Visa Spent Nearly $2.7 Million to Lobby Federal Gov't

[Mousey]

Visa Spent Nearly $2.7 Million in First Half of 2007 to Lobby Federal Government
August 24, 2007 - 5:09 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Visa USA Inc., the domestic division of Visa Inc., spent nearly $2.7 million in the first half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.

Visa, the biggest credit card network in the U.S., lobbied on identity theft, data security, Internet gambling and other issues, according to the form posted online Aug. 14 by the Senate's public records office.

Besides Congress, the company lobbied the Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission, Treasury Department and other agencies.

The San Francisco-based company in June filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering expected early next year, which would make it the last of the four major credit card networks to go public. Discover Financial Services LLC became a public company in July, following American Express Co. and MasterCard Inc.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.


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It doesn't say... did they lobby for or against internet gambling??

[winbig]

Originally Posted by Mousey

It doesn't say... did they lobby for or against interent gambling??

What do you think?

Gotta love lobbyists...not!


...unless you're a congressman/senator.

[jan.strydom]

Visa surely knows the game and their marketing people certainly the importance of getting back the online gaming market - they amongst others lost billions!!

its about time somebody puts their money where their mouths are!!!

[Mousey]

Sept. 21, 2007, 1:48PM
MasterCard Spent $880,000 Lobbying


© 2007 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — MasterCard Inc., the world's No. 2 credit card franchise, spent $880,000 in the first six months of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.

The company lobbied on legislation related to the regulation and enforcement of Internet gambling, which is mostly illegal in the United States, and online purchases of prescription drugs, according to the form posted online Monday by the Senate's public records office.

The Purchase, N.Y.-based company also lobbied on financial literacy, data security, microchip technology and interchange fees, which is a fee banks pay to credit card networks based on a percentage of each transaction.

MasterCard contacted Congress and the Treasury and Justice departments,

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

[SlotsWizard]

Originally Posted by Mousey

The company lobbied on legislation related to the regulation and enforcement of Internet gambling, which is mostly illegal in the United States,

What a confusing clump of words!

First, it almost sounds like MasterCard wants the kind of regulation that we as players want... but I know better.

And then there's the phrase "which is mostly illegal in the United States". Internet gambling is either (a) Totally illegal after last year's shenanigans, or (b) illegal in only 11 states. 11/50 = 22% which does not constitute a majority, so what do they mean it's "mostly illegal" ?

[Mousey]

Originally Posted by SlotsWizard

What a confusing clump of words!

First, it almost sounds like MasterCard wants the kind of regulation that we as players want... but I know better.

And then there's the phrase "which is mostly illegal in the United States". Internet gambling is either (a) Totally illegal after last year's shenanigans, or (b) illegal in only 11 states. 11/50 = 22% which does not constitute a majority, so what do they mean it's "mostly illegal" ?

I thought that "mostly illegal" was funny, too. Maybe the AP reporter plays poker online and doesn't particularly believe online gambling is illegal. S/he was probably in a hurry. LOL Who knows....

[GrandMaster]

Online sports betting is clearly illegal under the Wire Act with few exceptions.

[Mousey]

And now we present the American Gaming Assoc....

Casino group paid lobbyist $100,000
| 27 Sep 2007 | 05:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - The American Gaming Association, which represents the commercial casino industry, paid Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock $100,000 in the first half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.

The firm lobbied Congress on online gambling issues, according to the disclosure form posted online Aug. 10 by the Senate's public records office. In addition to lawmakers, firm lobbied the Treasury Department and the White House.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Bally Technologies Inc. and MGM Mirage are among the more than 50 companies and groups that are members of the association.

Lawmakers last fall enacted a ban on Internet gambling enacted last fall, but Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has introduced a bill to overturn it.

Among those registered to lobby for the trade group was Aleix Jarvis, former legislative director for Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Under a federal law ....

[lojo]

bee-ostards