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Presented by Natural Allies for Clean Energy: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With Daniel Lippman DLA TAPS BIDEN TRANSITION MEMBER TO LEAD CONSOLIDATED PRACTICE GROUPS: DLA Piper today announced a new look for its regulatory and government relations practices, combining both under the leadership of veteran telecom attorney Edward “Smitty” Smith . Smith, the managing director of the law and lobbying firm’s D.C. office, will oversee the new practice, which represents a “doubling down on investment” in providing a “seamless” advisory practice for clients, Smith told PI in an interview. — Smith also led DLA Piper’s telecommunications practice, was awarded for his work on the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, and was backed by the powerful Congressional Black Caucus earlier this year for the role of FCC chair. Before that he held a fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign before becoming a bundler for President Joe Biden. He sat on Biden’s FCC transition team as well. — DLA Piper “works with a lot of clients that are operating in what are frequently highly regulated industries or industries that are beginning to be at the front edge of regulation,” Smith said, adding that “these dynamic regulatory landscapes, they demand dynamic counsel.” By combining the firm’s regulatory and lobbying practices, its employees will be able to “make sure that we can meet the client wherever they are with whatever challenge they've got — and do so not just domestically, but really in a seamless manner across the full scope of a global firm.” — The move is “certainly in recognition of the fact that government right now is moving at full throttle,” he said, “and that we are going to see — and already are seeing government intersecting with our clients” on a number of fronts, from the infrastructure and reconciliation packages to other spending and regulation and enforcement of emerging industries like crypto and fintech. “The last thing that business needs is uncertainty,” he said. BIDEN-LINKED FIRM TO FUNDRAISE FOR JEFFRIES: The lobbying firm theGROUP, whose team includes former Biden aide Sudafi Henry and former Cedric Richmond chief of staff Kwabena Nsiah, is hosting a fundraiser later this month for House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), according to an invitation obtained by PI. The Sept. 30 lunch event — which the invitation notes is subject to cancellation and will comply with CDC Covid guidelines — costs $1,000 to get in the door. Attendees can be named a co-host for $2,500 or a host for $5,000. — The fundraiser will take place just before the end of the fundraising quarter — and right in the thick of Democrats’ jam-packed legislative sprint over the next few weeks, within hours of government funding, defense policy, flood insurance and surface transportation provisions elapsing absent a continuing resolution, within days of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s self-imposed deadline to hold a floor vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill, and as the party likely continues to hash out the details of its partisan social spending and climate package. — It will be at least the second time in recent months that theGROUP, which has added more than a dozen new clients since November’s election, was set to raise money for Democratic leadership. The firm, which represents companies and trade groups like Lyft, Facebook, BP, NAREIT, the American Health Care Association, Lockheed Martin and JPMorgan Chase, was slated to hold a virtual fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer back in July, according to an invitation obtained by PI. Good afternoon and welcome to PI . Send K Street tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | A message from Natural Allies for Clean Energy: Natural gas is accelerating America's transition to a clean energy future. The reliability of natural gas enables the rapid expansion of low-carbon renewable generation, and by partnering the two together, we can achieve rapid emissions reductions today - without sacrificing reliability and affordability. Academics and researchers agree: continuing to invest in natural gas infrastructure will help us reach our climate goals faster. Natural gas -- accelerating our transition to a clean energy future. Learn more at www.naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org | | |
FIRST IN PI — CHAMBER NUDGES HOUSE ON BIF WITH NOD TO WESTERN DROUGHT: Nearly 130 state and local chambers of commerce across 14 Western states signed on to a letter today urging swift action from the House on the bipartisan infrastructure bill as the region’s water crisis reaches “unprecedented levels in its duration and impact.” The coalition asked the House to take up the Senate-passed package, which Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said will come to the floor by Sept. 27, as soon as possible, and warned lawmakers not to connect its passage to the party’s $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, as leadership as well as liberals in the caucus have pledged to do.
— “Companies and communities are facing growing challenges regarding available water to meet public health, economic growth, and food and energy security needs,” the groups wrote. “This megadrought, in addition to the already crumbling drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across the United States, requires expeditious action.” The coalition called out several provisions included in the bill to help address shortcomings in water infrastructure in the West and water resiliency, like incentives for reuse and recycling, support for an Interior Department water conservation program, FEMA pre-disaster mitigation programs and billions to reduce risks from wildfires. NCAA TURNS TO K STREET TO BEAT BACK NIL PUSH: “Over the past year or so, the college sports industry has taken it on the chin. States have passed laws allowing student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. And this June, the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on benefits for college athletes. In response to the setbacks, the NCAA did what many beleaguered industries do: It turned to K Street for help,” our Hailey Fuchs reports. — This year, the league and its sprawling and deep-pocketed athletic conferences “have moved aggressively to steer name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation, which would allow players to profit from their own celebrity but put rules on that compensation. In conversations on the Hill, they sought to limit their liability from future lawsuits that could result from congressional action. Those who have worked in this space say it is among the most significant — and potentially perilous — moments for major college sports in a century. — “So far this year, the NCAA alone has spent $180,000 on lobbying, $60,000 more than the same period last year. The Power Five conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12 Conference, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference — have spent $900,000, all to influence legislation related to how student athletes can profit from their popularity and ‘modernizing’ college athletics, according to federal filings. — “The contracts with K Street accumulated quickly. Almost none of those conferences had registered to lobby before 2019, when California became the first state to pass” NIL legislation. But “so far, the NCAA and the major conferences have little to show for their investments.” MULHAUSER BACK TO BPI: Scott Mulhauser has returned to Bully Pulpit Interactive , where he previously led the agency’s public affairs practice, after finishing a temporary role as a senior adviser to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Mulhauser left the firm earlier this summer to help implement the administration’s recovery agenda. LOBBYING FRENZY SURROUNDS CLIMATE PROVISIONS: The Washington Post’s Steven Mufson and Tony Romm report on the jockeying taking place behind the scenes as Democrats work to advance what they view as a once-in-a-generation climate bill: “Steve Elmendorf, a partner at Subject Matter, a firm that represents dozens of firms including oil giant BP, an electric bus start-up, rural electric co-ops and Ford Motor, said that the push reflects the reality of legislating in Washington right now. ‘Congress has increasingly become a place where things get done in one big step in an omnibus or a covid bill.’” — “While Biden has argued that investing in cleaner electricity and electric cars is far cheaper than the devastation climate change is causing, his top aides have been working behind the scenes to broker deals between key industries and congressional leaders. Last week, White House national climate adviser Gina McCarthy and her deputy Ali Zaidi traveled to Colorado Springs to meet with scores of top utility executives at their trade group’s board meeting.” — “The current proposal affects a far-reaching set of economic players, including utilities, automakers, unions, natural gas producers, renewable energy producers, and the makers of high-voltage transmission lines linking the nation’s major cities with areas rich in wind and solar.”
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| | | — Blockchain.com hired Ian Mair as head of U.S. public policy. He was most recently vice president at The Smith-Free Group. — Ben Staub has been promoted to senior vice president of federal affairs at the Motion Picture Association. — Pat Malloy has joined New Balance Athletics as senior counsel for trade and policy. He was most recently at Strategic Marketing Innovations where he also served as director of trade policy for the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association, and is a Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) alum. — BSA | The Software Alliance added Zendesk as a global member, and Zendesk’s senior vice president and general counsel Shanti Ariker will join BSA’s Board of Directors. — Michael McGeary is now executive director of government and community relations for the University of California, Merced. He was most recently head of global public policy for Upwork. — Andy Banducci is the new senior vice president of retirement and compensation policy for the ERISA Industry Committee, which represents large employers that provide health, retirement, paid leave, and other benefits. He’ll lead efforts to develop and advocate for retirement, compensation, and paid leave public policies priorities for member companies at the federal, state, and local levels. The trade group also promoted James Gelfand to executive vice president of public affairs; Dillon Clair to director of state advocacy and litigation; and Christina Ciconte to manager of public policy.
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| | | None. | | | HabitatsForAll (Hybrid PAC)
XCALIBER DAO (PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Ajw, Inc.: Calix Limited
Atlas Crossing LLC: Itinera Infrastructure & Concessions
Atlas Crossing LLC: National Association Of Convenience Stores
Bernstein Strategy Group: National Education Association
Blue Star Strategies LLC: Cultural Care, Inc.
Bristow Group, Inc.: Bristow Group, Inc.
Capitol Resources, LLC: Taylor Defense Products, LLC
Edgepoint, LLC: Catawba Valley Community College
Envision Strategy: Appharvest Operations, Inc.
Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs: City Of Seatac
Horizons Global Solutions LLC: Conexon LLC
Invariant LLC: Premise
Jake Perry + Partners: K&L Gates On Behalf Of Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
K&L Gates LLP: Stanwixforbes LLC
Lodestar Strategic: Orion Industries
Lodestar Strategic: Outdoors For All Foundation
Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc.: Norton Lifelock
Potomac Strategic Development Company, LLC: Access Health Inc
Smith Advocacy Group, LLC: Outpost Agriculture Inc.
Tiger Hill Partners LLC: Coinbase, Inc. | | | | Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today . | | | | | | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Edgepoint, LLC: Paddock Industries
Edgepoint, LLC: Weber State University
| | A message from Natural Allies for Clean Energy: Natural gas is accelerating America's transition to a clean energy future. The reliability of natural gas enables the quick expansion of low-carbon renewable generation, and by partnering the two together, we can achieve rapid emissions reductions today - without sacrificing reliability and affordability. Academics and researchers agree: with the world's greatest interstate energy highway already in existence, and the ability to transport zero-carbon fuels of the future like green hydrogen, natural gas has the potential to continue to support carbon reduction and help us reach our climate goals faster.
Natural gas -- accelerating our transition to a clean energy future. Learn more at www.naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
