Lobby

Families, environmental and health groups in Pennsylvania are urging the Shapiro administration to raise the state's minimum setback requirement for shale gas wells, arguing the current 500-foot distance from homes and buildings does not adequately protect residents from health and safety risks. They are calling for larger buffer zones between drilling operations and communities across the state's gas-producing regions.

The digital industry now spends €151 million annually lobbying the European Union, a 33.6% increase since 2023 and up 55.6% since 2021. Lobbying staff has grown as well, from 699 full-time lobbyists in 2023 to 890 today. Commenters point to the scale of corporate influence over EU digital policy, including rules on AI, platforms and data, as figures keep rising year after year.

A document from Brazil's federal police department concerning a alleged secret fund linked to Donald Trump against the Supreme Federal Court mentions lobbying by Eduardo, according to reporting by Mariana Sanches for UOL Notícias. The revelation is drawing attention in Brazil amid ongoing tensions between allies of the former US president and Brazilian judicial institutions.

A new study documents how a beef industry group moved early to counter growing concerns about the sector's role in climate change. Researchers say the industry's public messaging efforts began well before beef became a central focus of climate debates. The findings add to scrutiny of how powerful food and agriculture lobbies have shaped public understanding of meat's environmental impact.

A survey of more than 9,000 scientists across 115 countries has found that researchers who believe technology will largely solve the problems caused by the climate crisis are less likely to engage in civic action on the issue. The findings suggest that faith in technological fixes may reduce willingness among scientists to take part in activism, lobbying, or public advocacy on climate change.

Investigative journalism platform Follow The Money is marking five years of reporting from Brussels, saying it has responded to threats and pressure by expanding its investigations into EU affairs. The group highlights its work scrutinising European institutions, lobbying and policy-making, framing the anniversary as a commitment to continue holding power to account in the Belgian capital despite intimidation.

A new analysis examines whether voter frustration over the influence of money in politics will translate into votes against well-established Republican incumbents. While polling and commentary point to widespread public anger about campaign financing and lobbying, the central question is whether that sentiment is strong enough to overcome the personal popularity and name recognition that have long protected many Republican officeholders in their districts.

The Florida Retail Federation has added Chase Bohannon to its government relations team, according to a personnel announcement covered by Florida Politics. The hire strengthens the retail industry's lobbying presence in Tallahassee as retailers track state policy on taxation, regulation and workforce issues. Bohannon's appointment signals continued investment in the group's advocacy operations ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

A major technology industry group is pressing the Trump administration to abandon a patent rule, arguing it harms innovation. The lobby effort targets a regulatory measure governing how patents are handled in the United States. Details on which rule is at stake and how the administration has responded were not immediately available, but the dispute adds to ongoing tension between big tech and federal policymakers over intellectual property policy.

Germany and France are lobbying for new EU powers that would allow Chinese companies to be excluded from the European single market on an expedited basis, Handelsblatt reports. The proposal is described as part of a planned "kill switch" for trade with China, giving Brussels a fast-track mechanism to cut off access if tensions escalate. The joint push signals a hardening stance in Europe's two largest economies toward economic dependence on Beijing.

The US Chamber of Commerce argues that premium taxes hidden in health insurance plans raise costs for employers and workers. In a new piece aimed at local chambers of commerce, it urges business groups to understand how these taxes increase premiums and to factor them into health policy discussions at state and federal levels.

The US Chamber of Commerce is pressing Congress to pass federal permitting reform, arguing that communities across the country are left waiting for infrastructure and energy projects delayed by slow approvals. The business group says streamlining reviews would unlock investment and construction, and it is calling on lawmakers to make permitting legislation a priority.

Tesla is lobbying hard to convince European Union regulators to approve its 'Full Self-Driving' driver-assistance technology for use in Europe. According to Reuters reporting, that pressure campaign appears to be gaining ground, raising questions about whether EU rules on automated driving will be relaxed to accommodate the company despite lingering safety concerns among regulators and road-safety advocates.

SpaceX's campaign to gain access to more radio spectrum for its satellite operations is drawing resistance from across the aerospace industry, according to Bloomberg. Rival operators and industry groups are pushing back on the company's efforts, which they argue could disrupt existing spectrum allocations and planning. The dispute highlights growing competition over the airwaves needed for satellite broadband constellations like Starlink.

Families of victims of American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, are pressing Congress to pass legislation requiring collision-avoidance safety technology before the election. From Wichita, where many of the victims lived, relatives are lobbying lawmakers to act, arguing the technology could prevent similar midair disasters. The push comes as Congress considers aviation safety measures in the wake of the January crash.

The Solar Energy Industries Association and the Coalition for Community Solar Access are merging, in a move framed as a way to 'strengthen the voice' of solar advocacy in the United States. The combination would unite the country's largest solar trade body with a leading community solar group, giving the industry a more unified lobbying presence as policy debates over clean energy continue in Washington.

EU rules on lobbying are in focus, with attention on how interest groups must register and disclose their activities when seeking to influence European Union institutions. The debate centres on the transparency register, access rules for the European Parliament and Commission, and whether current oversight is strict enough to prevent undue influence on EU policymaking.