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Lobbyists Lost Steam in ’06
“Ethics jitters and the distraction of campaign season hit K Street with a one-two punch last year, as the top lobbying firms posted negligible growth. Revenues for the top 25 shops inched north of the $400 million mark for the first time ever, but earnings across the board climbed just 2 percent for the period. That’s compared to 2005, when the biggest firms grew by 9 percent. ” (Roll Call)

Closing Arguments Begin Today in Libby Trial
The prosecution and defense have each been granted three hours to make their closing arguments in the perjury trial of former White House official Scooter Libby. The jury is set to begin its final deliberations on Wednesday. (Washington Post)

Former Rep. Nethercutt Still Seeing Flow of DC Money
Rep. George Nethercutt (R-WA), who lost a bid for Senate in 2004 and is now working as a lobbyist in DC, has reaped significant benefits through his ties to Isothermal, a small Washington company aimed at preventing computers from overheating. While in office, Nethercutt helped direct numerous contracts to the company while receiving thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, and has since brought Isothermal in as a client to his lobbying firm. (Seattle Times)

Pilots Tied to Indicted CIA Officials
A court in Germany has charged three American pilots with abetting the CIA’s kidnaping of a German citizen falsely believed to be tied to radical Islam. 10 CIA officials, along with the three pilots, are accused of abducting Lebaneses-German Khaled Masri in 2003 and transporting him to an Afghan prison, where he claims to have been physically abused for over five months. (Los Angeles Times)

Foggo Was CIA’s Head of Ethics
Former CIA official Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, under indictment on charges of bribery and corruption, was in charge of ethics at the organizaton for two years, federal papers show. (Politico)

Congress Seeking to Ensure Paper Trails in New Voting Machines
“Efforts are intensifying in Congress to pass legislation that would require electronic touch-screen voting machines used in federal elections to provide paper trails that could be checked in the case of a recount. The new momentum is the result of lingering concerns about the machines as the 2008 presidential primaries fast approach — as well as strong support for changes by the new Democratic majority…” (Washington Post)

House Democrats to Rewrite Ban on Private Planes
“The House ethics panel is warning Members that they risk violating new rules by flying in certain private airplanes, an unintended consequence of last month’s ethics rewrite that the Democratic leadership is hinting may require a rare reopening of House rules.” (Roll Call)

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