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Presented by Coalition for Medicare Choices: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by Coalition for Medicare Choices | With Daniel Lippman HEALTH CARE TRADE GROUPS ISSUE VACCINE MANDATE FOR STAFFERS: More than a dozen health care trade organizations announced today that they will require their employees to get the Covid vaccine as a condition of returning to work in their offices. “As health care organizations, the undersigned groups believe that preserving the public health is core to our missions,” the groups said in a statement. “Accordingly, we commit to a requirement that all our employees receive a full course of COVID vaccination as a condition of returning to work in the office.” — The groups added that “given the sharp rise in cases and deaths in the U.S., and recognizing that most new cases and the overwhelming majority of deaths occur among the unvaccinated, our organizations believe that a vaccine mandate is the primary way to assure the health and safety of our colleagues, family, friends, and communities.” — The groups that signed on to the vaccine mandate are AcademyHealth, America’s Essential Hospitals, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, the American Medical Group Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the Alliance of Community Health Plans, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, the National Health Council, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the National Pharmaceutical Council, SNP Alliance and the Society for Women’s Health Research. — They join several other trade organizations on K Street — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, The Business Roundtable and the American Petroleum Institute — in issuing some form of vaccination requirement for staffers over the past month as Covid cases have surged, driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant and lackluster vaccination rates in the U.S. HOSPITALITY SECTOR SCORES A WIN WITH EXPANSION OF SMALL-BUSINESS LOANS PROGRAM: The Small Business Administration this week finalized changes to an emergency loan program meant to aid small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, a victory for struggling hospitality industries like restaurants, gyms and hotels as they continue to lobby for additional Covid relief from Congress. — The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program was created at the onset of the pandemic last year to help struggling businesses cover business operations, in tandem with the Paycheck Protection Program, which was aimed at covering payroll expenses. But demand for the low-interest loans was so high that SBA capped loan amounts early on, and has been slower than industry would like in increasing the amount businesses can borrow. Businesses can now borrow up to $2 million, up from the previous cap of $500,000. — The funds may also be used to pre-pay business debt, and franchises won a change to a rule that capped the number of employees a business could have to be eligible for the loans at 500 per business — now the cap is set at 500 employees per location, similar to a separate relief program for restaurants. — A coalition of trade associations last month pressed SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman for the various expansions announced today, calling the program “the only remaining federal solution that can provide critical access to capital for small businesses.” Those trade groups cheered the administration today for heeding their calls. Sean Kennedy, the top lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association , said in a statement that “the changes we secured will provide an additional rebuilding tool at a time when operators are once again faced with uncertainty.” The International Franchise Association’s president and chief executive, Matt Haller, noted that the revisions will connect “small business franchise owners to the benefits they urgently need.” Good afternoon and welcome to PI . Football is officially back, which means that no matter what the thermometer says, it’s now fall in my mind. Send lobbying tips and also send the soup that you are most excited to make once the weather cools down some more: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | A message from Coalition for Medicare Choices: 27 million seniors and people with disabilities across the country rely on Medicare Advantage for access to high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable health care. Medicare Advantage delivers better services, better access to care, and better value for all enrollees. Congress is considering changes to Medicare Advantage that would reduce health benefits for the millions who rely on it. Click here to learn more about the reach of Medicare Advantage across the U.S. | | |
NAM GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE: The National Association of Manufacturers this morning announced a six-figure ad campaign attacking the corporate tax hikes that Democrats plan to fund their $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill with. The trade group released a member survey that found manufacturers’ optimism in their economic outlook had dropped several points from last quarter, with overwhelming majorities of respondents contending that higher taxes would hamper their hiring and prevent employers from raising their workers’ wages. NAM will run print, radio and digital ads in D.C. and key states urging lawmakers to reject the tax increases.
— “This survey delivers an urgent warning for lawmakers: if you raise taxes on manufacturers, there will be no avoiding widespread job losses, slower growth and wage stagnation,” Jay Timmons, NAM’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “At a time when paychecks for manufacturing families are growing at the highest rate in nearly 40 years, the tax increases under consideration by Congress will directly harm the men and women who make things in America,” he argued. BILLBOARDS TRADE GROUP NAMES NEW CHIEF LOBBYIST: The Out of Home Advertising Association of America, which represents the billboard industry, tapped Michael Hershey as its next top lobbyist. Hershey arrives at the trade group from the Small Business Administration, where he was associate administrator for congressional affairs. Before that he served as senior vice president of government relations at the National Association of Broadcasters. He’ll succeed Ken Klein, who is retiring at the end of the year after two decades at the trade association, and he’ll report to the organization’s president and chief executive Anna Bager. | | | | HAPPENING WEDNESDAY - POLITICO TECH SUMMIT: Washington and Silicon Valley have been colliding for some time. Has the intersection of tech, innovation, regulation and politics finally reached a tipping point? Join POLITICO for our first-ever Tech Summit to explore the evolving relationship between the power corridors of Washington and the Valley. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | SENATE COMMERCE STAFFER LEAVES FOR FACEBOOK: “A top Democratic staffer on the Senate Commerce Committee will join Facebook's federal policy team next month,” the social media giant confirmed to POLITICO’s Emily Birnbaum . “John Branscome's hiring marks a win for Facebook as the embattled company seeks to ingratiate itself with the Biden administration and congressional Democrats amid widespread criticism from both parties.” — “Branscome, a longtime expert on telecommunications policy who was once considered for a Democratic commissioner role on the FCC, will focus on executive branch engagement. Branscome is the top Democratic staffer on the Senate Commerce telecom subcommittee, and before that served as the chief counsel of the internet subcommittee. Branscome will bring a hefty Rolodex to Facebook's network in Washington — his former colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee have been hired across the Biden administration, including in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Commerce Department.” — “Branscome has served in various positions on the Senate Commerce Committee since 2010, overseeing a multitude of efforts to regulate and rein in the power of tech giants” — including his new employer. Branscome’s future boss, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, testified in front of the panel just last year. And his former boss, Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), “has accused Facebook of contributing to the destruction of local news outlets and participated in years of negotiations around a potential federal privacy law.”
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FDA DELAYS DECISION ON JUUL’S FATE: “The Food and Drug Administration said it needed to take more time before deciding whether e-cigarettes made by Juul Labs Inc. and other top manufacturers can remain on the U.S. market,” the Wall Street Journal’s Jennifer Maloney reports. The agency faced a deadline today “to respond to applications from Juul and other e-cigarette makers who had to submit their products for review to keep them on the U.S. market.”
— The agency said that it had acted on 93 percent of the applications submitted, but that “there’s more work to be done to complete our remaining reviews and ensure that we continue taking appropriate action to protect our nation’s youth from the dangers of all tobacco products.” FDA “didn’t say when its review of products submitted by Juul and other large manufacturers would be complete.” — “FDA officials previously had said they wouldn’t be able to render decisions by Sept. 9 on every product submitted, but had pledged to fast-track those with the largest market share. The biggest U.S. e-cigarette manufacturer is Juul, according to sales in stores tracked by Nielsen. Juul is followed by Reynolds American Inc., which makes Vuse e-cigarettes. NJOY Holdings Inc. holds the No. 3 spot.” — “The FDA’s mandate is to authorize vaping products only if their manufacturers can demonstrate that they are in the interest of public health.” The review “could reshape the e-cigarette market. Agency officials have told manufacturers to expect stricter controls on the way products are marketed and sold, once they are authorized to remain on the market.” | | | — Ashley O’Sullivan has been promoted to be director of government affairs at AmerisourceBergen. She previously was senior manager for legislation and policy at the company. — Huntington Ingalls Industries has added Stewart Holmes as executive vice president for government and customer relations. Holmes was most recently senior vice president of Washington operations for Textron and is a Senate Approps alum. — Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has recruited former GOP CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz as an advisory partner on its crypto team, per Morning Money. Quintenz stepped down from the agency in August. Andreessen Horowitz general partner Katie Haun said Quintenz will “help in our work of translating crypto for the policy community, and translating policy for the crypto community.” — Alex Miehls is now a public affairs director for FTI Consulting’s strategic communications segment. He previously was a primetime news producer for Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum” and is a House Oversight and John Boehner alum. — Tomás Kloosterman has joined D&P Creative Strategies as an associate. He most recently served as the strategic engagement director at the Latino Victory Fund. — Steve DeMaura has joined Targeted Victory in the corporate practice, where he’ll work with companies, trade associations, nonprofits and super PACs on their advocacy campaigns. He previously was senior director of global governance strategy and operations at Walmart.
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| | | None. | | | Forward PAC (PAC)
Ohio Leads (Super PAC)
Wyoming Values (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | 535 Group, LLC: City Of Huntsville, Alabama
Clarity Consulting, LLC: Free Speech Coalition
Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Economic Security Project Action
Forbes-Tate: Tennessee Rural Health Improvement Association
Liberty Partners Group, LLC: American Vein & Lymphatic Society (USpa-United Specialists For Patient Access)
Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Centers For Vein Restoration
Onfido Inc.: Onfido Inc.
Orion Advocates: American Building Materials Alliance
The Vogel Group: Outpatient Endovascular And Interventional Society
The Vogel Group: The Rox, Rapid Overland Xpress
The Vogel Group: Tzedek Association | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc.: Mtx Group, Inc.
| | | | A message from Coalition for Medicare Choices: 27 million strong. That’s the number of seniors and people with disabilities who choose Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage delivers high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care to people who need it most. More than half are women and over a third make less than $25,000 a year. With added benefits like vision, dental, hearing, in-home services, and comprehensive prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage makes it easier to stay healthy. And, with more than a 90% satisfaction rate among enrollees, Medicare Advantage outperforms traditional Medicare on 16 out of 16 different clinical quality measures. Congress is considering changes to Medicare Advantage that would threaten access to health care for 27 million Americans. Click here to find out more about how to protect Medicare Advantage today. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
