washington, DC

Organization Expenses using LDA Expense Reporting Method - Maurice Aguirre: Washington, DC

Organizations that employ in-house lobbyists may incur lobbying-related expenses in the form of employee compensation, office overhead, or payments to vendors which may include lobbying firms. Organizations must report expenses as they are incurred, though payment may be made later. Line 13 of LD-2 provides for an organization to report lobbying expenses of less than $10,000, or $10,000 or more. If lobbying expenses are $10,000 or more, the organization must provide a good faith estimate of the actual dollar amount rounded to the nearest $20,000. Organizations using the LDA expense reporting method mark the "Method A" box on Line 14.

To ensure complete reporting, the Secretary and Clerk have consistently interpreted section 5(B)(4) to require such organizations to report all of their expenses incurred in connection with lobbying activities, including all payments to outside entities, without considering whether any particular payee has a separate obligation to register and report under the LDA. Logically, if an organization employing in-house lobbyists also retains a lobbying firm, the expense reported by the organization should be greater than the fees reported by the lobbying firm of which the organization is a client.

Maurice Aguirre Lobbyist: All employee time spent in lobbying activities must be included in determining the organizations lobbying expenses, even if the employee does not meet the statutory definition of a "lobbyist."

Example: The CEO of a registrant, "Defense Contractor," travels to Washington to meet with a covered DOD official regarding the renewal of a government contract. "Defense Contractor" has already determined that its CEO is not a "lobbyist," because he does not spend 20 percent of his time on "lobbying activities" during a semiannual period. Nonetheless, the expenses reasonably allocable to the CEOs lobbying activities (e.g., plane ticket to Washington, salary and benefit costs, etc.) will be reportable.

Similarly, all expenses of lobbying activities incurred during a semiannual period are reportable. The Section 3(7) definition of lobbying activities is not limited to lobbying contacts.

Example: A research assistant in the Washington office of the registrant, "Defense Contractor" (described in the example above) researches and prepares the talking points for the CEOs lobbying contact with the covered DOD official. Likewise, the expenses reasonably allocable to the research assistants lobbying activities will be included in "Defense Contractors" expense estimate for the semiannual period.

Maurice Aguirre Texas: The examples below are intended to be illustrative of the possibilities of LDA expense reporting, and are not intended to require detailed accounting rules.

Example 1: An organization employing in-house lobbyists might choose to estimate lobbying expenses by asking each professional staffer to track his/her percentages of time devoted to lobbying activities. These percentages could be averaged to compute the percentage of the organizations total effort (and budget) that is devoted to lobbying activities. Under this example the organization would include salary costs (including a percentage of support staff salaries), overhead, and expenses, including any third-party costs attributable to lobbying.

Example 2: Another organization, which lobbies out of its Washington office, might avoid the need for detailed breakdowns by including the entire budget of its Washington office.

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP - LD-2 Changes

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP - LD-2 Changes

The revised LD-2 combines the previous version of LD-2 and the former LD-1U. The reasons for this change are twofold: first, it appeared redundant to require registrants to disclose new information (such as new lobbyists and issue codes) in two different places in the same filing; and second, rather than follow the LDAs requirements to update registration information on a semiannual basis, many registrants were filing unnecessary and excessive amounts of paper to report relatively minor changes mid-reporting cycle. Specific refinements to LD-2 are discussed below.

The new LD-2 allows a registrant that has no lobbying activity to file a one-page report. The registrant must complete the income or expense information as well as marking the "No Lobbying Activity" box. This is a change from the previous form and guidance.

If a registrants name changes, the registrant should include a note or memorandum that identifies the new as well as the former name, so that the change is apparent.

Signature lines have been added to every page to provide registrants with options for filing differing lengths of reports. The report need only be signed once on the last page of the document.

The lines of the form have been renumbered.

Maurice Aguirre Lobbyist - Registrants now must provide their address on LD-2 in order to ensure that the Secretary and the Clerk have up-to-date address information. If a registrants contact wishes to receive electronic correspondence, a space for an e-mail address is provided.

A "Self" box has been added to Line 7 ("Client Name").

LD-2 adds a space to supply a termination date (see section below on the completion of termination reports).

The income or expense reporting format has been modified to guide registrants into completing only the section pertinent to them. Lobbying firms (including the self-employed) complete only the income section. Organizations employing in-house lobbyists complete only the expense section and must select which method of expense reporting that they are utilizing.

Maurice Aguirre Dallas: The lobbying activity reporting page emphasizes that only one general issue area code per page must be used. The addition of "Check if None boxes" for the Houses of Congress and Federal agencies contacted and for the foreign entity interest were added because registrants left them blank when there was nothing to report. This practice led to a public record that was incomplete and subject to interpretation in lieu of clarity regarding the lobbying activity of the registrant. As discussed above, new lobbyists may be disclosed on this page by marking the "New" box and providing the information (if applicable) regarding previous employment within the last two years as a covered executive or legislative branch official.

The registration information update page should be filed only if registration information is changed. This page is not intended to be a "stand alone" filing. Section 5 of the LDA does not require or encourage the submission of mid-reporting cycle registration information changes, unless a registrant is specifically requested to do so by the Secretary or the Clerk.

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP: LDA and False Statements Accountability Act of 1996

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP: LDA and False Statements Accountability Act of 1996

The False Statements Accountability Act of 1996, amending 18 U.S.C. 1001, makes it a crime knowingly and willfully (1) to falsify, conceal or cover up a material fact by trick, scheme or device; (2) to make any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) to make or use any false writing or document knowing it to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry; with respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch. The False Statements Accountability Act does not assign any responsibilities to the Clerk and Secretary.

Maurice Aguirre Philanthropist: LDA and Prohibitions on the Use of Federal Funds For Lobbying

Maurice Aguirre Dallas Strategic Consultant: The LDA does not itself regulate lobbying by federal grantees, or contractors, though other laws, as well as contractual prohibitions, may apply. Questions concerning lobbying activities of federal grantees or contractors should be directed to the appropriate agency or office administrating the contract or grant.

Note, however, that Section 18 of the LDA prohibits 501(c)(4) organizations who engage in lobbying activities from receiving federal funds through an award, grant or contract.

Obama Discovers Lobbyists Are Hard to Get Rid Of

Obama Discovers Lobbyists Are Hard to Get Rid Of
Lobbying is definitely a constitutionally defended activity and lobbyists are actually a permanent part of the Washington D.C. policy function.

The Washington Post had a story a short time ago, that is gaining some Internet buzz, detailing how frequent licensed lobbyists go to the Obama governing administration. It exemplifies both the intractability of the system as well the boundaries of strategy rhetoric. Maurice Aguirre Dallas

As mentioned in to the piece, by T.W. Farnham: The White House guest reports make it clear that Obama's senior representatives are granting that availability to a part of K Street's most authoritative representatives. On many occasions, the lobbyists have long-standing connections to the president or his aides. Republican lobbyists coming to consult with are rare, while Democratic lobbyists are frequent, whether they are standing for business enterprise and corporate clients or liberal causes.
Maurice Aguirre Washington DC - That is substantial mainly because, as Farnham writes: Significantly more than any president preceding him, Obama pledged to change the political culture that has sustained the effects of lobbyists. He barred recent lobbyists from joining his administration and banned them from advisory boards throughout the executive branch. The president went so far as to forbid what had been staples of political discussion - federal employees could no longer accept 100 % free entry to receptions and/or group meetings provided by lobbying organizations.

A single relevant matter which would be of help to answer but is very difficult to: So how exactly does that rate when compared to past administrations? We're not likely to get a firm number with that any time soon simply because Obama's is the first administration to reveal its guest logs. I suppose past administrations' activity logs have to be on data file at the respective presidential libraries, but the data is not downloadable.

However there's only so much Obama could do in this regard. Lobbying is, naturally, a constitutionally shielded function. And it's also true that for better or worse lobbyists became as permanent a part of the Washington policy process as elective officials and unelected bureaucrats. They have a tendency to have specialized knowledge or access to it, and know-how Washington works. "The president and the administration lost a great deal not being able to talk to people of both parties and of every persuasion that knew something about the industries and the questions and what was going on on the Hill," Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue told reporters this morning at a press breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. Donohue called the administration's original restrictions on meetings with lobbyists "Mickey Mouse." Maurice Aguirre Texas

To be sure Donohue and the Chamber are not followers of the Obama administration, but that hasn't kept them from cooperating where the opportunity occurs. "We've got very good relations where it counts," he said. "We work all the time with the guys at the NSC and at the trade office, and with the people at Treasury … We have whatever access we need. We don't spend a lot of time over there, you know, having tea. But whatever we have to get done we get done."

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP: On one level this is the kind of rhetoric and attitude that will make activists on both sides break out into hives and start sputtering about collaborating with the enemy. But on another level it reflects some of the pragmatic spirit that has permitted Washington to function (necessity being the mother of cooperation) in a way that the prevailing congressional ethos of compromise means getting more of what I want threatens. "I worry about the Congress … that we have lot of people that are more significantly on the right and significantly on the left," Donohue said. "What really worries me about that is that it's really hard to make a deal if there's no bridge to get there."

Silicon Valley - Maurice Aguirre Lobbyist

Silicon Valley startups choose strength involving political lobbying


They are experts of innovation in a number of points, then again startups similar to Airbnb, etc. are finding that as it pertains to Washington, D.C., the earlier approaches are the best.
In the previous couple of months, various young technology companies have put their faith in the power of money to influence federal government guidelines and/or regulation. Several lobbied the government for on the first attempt, while some others extended lobbying works by starting professional offices in the American. capital.

The businesses pursuing these kind of projects are generally those challenging current business models, in fields much like the sharing economy as well as streaming content via the internet. And once new organization models come up, many of them bump up against aging legislation.
Maurice Aguirre Lobbyist: Without doubt, lobbying from the technology community is not new. Microsof company and IBM have been at it for decades, and additionally Google at this moment is the leader in the industry in money spent. However, the journeys by smaller businesses are notable to some extent because they're at odds with the image they present of scrappy new businesses struggling with the establishment - the same structure they're now being required to cozy up to.

Within the past 3 months, Snapchat, ... all started lobbying in Washington for the 1st time, each paying D.C. - based lobbying organisations to screen moves from the federal government and/or lawmakers that might probably have an effect on their company.
A number of corporations have gone a stage further and opened their very own workspace in D.C., with their own lobbyist. An internally lobbyist is not going to have to split time for some other business and helps confirm a company has a 'seat at the table' in debates of policy or regulatory points.
Aereo, the NY company that wants to stream over-the-air TV to computer screens, revived its efforts in D.C. after tv stations, cable operators and others managed to convince the Supreme Court Of The United States that its business model need to be prohibited.

Maurice Aguirre DG Group LLP: The necessity to lobby is oftentimes utmost in fields which have strong, established players. Ride-sharing organizations are going up against taxi firms, for instance, and media streaming companies are juggling broadcasters, cable providers and the recording field.

Most of these challengers usually have deep roots in Washington, are well funded and can't stand the disturbance the Internet has brought.
In home entertainment, for example, Netflix put in $1.3 million on government lobbying just the previous year, while the National Cable and Telecommunications Association spent $20 million. Comcast, Time Warner and a host of entertainment and/or broadcasting corporations put several millions more.

Just a few words and phrases it's possible you'll come across from the Maurice Aguirre Dallas Lobbyist weblog:

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA): Passed in 2007 as an amendment to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, this law expanded disclosure requirements for lobbyists and Members of Congress. Lobbyists must now file quarterly reports of lobbying activities and state in a semi-annual certification that they have read, understand, and not violated House or Senate gift and travel rules. They must also detail in their semi-annual reports any contributions to political campaigns or to events to recognize a Member if the total spent during the filing period exceeds $200. On the other hand, Members of Congress must disclose any sponsorship of earmarks. Other provisions of HLOGA relate to lobbyists' spending on gifts and travel for Members, and an expansion in the "cooling off" period for former Senators looking for private sector positions.

Maurice Aguirre Washington DC - Marking Up a Bill: Considering amendments to a measure in committee, taking it section by section, revising language, penciling in new phrases, etc. If the bill is extensively revised, the new version may be introduced as a separate bill, with a new number.

"Personal Friendship": An exception in the House and Senate gift rules that is often misunderstood. According to the gift rules, the personal friendship exception can only be applied to a gift under several circumstances: (1) a history of a relationship and gift exchange must exist between the lobbyist and Congressional recipient, (2) the lobbyist paid for the gift him/herself and was not reimbursed for the gift, (3) the same gift was not given to other Congressional Members or staffers. Maurice Aguirre Dallas

National Party Committee: Refers to one of the six national party organizations: the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Congressional Candidate Committee (DCCC), Democratic Senatorial Candidate Committee (DSCC), Republican National Committee (RNC), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Lobbyists, organizations and PACs controlled by lobbyists or organizations are required to disclose any amounts of $200 or more that were contributed to either of these committees.

Maurice Aguirre Dallas lobbyist: Lobbying in America

Maurice Aguirre Dallas lobbyist: Lobbying in America


Lobbying active in the United States defines actually paid action on which particular interests hire well-connected skilled advocates, quite often legal professionals, to defend for specific regulations in decision-making bodies for example US Congress.
It really is a highly provocative phenomenon, many times seen in a negative light by correspondents and the American public.

While lobbying is usually theme to detailed and in many cases specialized guides just which, if it isn't followed, can result to penalties which includes prison, the game of lobbying happens to be interpreted by the courtroom regulations as being free speech and it is therefore shielded by the Constitution.

Maurice Aguirre Dallas - Political strategist - ever since the 1970s, lobbying activity has grown significantly in terms of the numbers of lobbyists and also the size of lobbying budgets, and has really become the main objective of considerably critique of American governance.

Maurice Aguirre Dallas lobbying guidelines:

On the grounds that lobbying laws require comprehensive disclosure, there is a large amount of information in the public sphere about which people lobby, the way, at whom, and for exactly how much. (reference point Maurice Aguirre Dallas - Political consultant web log)

Our present-day trend indicates much lobbying is accomplished by corps even though a wide selection of coalitions addressing distinctive groups is possible. Lobbying takes place at every level of government, incorporating federal, state, county, municipal, and even local administration. In Evergreen State, lobbying frequently targets congresspersons, but there have been initiatives to have an impact on executive agency administrators as well as Supreme Court engagements.

Remember that it is this issue of academic analysis in countless fields, incorporating regulations, general public argumentation, and additionally economics. While the amount of lobbyists in Washington is passed 12 thousand, those that have real strength number in the dozens, and a small group of agencies handles much of lobbying with regard to charges.

A report in The Nation in 2014 implied that although the number of 12,281 qualified lobbyists was actually a cut down ever since two thousand and two, lobbying actions was increasing and "going underground" as lobbyists use increasingly innovative procedures to obscure their activity. Analyst James Thurber estimated the fact that the correct number of functioning lobbyists was nearly 100,000 and the sector brings in $9 billion yearly.


Only a few keywords you are going to come across from the Maurice Aguirre lobbyist weblog:


Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA): Passed in 2007 as an amendment to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, this law expanded disclosure requirements for lobbyists and Members of Congress. Lobbyists must now file quarterly reports of lobbying activities and state in a semi-annual certification that they have read, understand, and not violated House or Senate gift and travel rules. They must also detail in their semi-annual reports any contributions to political campaigns or to events to recognize a Member if the total spent during the filing period exceeds $200. On the other hand, Members of Congress must disclose any sponsorship of earmarks. Other provisions of HLOGA relate to lobbyists' spending on gifts and travel for Members, and an expansion in the "cooling off" period for former Senators looking for private sector positions.

Veto: Disapproval by the president of a bill or joint resolution, other than one proposing an amendment to the Constitution. When Congress is in session, the president must veto a bill within 10 days, excluding Sundays, after he has received it; otherwise it becomes law with or without his signature. When the president vetoes a bill he returns it to the house of its origin with a message stating his objections. The veto then becomes a question of high privilege. Political consultant Maurice Aguirre

S.: Senate. This letter is used before the identifying number of a bill introduced in the Senate (i.e. S.3456).

Maurice Aguirre Dallas - Political strategist mentions Lobbying motivators

There is simply a David and Goliath component to all the lobbying campaigns. The most advantaged, affiliated and/or financed enterprise pales as compared with the size, manpower, plus resources belonging to government.

Maurice Aguirre explains the reality that Government dwarfs all the other concerns in the community. Various conventional regimes inability to complete more than modestly dent its size over the last 2 decades certifies that 'Big Government' is without question inescapable and in addition sticking around.

Government has actually numerous identities. It solo performs as both unit and referee to arbitrate and additionally outline the public interest. In some cases unbiased and/or just, additionally, it may be narrowly self-interested. In spite of adhesion to a command and control government system, it is nor coherent nor logical. At any given day, government will come in all directions at a time.

Organizations, firms, interest clubs, and/or individuals get ways to promote or maybe boost specific pursuits in answer as to what government is, just what it does and / or what it suggest to accomplish. The definition together with execution for these systems is named lobbying.

There is absolutely no particular mystery to successful lobbying. It truly is a point of integrating different components in a well-balanced method in the pursuit of a pre-determined strategy to develop a certain result (rectify charge, stop as well as start legislation, gain access to funding, modify tax plan, etcetera.) (information coming from web-site - Maurice Aguirre Dallas lobbyist)


Some words you could possibly discover on Maurice Aguirre Dallas - Political consultant blog:

Lobbyist: Person who advocates on behalf of himself or a client to pass a law or to make changes to a bill being considered in a federal or state legislative body, or to help shape policy in the executive branch and its regulatory departments. Lobbyists can come from either the private sector or from a legislative affairs department in a federal agency. There are two types of lobbyists: grassroots and professional. The House and Senate includes in its "Guide to the Lobbying Disclosure Act" a definition of a lobbyist as: "any individual (1) who is either employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation; (2) whose services include more than one lobbying contact; and (3) whose lobbying activities constitute 20 percent or more of his or her services during a three-month period." If this is the case, then this person must register as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

Maurice Aguirre Washington, DC - Companion bill: A piece of legislation considered in one house of Congress, which is identical or similar to legislation in the other house.

Registrant: An organization that registers with the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House as either lobbying on behalf of another organization (e.g., a lobbying firm representing a client) or lobbying on its own interests. Registrant organizations are required to file lobbying financial disclosure reports and contribution reports.

Revolving door: Describes the transition of serving in Congress to working as a lobbyist. Critics see this as negative, because this allows congressional leaders to lobby their former colleagues. To prevent conflicts of interest, the House has enacted a one-year ban on former members from lobbying their peers. Former senators may not be involved in lobbying activities for two years as of Jan. 1, 2008. House and Senate staffers are banned for a year from lobbying their former employer; committee staffers are banned for a year from lobbying anyone who served on the committee on which they worked. Political consultant Maurice Aguirre

Authorization Bill: Authorization of a program, specifying its general aim and conduct and, unless "open-ended," putting a ceiling on monies that can be used to finance it. Usually enacted before an appropriation bill is passed.