May 04, 2010 05:05 PM UTC

Jane "the lobbyist" Norton more on the family business

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• by: H-man

There is a comprehensive piece by John Tomasic over at Colorado independent that just kills Jane Norton.  I was aware that Jane’s sister was a DC lobbyist and her brother in law is one of the real DC powerhouses.  Now we learn her ex-husband is a lobbyist in Colorado and her daughter works at that lobbying firm.

The head of J. William Artist & Associates is Norton’s ex-husband, Bill Artist, who at JWA employs their daughter, Lacee, also a lobbyist. As has been widely reported, Norton’s sister Judy Black is a major DC lobbyists for oil and gas and drug companies, and her sister’s husband, Charlie Black, is one of the top lobbyists in the country for industries that include oil and gas, Big Pharma and Big Tobacco.  

Jane Norton has been running from being a lobbyist by claiming she was in charge of governmental relations, not lobbying when she worked in the private sector.  Here is how the non-existent distinction is made by her ex’s firm as quoted by Colorado Independent:

In Colorado, for example, at the website of a state lobbying firm called J. William Artist & Associates, the words “Lobbying” and “Government Relations” go together at the top of the “about” section describing the work of this very successful shop.

Lobbying/Government Relations

J. William Artist & Associates is one of the most prestigious government relations firms in the Rocky Mountain region. We have a proven track record throughout all levels and branches of government. We know the issues, the people, the background, the motives, and the process extremely well – which means we can guide you successfully through your political issues.

JWA has strong capabilities within the Governor’s Office, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the State’s administrative agencies. We are well known for being effective negotiators – which helps resolve many of our clients’ issues without undertaking the risk and expense of going through the Legislature. By utilizing our political contacts within the business and legal communities in Colorado, we can help you build powerful coalitions to strengthen your position on a variety of issues.

 

Ouch.