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Presented by Save Our Standards: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by Save Our Standards | With Daniel Lippman TheGROUP ADDS ANOTHER WELL-CONNECTED DEMOCRAT: Jorge Aguilar has joined theGROUP D.C. as a principal, giving the firm another Democrat with ties to the upper echelons of power in Washington. Aguilar has spent nearly a decade working for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, most recently serving as the executive director for Pelosi’s campaign committee. — Aguilar will advise clients on how to navigate “the intricacies of the Democratic Caucus in Congress and key stakeholder organizations,” according to the firm. He’ll also “leverage his communications expertise and reach to achieve meaningful results for the firm’s clients.” — The firm, whose lobbyists count President Joe Biden, the late Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid , congressman-turned-White House aide Cedric Richmond and now-HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra as former bosses, is one of a handful of K Street with ties to Biden that has seen business boom since last year’s election. It brought in over $5 million through the first nine months of 2021, compared with $3.6 million in all of 2020, and has added a number of big-name clients to its roster since the election, including Intuit, Pfizer and the American Health Care Association. — “Jorge is a valued and accomplished professional whose political and communications expertise will enhance the firm’s services to our corporate, non-profit and foreign government clientele,” Art Collins , the firm’s founder and managing partner, said in a statement, adding that Aguilar’s previous work “hand-in-hand with senior elected and appointed officials on a broad range of issues” will add “immediate value as we serve as trusted advisors to our clients.” Good afternoon and welcome to the first PI of 2022. What’d I miss? Send me your tips, your New Year’s resolutions and your advice on what to make with the new sous vide I got for Christmas: coprysko@politico.com . And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | A message from Save Our Standards: Technical standards like 5G and Wi-Fi have the power to transform industries, fuel the economy, and create high-quality jobs. But that only happens if owners of patents essential to standards honor their commitments to license all innovators to use those patents on fair and reasonable terms. A new draft Administration statement restores the balance vital to standards adoption and job creation. Support the Administration to promote American manufacturing and limit product bans on standard-essential patents. | | | CHECKING IN: Coming up on a year since the deadly insurrection at the Capitol, several watchdog groups are out today with analyses taking stock of corporate America’s pledges to pull back on political contributions, either to Republican members who objected to the 2020 election results or to federal lawmakers altogether. — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington found that more than 717 corporations and trade groups gave more than $18 million to nearly every one of the 147 members of Congress who voted against certifying Biden’s presidential win after the insurrection, as well as to House and Senate Republicans’ campaign arms. Not all of those were part of the group that pledged to freeze donations — but companies who did make those pledges gave $2.4 million directly to those members’ campaigns and leadership PACs through November of last year (campaign finance data for December will not be available until later this month). — The top corporate donors to election objectors last year were Boeing, Koch Industries, American Crystal Sugar, General Dynamics and Valero Energy, the report found, though of those only Boeing and Valero suspended PAC donations after the insurrection, while the Koch political network said it would “weigh heavy” lawmakers’ actions in the insurrection. Perhaps unsurprisingly, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who could become speaker if Republicans retake the House this fall, was the top fundraiser among election objectors. — A separate analysis by the watchdog group Accountable.US, first reported by CNBC’s Brian Schwartz, examines the public statements of 30 Fortune 500 companies and major trade groups in the days following the insurrection compared with their contributions — and found the companies and trade groups still donated over $8.1 million to election objectors. — Still, as PI reported last year , a recent survey found that nearly half of corporate PACs have changed their criteria for political donations since the insurrection, with more than 80 percent of corporate PACs suspending political contributions in the aftermath. Corporate giving to most of those lawmakers last year was down 60 percent since 2019, Popular Information’s Judd Legum reports, even as the party as a whole has begun outraising Democrats and fundraising will really begin to pick up in earnest throughout this year. HOW BIG TECH IS WORKING TO THWART ANTITRUST BILLS: “Amazon and Google are mobilizing a powerful force to counter Congress’ increasing appetite for corporate trust-busting,” POLITICO’s Emily Birnbaum writes: “the throngs of business owners and ordinary users who have made the tech giants a part of their daily lives.” — “The campaign, carried out by petitions , email blasts and Zoom calls, seeks to reverse the usual David-vs.-Goliath portrayal of Washington’s antitrust debates — pushing the narrative that two of the world’s wealthiest corporations are on the sides of the underdogs.” — “The antitrust bills’ supporters accuse the tech giants of spreading baseless fears and stoking small businesses’ anxieties to blunt the growing anti-monopoly momentum in Congress. But the effort shows that the companies’ networks of data centers, warehouses, business partnerships and legions of users have given Amazon and Google a huge number of potential allies in their showdown with Washington.” — Emily reports that “two members of Congress, who requested anonymity to speak about a divisive topic, said they have been inundated with calls and emails from entrepreneurs who heard Amazon’s warnings that the legislation might force it to shut down its platform for sellers. The companies have also told lawmakers whose districts are home to Amazon warehouses and Google data centers that the legislation could lessen their voters’ job opportunities, according to two congressional aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.” — The effort appears to have had some degree of success: “A House member whose district includes a Google data center is hesitating on supporting the antitrust legislation after the lawmaker’s office received similar objections from the local chamber of commerce, one of the congressional aides said.” SOUTH KOREAN CHIPMAKERS LOOK FOR A LOBBYING FOOTHOLD IN DC: Samsung, Hyundai, SK Group and LG , South Korea’s largest semiconductor conglomerates, are among the country’s chipmakers boosting their lobbying efforts in the U.S. in an effort to win “critical export licences to supply Chinese companies targeted by trade sanctions” and amid pressure from Washington to shift chip and electric battery manufacturing into the U.S., the Financial Times’ Song Jung-a reports. — “LG will open a lobbying office in Washington next year, after its battery-making unit LG Energy Solution was embroiled in a multibillion-dollar legal dispute with domestic rival SK Innovation that threatened to disrupt Ford’s electric car plans in the US. The company also had to reimburse General Motors after a costly electric vehicle recall over battery flaws.” — “The Korean groups are seeking export licences to supply US-blacklisted Chinese companies, including technology group Huawei and chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. The US commerce department had granted more than $103 billion in export licences to Huawei and SMIC from November 9 2020 to April 2021. — “We are trying to hire Americans with connections to Washington as we need to strengthen networking with the US government and Capitol Hill,” an executive at LG Energy Solution told FT. Kim Young-woo, an analyst at SK Securities , told the outlet that “Korean chipmakers now have to deal with the commerce department and Pentagon more often to discuss security concerns. So they need to hire more former US officials as their lobbyists.” IF YOU MISSED IT OVER THE BREAK: “A new legal ethics complaint from a businesswoman charged in a prosecution involving unregistered foreign lobbying threatens to roil two major cases in the Justice Department’s high-profile effort to crack down on foreign influence in the U.S. political system,” POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein reports. — “The complaint was filed with the Justice Department last month on behalf of Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaii- and California-based businesswoman. The submission alleges that Public Integrity Section Principal Deputy Chief John Keller acted unethically by negotiating a plea deal for her last year with Davis’ attorney at the time, Abbe Lowell, while Keller was investigating Lowell in a separate inquiry into what a judge called a ‘bribery for pardon’ probe.” — “The allegations in the complaint raise questions about whether Davis understood important aspects of her predicament in August 2020 when she pleaded guilty in a Hawaii federal court to aiding and abetting violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act,” but they could also “pose complications for a related, higher-profile prosecution against Prakazrel ‘Pras’ Michel — a well-known rapper and member of the Fugees, a legendary hip-hop trio.” Michel was indicted on campaign finance charges in 2019 but last June a grand jury in Washington returned a new indictment accusing him of taking part in the same unregistered lobbying effort as Davis and former RNC deputy finance chair Elliot Broidy.
| | | | A message from Save Our Standards:   | | | | | | — Samantha (Tartas) Seitz has been promoted to be manager for North America PR at Boston Consulting Group. She most recently was lead for North America PR at the firm. — Anne-Marie Wieland D'Angelo is now chief legal and government affairs officer at Molson Coors Beverage Company. She most recently was executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at NiSource. — Kirsten Hartman West is now a principal of public affairs at Cornerstone. She previously was deputy chief of staff for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.). — Sam Sadle is now senior director of North America public policy at Sonder. He previously led government relations and market entry strategy for the Americas and Asia Pacific at Lime. — Amena Ross is joining Block (formerly Square) as head of policy for the Cash app. She previously was chief of staff for Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). — Anna Ashton will be senior fellow for Asia Pacific trade, investment and innovation at the Asia Society Policy Institute. She previously was vice president of government affairs at the U.S.-China Business Council. — Lauren Belive is joining SoftBank Group as a director of government affairs. She previously led U.S. government relations for Zoom, and is a Lyft and Obama White House alum. SoftBank has also promoted Jeff Dressler, Emily Christy and Christin Baker to the position of partner. — Tom Hart will become president of the ONE Campaign. He most recently was acting CEO. Caroline Rourke is joining the ONE Campaign as senior communications coordinator. She most recently was at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans. — Matt Sowards is now a legislative representative at the National Treasury Employees Union. He previously was a legislative representative at the American Federation of Government Employees. — Charlotte Clay has been promoted to be director of marketing and communications at the D.C.-based Museum of the Bible. She most recently was media relations manager at the museum. — Natalie Knight is now director of state and local government relations at Impact Public Affairs. She most recently was client service leader and government relations director at Barge Design Solutions.
| | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | | Nittany-Buckeye Joint Committee (Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Brad Wenstrup, BRINGING AMERICA TOGETHER PAC, BUILDING AND RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM FUND)
Winning Red Committee (Sens. Mike Lee, James Lankford) | | | Agenda PAC (Super PAC)
Blackcopsmatter:independentpolicinginthehoods (Super PAC)
Free America Now (Super PAC)
GOP Wagon (Super PAC)
McGowan Victory Fund (Super PAC)
Progressive PAC (Leadership PAC: Ted Lieu)
Reset DC (Super PAC)
RISEUP (PAC)
Take Back Arizona PAC (Leadership PAC: Blake Masters)
Take Back AZ-04 Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
Take Back AZ-06 Republican Nominee Fund 2022 (PAC)
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YACHAD PAC (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld: Abiomed, Inc.
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld: Mamed Salmanov
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld: Trade Alliance For Health
Asset & Equity Corporation: Pinnacle Armor Company
Barbara Burchett: Superior Handforge
Barbara Burchett: Tst Inc
Blue Star Strategies LLC: Qpartners, LLC
Dentons US LLP: Town Center Cid
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc.
Fgh Holdings, LLC (Formerly Known As The Glover Park Group LLC): Saleen Motors International
Forbes-Tate: Gl Homes
Fulcrum Public Affairs LLC: Dailypay Inc.
Fulcrum Public Affairs LLC: Newity LLC
Fulcrum Public Affairs LLC: Policy Solutions LLC
Invariant LLC: National Veterinary Associates
K&L Gates, LLP: Solarcode LLC
Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Hess Corporation
Mcb Consulting, Inc.: Envision Strategy, LLC On Behalf Of Afff Litigation Corporation
Mcb Consulting, Inc.: Envision Strategy On Behalf Of Healthcare Association Of New York State, Inc.
Mcdermott+Consulting LLC: At-Home Covid Testing (Act) Coalition
Nate: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association: Nate: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
Paul Marcone & Associates, LLC: Genesis At The Crossroads
Ricchetti Incorporated: Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.
Rich Feuer Anderson: Chime Financial Inc.
Schaerr Jaffe LLP: Airline Employees For Health Freedom
Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Foundation, Inc.
Strategies 360: Rosenthal And Associates (On Behalf Of Delaware North Companies, Inc.)
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Woolpert
Teach Plus, Inc.: Teach Plus, Inc.
Thorn Run Partners: Contra Costa County
Thorn Run Partners: Golden Gate Bridge, Highway And Transportation District
Venable LLP: Fifth Third Bank
Vitello Consulting: Vivenns, LLC
Westmoreland160, LLC: Secure Communication Systems Dba Benchmark Secure Technology | | New Lobbying Terminations | | 10-Square Solutions: Boston Scientific Corporation
10-Square Solutions: Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
10-Square Solutions: Microsoft Corporation
10-Square Solutions: T-Mobile
B'Tselem USa: B'Tselem USa
Carmen & Muss, P.L.L.C.: Centre Market Building, LLC
Gray Global Advisors, LLC: Exacter Inc.
Marshall Brachman: Cardiovascular Associates Of The Delaware Valley
Mosaic: Mosaic
Mr. Toby Myerson: Tencent America LLC
Sapphire Strategies, LLC: Morrissey Strategic Partners
The Jbh Group, LLC: Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund
| | A message from Save Our Standards: Support US Jobs. Stop SEP Abuse.
A new draft policy statement on standard-essential patents (SEPs) committed for licensing on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms was released jointly by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Justice. The draft statement provides guidance on appropriate remedies in cases involving the use of these patents, and presents an approach to SEPs that strives to balance the interests of patent holders with the broad range of U.S. industries that use standards to protect the future of innovation.
Save Our Standards is a broad-based coalition working to end abusive practices in SEP licensing. We welcome the draft statement and support the Biden Administration for their leadership protecting U.S. competitiveness in charting out this balanced approach. Comments are being accepted through February 4. Support the Biden Administration to stop SEP abuse. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
