Dashing off letters to Congress and smothering the Hill in recent weeks, trade groups are showing more interest in the federal budget than they have in years, say trade association leaders and K Street insiders. “It’s not unprecedented, but it hasn’t been done since 1981,” said Jade West, senior vice president of government relations for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. “That was the last time a budget was actively pursued by the downtown community.” “It’s the most active the business community seems to have been since 2003,” said Aric Newhouse, senior vice president for policy and government relations for the National Association of Manufacturers.… Read More