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Presented by HCA Healthcare: 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 DNC MARKS A RETURN TO IN-PERSON FUNDRAISING: Eighteen months into the pandemic, the Democratic National Committee is set to hold its first in-person, indoor fundraising event this week , turning to K Street to haul in cash ahead of what is sure to be an expensive midterm cycle, your host reported this weekend. The high-dollar affairs on Wednesday will feature a reception in honor of new DNC Chair Jaime Harrison — himself a former lobbyist — and a performance by legendary singer-songwriter Carole King. — The reception will be hosted by Elizabeth Frawley Bagley , the former ambassador to Portugal and a bundler for President Joe Biden. According to an invitation obtained by POLITICO , the physical location of the fundraiser will be provided upon RSVP. Tickets will cost $1,000 to get in the door, according to the invitation, but attendees can pay $5,000 to be listed as a supporter or $10,000 to be listed as a friend. And for K Streeters who have been starved of quality, offline facetime with party leaders, they can dole out $36,500 — the most an individual or non-multicandidate PAC can contribute to a national party committee. That max contribution brings with it a more intimate “private clutch,” according to the invitation. — A separate fundraiser, scheduled for the same day, will serve as a launch event for the committee’s PAC, with tickets again starting at $1,000 to get in the door. For $5,000 an attendee can be deemed a supporter, or contribute $15,000 to be named a friend. Donors can pay $45,000 to be named a leader of the event. Both invites take care to stress that the fundraisers “will be following the most up-to-date CDC guidelines.” — For the reception honoring Harrison, which is aimed at bringing friends of the new chair into the fold and will be indoors, attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test from within the previous 24 hours. There will also be a nurse on site administering rapid tests, according to a DNC official. The second fundraiser, which is geared more toward longstanding donors, will be outdoors, and still require proof of vaccination and masks if attendees venture into indoor settings. — Of course, some important context around the fundraisers that can’t be ignored: The fundraisers come at a critical moment for Democrats’ domestic policy agenda, with the party’s congressional leaders trying to stave off a government shutdown this week, avert an impending fiscal cliff that could come as soon as mid-October and wrangle the votes for a pair of massive legislative packages. Next year’s midterms are also looming large with Republicans, who reverted back to the in-person norm months ago, outraising Democrats last month while reporting a nearly $7 million cash-on-hand advantage. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Hope you’re buckled in for a crazy week. Have any lobbying tips? Reach out: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko. | | A message from HCA Healthcare: HCA Healthcare has treated more COVID-19 inpatients than any other health system in the U.S. By analyzing our vast repository of COVID-19 data, we have a unique ability to leverage and share learnings to improve patient outcomes and public knowledge. The insights gained from our research and collaborations with the CDC and NIH will greatly accelerate the discovery of new approaches to care. See how we show up for our patients, communities and each other. | | | FIGHTING TOOTH AND TOOTH: “The American Dental Association is mobilizing its 162,000 members to fight a proposal to include dental coverage for all Medicare recipients,” The Wall Street Journal’s Julie Bykowicz reports, “opposition that could prove pivotal as Democrats look to make cuts in their $3.5 trillion domestic policy agenda. Giving dental, vision and hearing benefits to the 60 million older and disabled Americans covered by Medicare will provide needed care to people who otherwise might not afford it, supporters say.” — But the trade group maintains “that Medicare won’t reimburse enough to cover their costs and is pushing an alternative plan that would limit benefits to the poorest Medicare recipients.” It’s also “asking members to contact lawmakers in opposition. ‘There aren’t endless amounts of federal dollars, so the question is how do you maximize dollars to do the most good’ said Michael Graham, the ADA’s senior vice president for government and public affairs. ‘If you don’t focus on low-income seniors, you are just wasting your money.’” — There isn’t across-the-board opposition from the profession, however. “The association’s Medicare position puts it at odds with smaller dental trade groups, including ones of Black and Latino dentists, as well as the AARP and other seniors coalitions,” and with trade associations representing vision and hearing providers whose specialties would also be included in Democrats’ proposed benefit expansion. FLYING IN: More than 100 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association will blitz Capitol Hill on Tuesday in an eleventh-hour bid to shore up votes for the bipartisan infrastructure bill as the House prepares for a Thursday vote on the package. The trade group’s members have meetings scheduled with over 100 offices and members, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.), as well as with Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). The Hill meetings will supplement the trade association’s digital ad buys, coalition letters and lobbying push for the infrastructure bill over the past few months. They also come several days into NSSGA’s annual legislative and policy forum, which will feature speakers such as Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). — The International Wood Products Association , which represents the North American imported wood products industry, is holding its Fall World of Wood convention in National Harbor this week. The group represents nearly 200 companies and trade associations engaged in the import of hardwoods and softwoods from sustainably managed forests. The convention will feature sessions on the Lacey Act and customs and wood products trade and enforcement. At the convention, members meet virtually with lawmakers and their offices. PLASTICS INDUSTRY JOINS RECONCILIATION AD SPENDING FRENZY: The American Chemistry Council is dropping seven figures on a grassroots, coalition and paid media campaign targeting a proposal from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to levy a 20 cent-per-pound tax on so-called virgin plastic used to make single-use plastics. Whitehouse’s proposal could be included on the Senate Finance Committee’s menu of revenue raisers to help finance Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation package — The trade group, whose members include DuPont, Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil and Shell, has taken out full-page ads in papers like the The Washington Post, The New York Times , and The Wall Street Journal, as well as digital ads, including some in POLITICO, contending the plastics tax would hurt families by raising the cost of plastics used in everyday goods. “Plastic goes into a variety of applications, not just food packaging,” Joshua Baca, the group’s vice president of plastics, told The Hill last week . “At the end of the day, this would result in a regressive tax that would largely impact those who can least afford it.” Earlier this month, the CEOs of 38 ACC members lambasted the tax proposal in a letter to House and Senate leadership, calling the plan “misguided” and urging lawmakers to adopt an industry-backed framework for reducing plastic waste. SMITH-FREE GROUP ADDS 2: Sarah Dumont Merchak has rejoined the bipartisan lobbying firm Smith-Free Group. Merchak was a vice president at the firm for five years before joining Visa’s government relations team. She also worked in the D.C. office of the United Services Automobile Association and the lobbying firm TwinLogic Strategies, and most recently spent two years as legislative affairs director at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. — Mike Gaffin joined the firm in April as a senior vice president from the Marwood Group, where he was chief political strategist. Prior to that he spent time in the offices of Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ted Kennedy and Reps. George Miller and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) | | | | A message from HCA Healthcare:   | | | | | | — Rebecca Chalif recently started at USAID as press director and spokesperson. She most recently was a senior account director at Sunshine Sachs and was deputy communications director on Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. — Doug Lee has joined Mindset as senior director helping lead the firm’s tax, trade and appropriations practice. He was most recently vice president of U.S. public policy at Credit Suisse and is a House Appropriations, Mike Quigley and Chris Coons alum. — Devin Lynch has joined information security firm Security Scorecard as senior director of policy and government affairs. He was most recently a staffer on the House Homeland Security Committee and is a Wounded Warriors Project, DHS and Barbara Mikulski alum. — Christopher Shannon, Davey McKissick, Neville Martin, Doris Sump and Lama Mohammed will join the Glen Echo Group in its Washington office as creative director, senior director, director of finance, senior associate and associate, respectively. Shannon was previously lead creative technologist at GMMB, McKissick was most recently director at Forbes Tate Partners, Martin was most recently assistant controller at Delucchi Plus, and Mohammed is an alum of the International Downtown Association , the Jesuit Conference and Mercury Public Affairs. — Tech research and development firm InterDigital has promoted Rob Stien to executive vice president and chief communications and public policy officer and Blair Watters to vice president of government relations and standards policy. — Michael Balmoris, a 17-year veteran of AT&T who serves as assistant vice president-corporate communications for policy, is leaving the company on Dec. 1, “to pursue other opportunities,” per Morning Tech. — Hillary Thrower is joining Home Depot as senior manager for state and local government relations. She most recently worked at Emory University as director of state affairs and is a Nathan Deal alum.
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| | | Mace Majority Fund (Rep. Nancy Mace, Must Act to Create Excellence PAC, NRCC) | | | Felons United (PAC)
Orange Coast Huddle (PAC)
Terrance Morkeech Abraham 2024 For President (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | 535 Group, LLC: United Launch Alliance
Acg Advocacy: California Rural Indian Health Board
Acg Advocacy: Vita Inclinata Technologies, Inc.
Alb Solutions: Cvs Health (And Subsidiaries)
Blue Mountain Strategies: Ellis Strategy LLC On Behalf Of Advoque Safeguard
Capitol Tax Partners, LLP: Origin Materials
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: National Stewardship Action Council
Center For Popular Democracy: Center For Popular Democracy
Center For Popular Democracy Action: Center For Popular Democracy Action
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Medical Creations, Inc.
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Apollo Holding Company, LLC
Leavitt Partners, LLC: The Enrollment Coalition
Lkb Strategies LLC: Sl Strategies, LLC (On Behalf Of Partner Therapeutics)
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Clorox Services Company
Sl Strategies, LLC: Partner Therapeutics
Tck International, LLC: Dla Piper LLP (US) (For Illumina, Inc.)
The Madison Group: Zurich North America | | | | 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 | | Coleman Government Affairs: Selo Investments, LLC
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Diamond Rock Hospitality Company
Monument Strategies, LLC: Tcf Financial Corporation
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Our innovative partnerships with governments, technology companies and other health systems allow us to pool resources, expertise and capabilities to improve the national COVID-19 response. By collaborating with the CDC, government agencies and other healthcare organizations, HCA Healthcare is supporting hospitals and caregivers around the world — not just our own — in the fight against COVID-19.
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