I expected some reaction in the increasingly ugly war over online gaming between Sheldon Adelson (and a few allies) and the MGM Grand/Caesars/American Gaming Association alliance when I exposed former Rep. Mary Bono's playing both sides.
It came swiftly.
I have now obtained a proposal from last November to Caesars from Dickstein Shapiro, the huge lobbying/law firm now working for Team Adelson. The proposal, which is attached here, was designed to combat Adelson's assembling of attorneys general against online gaming.
Among the suggestions: Define the Adelson campaign for what it is: a self-interested attempt to protect his interests by imposing ill-advised and unnecessary legal barriers to on-line gaming under the guise of consumer protection.
Well, apparently the firm's self-interest took precedence and, after being approached by Adelson's folks, now is working for him, his government affairs aide, Andy Abboud, confirmed.
This may come as no surprise -- lobbying firms are notoriously mercenary and, ahem, flexible. And a former congresswoman selling her access and experience vs. a lobbying outfit doing what lobbying outfits do?
I'll leave it to others where to place each on the moral plane.
But two points:
1. This proposal provides a rare window into how these lobbying/law firms operate. As you can see, Dickstein Shapiro wanted to charge $35,000 a month for its services. Recurring note to self: I am in the wrong business.
2. This internecine industry war is going to grow increasingly nasty as the Caesars vs. Adelson component, as I already have written, is increasingly personal.
I expected some reaction in the increasingly ugly war over online gaming between Sheldon Adelson (and a few allies) and the MGM Grand/Caesars/American Gaming Association alliance when I exposed former Rep. Mary Bono's playing both sides.
It came swiftly.
I have now obtained a proposal from last November to Caesars from Dickstein Shapiro, the huge lobbying/law firm now working for Team Adelson. The proposal, which is attached here, was designed to combat Adelson's assembling of attorneys general against online gaming.
Among the suggestions: Define the Adelson campaign for what it is: a self-interested attempt to protect his interests by imposing ill-advised and unnecessary legal barriers to on-line gaming under the guise of consumer protection.
Well, apparently the firm's self-interest took precedence and, after being approached by Adelson's folks, now is working for him, his government affairs aide, Andy Abboud, confirmed.
This may come as no surprise -- lobbying firms are notoriously mercenary and, ahem, flexible. And a former congresswoman selling her access and experience vs. a lobbying outfit doing what lobbying outfits do?
I'll leave it to others where to place each on the moral plane.
But two points:
1. This proposal provides a rare window into how these lobbying/law firms operate. As you can see, Dickstein Shapiro wanted to charge $35,000 a month for its services. Recurring note to self: I am in the wrong business.
2. This internecine industry war is going to grow increasingly nasty as the Caesars vs. Adelson component, as I already have written, is increasingly personal.
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