Taiwan to finance $900K Ballard contract with Guatemala

From: POLITICO Influence - Tuesday Jan 18,2022 10:35 pm

Jan 18, 2022

Presented by Save Our Standards

With Tanya Snyder and Daniel Lippman

GUATEMALA HIRES BALLARD: The Taiwanese government is financing a nearly $1 million contract between Ballard Partners and the government of Guatemala, according to documents filed with the Justice Department over the weekend that disclosed the unusual funding arrangement.

— Brian Ballard, a top fundraiser and former lobbyist for former President Donald Trump; former Florida legislator Jose Diaz; former Jeb Bush aide Justin Sayfie; and John O’Hanlon, a longtime Democratic lobbyist who joined Ballard last year, will work on the account for the country, which is one of only a few that maintains full diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognizes the small island nation as the legitimate government of China.

— The firm told PI that it was not Ballard’s idea for Taiwan to foot the $75,000-a-month bill for its services for Guatemala, an arrangement the firm said will not dictate its work and which its counsel found is permitted under FARA. Guatemala is among the so-called Northern Triangle countries in Central America where the Biden administration has sought to crack down on corruption and provide more economic opportunity in a bid to address the root causes of an influx in migrants to the U.S.

— The contract comes after several of Guatemala’s neighbors in the region, most recently Nicaragua last month and El Salvador in 2018, recognized Beijing as the legitimate government of China, prompting Taiwan to sever diplomatic ties.

— In a statement provided by the firm, Guatemala said Ballard would deploy strategic communication to promote Guatemala’s interests in the U.S., including attracting investors to the country and promoting tourism and economic opportunities — among them, improving “the positioning of the country for the promotion of products of small producers.”

— The statement also appeared to defend hiring lobbyists to begin with, contending that such contracts “are very effective for the promotion of countries and many hire them.” The statement thanked Taiwan “for the support that will allow us to strengthen the positioning of the country in the United States.”

Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Send tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

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LARKINS STRIKES OUT ON HER OWN: Blair Larkins is leaving the Bockorny Group, where she served as the firm’s chief liaison to House Republicans, after more than a decade to open her own lobbying shop, Stumptown Strategies . The name is an homage to her hometown of Portland, Ore., the former Greg Walden aide told PI.

— In an interview, Larkins said that while she’d been looking to strike out on her own for a while, she’ll continue working on some clients with her former firm, like POET Inc. and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, via a strategic partnership with Bockorny Group. She’ll also continue to represent existing clients, like Prime Therapeutics and student loan provider Navient, through Stumptown while adding other clients with a focus on telecom, health care, energy and financial services.

— While she plans to stay solo for the time being, Larkins didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing on extra hands, especially with Republicans appearing poised to take back the House in November’s midterms. “I think after we get this up and going, next year is going to be filled with opportunities for someone like me, and so it's a good time to get up and started,” she said.

NADLER’S LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR HEADS DOWNTOWN: Melissa Connolly, an aide to House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) for nearly a decade, is leaving the Hill to join the Association of American Railroads as assistant vice president for government affairs. She’ll replace Jennifer MacDonald, who will retire at the end of this month after 20 years with the trade group.

CURBING LAWMAKER STOCK TRADES WINS FANS ON THE HILL: “Federal judges and central bank officials have faced stepped-up scrutiny over stock trades, due to concerns about possible conflicts of interest or access to nonpublic information. Now, the spotlight is turning to Congress,” The Wall Street Journal’s Natalie Andrews reports.

— “Last week, Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Jon Ossoff of Georgia introduced legislation that would prohibit all members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from trading individual stocks and would require them to place their stock portfolios into a blind trust. Both of the freshman senators have put their holdings in such a vehicle, where control over their trades is given to a trustee.”

— “The Senate bill, which would continue to allow lawmakers to directly control mutual-funds holdings and other diversified products, doesn’t have any Republican co-sponsors and isn’t expected to come up for a vote soon. In the House, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.) and Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas) have a similar bill with 15 sponsors.”

— “Other bills have also been introduced that seek to limit conflicts of interest. Last year, Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Jeff Merkley of Oregon reintroduced a bill that would bar members of Congress and senior staff from buying or selling individual stocks and other investments, and from serving on any corporate boards, while in office. The same bill has bipartisan support in the House.”

— Party leaders have split in the issue, however, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy “considering backing new limits on lawmaker stock ownership, according to an aide,” while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes a ban on individual stock trades ( a position New York Times editorial board member Michelle Cottle views as an unforced political error).

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.

TECH CRITICS LAUNCH PUSH TO COUNTER INDUSTRY’S LOBBYING MUSCLE: “Tech giants in the past decade have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into lobbying, advertising, polling and research to advance their political interests in Washington. Now some of their top adversaries are forming a plan to use that same playbook to press Congress to pass bills that would place new limits on how they wield power over their rivals,” The Washington Post’s Cat Zakrzewski reports.

— The Tech Oversight Project, which launched today, “plans to bring ‘campaign-style’ tactics to push lawmakers to pass competition legislation aimed at the tech industry. The project is primarily funded by the Omidyar Network, a philanthropic venture launched by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar that has called for greater regulation of the tech industry, and the advocacy arm of the Economic Security Project, a nonprofit organization led by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, who has called for the breakup of the social network he helped create.”

— “The project sees itself as a direct response to Big Tech-funded groups such as NetChoice and the Connected Commerce Council, which have been flooding social media feeds and email newsletters with ads defending the industry against regulation. ‘Our aim is to be a direct counterweight to those organizations that have been lobbying for the status quo for years,’ said Sacha Haworth, the executive director of the Tech Oversight Project.”

— “The launch highlights how Big Tech’s critics are becoming a more professionalized and coordinated force in Washington. Now organizations with ties to Omidyar and Hughes, who made their fortunes in the tech industry, are making the funding available for industry critics to adopt some of the more expensive tactics long deployed in defense of companies.”

HYDROGEN ADVOCATES LAUNCH COALITION: Transit agencies, bus manufacturers and suppliers have come together to form the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council, which is launching today. It’s part of an effort to make sure hydrogen isn’t left behind as the electrification revolution sweeps the country and Democrats push for investments in EV charging, tax credits for electric vehicles and expanded funding for clean transit. Hydrogen advocates had to step in last year to make sure they weren’t inadvertently shut out of Democratic legislation aimed at advancing zero-emission transit.

— Hydrogen buses are zero-emission vehicles and can go as far as a traditional bus before refueling, unlike battery electric buses. The electrolysis process used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen takes a lot of energy, but some transit systems use solar power to do this, including the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, whose CEO chairs the board of the new coalition.

A message from Save Our Standards:

Jobs Report

— Christopher Brown has joined Forbes Tate Partners as a senior analyst on the research and policy analysis team. He was previously a manager at Global Strategy Group.

— Katelyn Snider is joining Amgen as senior manager for policy and value communications. She was previously the public affairs and digital U.S. communications lead at UCB.

— Pace Bradshaw has been promoted to senior vice president and head of U.S. government engagement at Visa. He joined Visa in 2013 and most recently lead their federal lobbying team in Washington. Prior to Visa, he was head of congressional affairs at the Consumer Bankers Association.

— Stephanie Minnock has joined Lumen Technologies as assistant general counsel. She joins from FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau’s telecommunications access policy division, where she had been managing the Covid-19 telehealth program.

— Steve Marchese is joining Cornerstone Government Affairs’ federal government relations team. He’s spent 21 years at House Appropriations, most recently as clerk for the Legislative Branch Subcommittee Dems, and is a State Department alum.

— Timothy Broas has joined Wilson Sonsini’s government investigations practice as senior of counsel. He was most recently of counsel at Bryan Cave and was previously U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during the Obama administration.

— Matt Wolking is now vice president of comms at Axiom Strategies. He most recently was communications director for Glenn Youngkin’s Virginia gubernatorial campaign and is a Trump 2020 alum.

— Faith Vander Voort is joining TAG Strategies as managing director for their communications and public affairs shop. She most recently was communications director for Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) and is a Trump Interior alum.

— Aaron Whitehead and Rachel Pewitt are launching Resolve Campaigns, a new firm focused on general consulting and targeted advertising. They previously were both at Majority Strategies.

— Tom Erickson is joining GOP consulting firm OnMessage Inc. as project manager. He was a regional political director for the NRCC during the 2020 cycle and is Kristi Noem alum.

— John Konkus is now director of government affairs at engineering and geospatial firm Woolpert. He most recently was senior manager for government affairs and strategy at AECOM and is a Trump EPA alum.

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.

New Joint Fundraisers

Carlos and Nicole Victory Committee (Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Nicole Malliotakis, Libertad, No Nonsense PAC)
Georgia Senate Victory 2022 (DSCC, Sen. Raphael Warnock)
Nick Mitchell for Congress (NICHOLAS MITCHELL COMMITTEE)

New PACs

Democratic Messaging Project (PAC)
Free Ohio (Super PAC)
Lets Go Brandon (PAC)
The Political Action Committee (Super PAC)
Prescription for Change PAC (Super PAC)

New Lobbying Registrations

9B Group, Inc.: Land O'Lakes
9B Group, Inc.: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Accentcare, Inc.: Accentcare, Inc.
Active Policy Solutions, LLC: American College Health Association
Active Policy Solutions, LLC: Kids Included Together
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Blackrock, Inc.
Arent Fox LLP: Vantagescore Solutions, LLC
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Robert Davidson
Atlas Crossing LLC: Iqvia
Bose Public Affairs Group: Irg Erie, Inc.
Bose Public Affairs Group: River Heritage Conservancy
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Allen Barbarich
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Booth Creek Resort Properties, LLC
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: I Am Ready
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Lg Chem, Ltd.
Cfm Strategic Communications (Conkling Fiskum & Mccormick): Discovery Clean Water Alliance
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Change & Impact, Inc.
Ciee: Ciee
Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC: City Of Aberdeen, Maryland
Cypress Advocacy, LLC: Red Rock Biofuels, LLC
Dentons US LLP: City Of Bloomington
Dentons US LLP: Corporate Environmental Risk Management
Efrus Federal Advisors LLC: Eclypsium
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC (F/K/A Ervin Hill Strategy): Rock Central LLC
Gorman Strategy Group: Gorman Strategy Group, Too On Behalf Of Conq
J.A. Green And Company: Charter Communications Inc.
J.A. Green And Company: Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.
Klein/Johnson Group: Consortium Of Leading Asylum & Refugee Service Providers (Informal Coalition)
Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Boston Scientific (USpa-United Specialists For Patient Access)
Lobo Strategies: Signature Science LLC
Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP: Mro Corp.
Monument Advocacy: Benton Mackaye Trail Association
Nvg, LLC: Southern Poverty Law Center
Prasam: Capella Space
Putalastrategies: Cresco Labs
S-3 Group: Holistic Industries
Sorini, Samet & Associates, LLC: Fila USa, Inc.
Squire Patton Boggs: Rad Power Bikes LLC
Strategic Health Care: Covington County Hospital
Strategic Health Care: Grand River Hospital District
Strategic Health Care: Hills And Dales General Hospital
Strategic Health Care: West Feliciana Hospital
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Bki Engineering Services Behalf Inland Power & Light Company
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Bki Engineering Services Behalf Missoula Electric Cooperative
Strategic Marketing Innovations: East Penn Manufacturing Company
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Fincantieri Marine Group LLC
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Human System Integration, Inc.
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Lubrizol Corporation
The Angle: Ndn Collective
The Joseph Group, LLC: Yelp
Thorn Run Partners: City Of Gulfport, Fl
Thorn Run Partners: Sonoma County
Thorn Run Partners: Transportation Agency For Monterey County
Vectis Dc: City Of Montebello, California
Venn Strategies: Fastcap Systems Corporation Dba Nanoramic Laboratories
Venn Strategies: Talon Nickel (USa) LLC
Watershed Results LLC: State Action Coalition
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Association Of Colleges Of Nursing
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Association Of Nurse Anesthesiology
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Association Of Nurse Practitioners
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Nurses Association
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Society For Histocompatibility And Immunogenetics
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: American Society Of Hand Therapists
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.Org)
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: Naadac, The Association For Addiction Professionals
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: National Association Of Social Workers
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: Wallace Environmental Consulting, Inc.
Wheat Shroyer Government Relations LLC: Western Michigan University

New Lobbying Terminations

Acceleron Pharma Inc: Acceleron Pharma Inc
Apco Worldwide LLC: Celdara Medical, LLC
Arent Fox LLP: Americans Standing For Simplification Of The Estate Tax, Inc. (Asset)
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Washington Spirit
Bay Bridge Strategies, Inc.: Kinsa, Inc.
Berni Consulting, LLC: Plus Action Fund
Bose Public Affairs Group: International Medical Group, Inc.
Bose Public Affairs Group: Pca Advocacy Working Group
Bridge Public Affairs, LLC: Life Care Centers Of America
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Pc: One Health Solutions
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Pc: Prologis
Butzel Long, P.C.: Sanyo Corporation Of America
Capitol Counsel, LLC: Electronic Funds Transfer Association
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: American Rivers
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Guardant Health
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: National Hydropower Association
Clark Street Associates: Echodyne Corp.
Congressional Partners: Clinton College
Congressional Solutions, Inc (Csi): Quad City Manufacturing Laboratory
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Earth Day Network
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: General Dynamics Information Technology
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Livestock Marketing Association
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Octasic Inc.
Cypress Advocacy, LLC: Ir1 Group, LLC
Cypress Advocacy, LLC: Managed Funds Association
Dentons US LLP: Coalition To Advance Medical Resident Training In Community Hospitals
Dorsey & Whitney LLP: Purple Innovation, Inc.
Efb Advocacy, LLC: National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
Ens Resources, Inc.: Monterey One Water
Foley & Lardner, LLP: Cabot Cabot & Forbes Development Co
Foley & Lardner, LLP: Canadian National Railway
Foley & Lardner, LLP: Paladin Protective Equipment, LLC D/B/A American Papr, LLC
Forbes-Tate: Calypsoai
Forbes-Tate: Gen X Energy, LLC
Forbes-Tate: Lundbeck LLC
Forbes-Tate: Merck
Forbes-Tate: Orbital Effects
Forbes-Tate: Siemens Corporation
Forbes-Tate: The Partnership For Americas Health Care Future
Guidepoststrategies, LLC: Ambac Assurance Corporation
Hammer Associates, LLC: Clean Energy Enterprises, Inc.
Harbinger Strategies, LLC: Employment Policies Institute
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Fox Corporation (Formerly Known As 21St Century Fox)
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Gogo Inc.
Hogan Lovells US LLP: National Structured Settlements Trade Association
Hogan Lovells US LLP: University Of Mississippi Medical Center Research And Development Foundation
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority
Holland & Knight LLP: City Innovate Inc.
Hurt, Norton & Associates, Inc.: E. I. Dupont Denemours & Company
Invariant LLC: Blade Urban Air Mobility, Inc.
Jocelyn Hong & Associates: National Association Of Waterfront Employers
Jocelyn Hong & Associates: Park University
John Dudinsky & Associates: Red Star Enterprises Limited Fzco
King & Spalding LLP: Mood Media Corporation
K&L Gates LLP: Axiom Space, Inc.
K&L Gates LLP: Compass Group USa, Inc.
K&L Gates LLP: Cumberland County Hospital System D/B/A Cape Fear Valley Health System
K&L Gates LLP: Grit Energy Services, LLC
K&L Gates LLP: John Lefas
K&L Gates LLP: Michael L. Taylor
K&L Gates LLP: Sixteen Thirty Fund
K&L Gates LLP: Topical Bio Medics Inc.
Lungren Lopina LLC: Medallia, Inc.
Marshall Mclean LLC: Shared Services Leadership Coalition
Mchugh Lemay Assoc., LLC: Clark Street Associates On Behalf Of Movella
Missy Edwards Strategies, LLC: Cabt
Mr. Gaylord Hughey: Eastern District Of Texas Bar Association
Mr. Gaylord Hughey: Kp Engineering, Lp
Nvg, LLC: (Isc)2
O'Keeffe Shahmoradi Strategies, LLC: T. Y. Lin International
Ott Bielitzki & O'Neill Pllc: Bioporto Diagnostics A/S
Prasam: Birmingham Technologies
Prasam: Brimrose Technology Corp
Prasam: Icf Incorporated LLC
Prasam: Sicamore Semi (Fka Silicon Power Corporation)
Prasam: Stereovision Imaging, Inc.
Richard J. Leidl, P.C.: Abilene Chamber Of Commerce
Richard J. Leidl, P.C.: City Of Midland, Texas
Rich Feuer Anderson: Moody'S Corporation
Sabiston Consultants, LLC: Brown-Taylor Development
Scf Consulting, LLC: Duane Morris Government Strategies On Behalf Of Septa
Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC: The David A. Straz Jr. Center For The Performing Arts
Smith Advocacy Group, LLC: Outpost Agriculture Inc.
Smith Dawson & Andrews: San Mateo County
Squire Patton Boggs: Barnard Construction Company, Inc
Strategic Health Care: Avera Health Plans
Strategic Health Care: Community Care Of Oklahoma
Strategic Health Care: Firstcarolina Care Insurance Company
Strategic Health Care: Health Alliance Medical Plans
Strategic Health Care: Health New England, Inc.
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Mabus Group On Behalf Of Fincantieri Marine Group LLC
Strategics Consulting, LLC: The Hamm Consulting Group On Behalf Of City Of Chattanooga, Tn
Summit Park LLC: Pmi Global Services Inc.
The Picard Group, LLC: Ouachita Parish Police Jury
The Prenda Group LLC: Environmental Resource Management, LLC
Tiber Creek Group: Leon Medical Center
Tiber Creek Group: Uber Technologies, Inc.
Tiber Creek Group: Union Pacific Railroad Company
Van Fleet Associates: Hoffenheim Geotechnik
Van Fleet Associates: Society Of Glass & Ceramic Decorated Products
Vectis Dc: Parsons Corporation

A message from Save Our Standards:

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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.