|
Presented by Brilliant: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by Brilliant | With Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI — 150 BUSINESS GROUPS TO PRESSURE LAWMAKERS ON LABOR BILL: More than 100 trade associations representing a range of industries are ramping up pressure on lawmakers to vote down a sweeping labor law reform bill that would expand union power. The groups, writing as part of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, will send a letter to the Hill Thursday arguing that the Protecting the Right to Organize Act will result in “economic upheaval that would cost millions of American jobs, threaten vital supply chains, and greatly diminish opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.” — The House passed the PRO Act, which has strong union backing and which President Joe Biden said on the campaign trail he supports, on a nearly party-line vote last year, but the GOP-controlled Senate never took the bill up. Democrats reintroduced the bill with some tweaks last month, and the House is set to take it up next week. But CDW writes in its letter that it would strengthen unions “without regard for the negative impacts the legislation would have on workers, businesses, and the economy.” — The letter is signed by a slew of influential business lobbies and trade groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Hotel & Lodging Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Association of Home Builders. | | | | A message from Brilliant: Start learning with Brilliant and develop the problem-solving skills needed for a STEM career. Learn More | | | LOBBYIST DROPS SAUDI CLIENT NAMED IN KHASHOGGI REPORT: Squire Patton Boggs’ Ludmilla Kasulke deregistered this week from representing a Saudi government entity named in the newly released report blaming Saudia Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman for the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, but a source at the lobbying firm insisted the deregistration was tied to the firm’s lack of work on the account rather than the report’s release. — Squire Patton Boggs has represented the Center for Studies and Media Affairs at the Royal Saudi Court since 2016, according to a contract filed with the Justice Department. According the intelligence report made public last week, part of the Saudi team that was in Istanbul just before Khashoggi’s murder inside the Saudi consulate included “officials who worked for, or were associated with” the center. — It also notes that “at the time of the operation, CSMARC was led by Saud al-Qahtani , a close adviser of Muhammad bin Salman, who claimed publicly in mid-2018 that he did not make decisions without the Crown Prince's approval.” Al-Qahtani is listed in Justice Department filings as the official with whom Squire Patton Boggs primarily dealt. — The firm has not conducted any reportable activities for the group since 2017, and the source at the firm told PI that as such, it was “just time to take” Kasulke off the account, though the source indicated there aren’t currently plans to either part ways with the center or resume lobbying on its behalf. A DOJ filing from January shows Squire Patton Boggs took in $157,300 from the center over the past six months for “general legal advice,” compared to an initial $100,000 per month retainer back in 2016. — Edward Newberry, Squire’s global managing partner, and Bret Boyles, co-chair of the firm’s strategic advocacy public policy practice, are still registered on the account for Squire Patton Boggs, according to the recent filing. Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Do as Dolly says and get your vaccine — don’t be such a chicken squat. Got K Street tips? My inbox is open: coprysko@politico.com. As are my DMs: @caitlinoprysko. | | | | DON'T MISS "THE RECAST": Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new, twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy, and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops and dispatches from across the country, and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | CORPORATE AMERICA PRESSES LAWMAKERS ON DREAMERS BILL: The Coalition for the American Dream, a group of trade organizations and major corporate business leaders, is pushing senators to take up a bill from Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that would create a path to citizenship to DACA recipients “in the immediate weeks ahead.” — In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that also appeared as a full page ad in the New York Times, the group argues that “continued delay or inaction will cause significant negative economic and social impact on businesses and hundreds of thousands of deserving young people across the country” given that many essential workers on the front lines of the pandemic are DACA recipients. — The coalition has organized a virtual fly-in today featuring DACA recipients who work for member companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Intel and Nielsen are meeting with nearly a dozen Senate offices including Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). NEW FIN-TECH LOBBY GROUP: “A large group of financial technology companies is pooling their lobbying power in the face of growing skepticism in Washington about the promise of fintech, as well as a lengthening list of policy issues that will shape their collective futures,” POLITICO’s Victoria Guida reports. “The Marketplace Lending Association and the Online Lending Policy Institute have merged to form the American Fintech Council, with an aim ‘to promote policies that advance responsible innovation and inclusivity within financial services,’” according to a press release. VIRAL GOP CANDIDATES CRY FOUL OVER LUCRATIVE CONSULTING FEES: The Washington Post’s Meagan Flynn and Michael Scherer have a fascinating look at how “some consulting firms are profiting handsomely from Republican candidates who have robust appeal in today’s politically charged environment — even when they are running in deep-blue districts where it is virtually impossible for them to win.” — The piece features Baltimore House candidate Kim Klacik who, despite becoming a national figure on the right with her viral digital ads, lost by 40 points last fall. Klacik’s campaign ultimately brought in more than $8 million in donations, but ended up paying nearly half of that — $3.7 million — to one firm. “The more viral the candidate goes, the more money the companies make — a model possible only through the online outrage machine of hyperpartisan politics.” THE EVER EXPANDING MAGA-VERSE: Our Alex Isenstadt outlines the “increasingly long list of former White House officials who’ve set up Trump-allied political groups since the 2020 election, a roster that includes prominent figures in the former president’s orbit like ex-Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson." — “With Trump out of office and plotting his political future, the emerging ecosystem promises to bolster the former president as he prepares to dive into the 2022 midterm elections — and potentially launch a 2024 comeback bid.” Trump’s former aides are “capitalizing on widespread donor interest in funding projects aligned with the former president, with pro-Trump givers ready to shell out big checks in order to keep the Trump agenda front and center.” | | | | A message from Brilliant:   | | | | | | — David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s campaign architect, is joining Precision Strategies as of counsel. Plouffe previously served as a top executive at Uber, helped stand up Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and philanthropist Priscilla Chan’s Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and currently serves on the board of directors for Oscar Health, the Obama Foundation and Fwd.US. — Dana Wade has joined Walker & Dunlop to lead HUD-backed loan originations for the firm. She was previously commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration. — Sheryl Pardo has joined the Housing Policy Council as senior vice president of public affairs. She was director of communications for the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center. — Igor Khrestin has joined Finsbury Glover Hering as a managing director in D.C. Khrestin was most recently national security adviser for former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. — Joseph Cortina has joined the Sternhell Group as a principal advising financial services clients. He was most recently director of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and is a Steny Hoyer alum. — Shaye Wood and Kelly O’Keefe have been promoted to communications managers at Narrative Strategies. Airey Vitter has been hired as an associate. — Joshua Odintz has joined Holland & Knight's D.C. office as a partner in the public policy & regulation practice group. Most recently, he was a partner at Baker McKenzie. | | | | For regulatory affairs professionals: AgencyIQ FDA Forecast 2021. In its inaugural year, AgencyIQ’s FDA Forecast predicts the FDA regulatory changes coming in 2021 and how they will impact the life sciences industry. Follow this link to learn more and download the summary. | | | | | | | | Johnson Leadership Fund (Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), American Revival PAC, NRCC) | | | Defend the Dream (Leadership PAC: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.))
Pack the Polls (PAC)
Propelling America Into Tomorrow (Leadership PAC: Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.))
Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting PAC (VetGuard PAC) (PAC)
| | New Lobbying Registrations | | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Emergency Nurses Association
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Infinera Corporation
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: American Water Works Service Company, Inc.
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Blue Haven Initiative
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Curaleaf, Inc.
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Foundation For Civic Leadership
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Francis Energy
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Giorgi Global Holdings, Inc.
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: The Everglades Foundation
Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Axil Hearing Performance
Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, Strong Star
Peck Madigan Jones: Dairy Farmers Of Canada
Prasam: Softwarfare, LLC
Robert Goodlatte: Protect The 1st, Inc.
Stanton Park Group: Modernatx, Inc.
Stewart Strategies And Solutions, LLC: Epigenomics, Inc
Stewart Strategies And Solutions, LLC: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Madison Group: Novvi, LLC
The Madison Group: Walgreen Co. | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Carroll & Ladier, Pllc: International Biometrics & Identification Association
Fisherbroyles, LLP: Chimes International
Fisherbroyles, LLP: Ctis
Fisherbroyles, LLP: On Demand Pharmaceuticals
Fisherbroyles, LLP: Vita Inclinata
Vitello Consulting: Stonington Global On Behalf Of Tl Management
Vitello Consulting: Stonington Global On Behlaf Of Maimonides Medical Center
| | | | A message from Brilliant: Start learning with Brilliant and develop the quantitative skills needed for a STEM career. Brilliant's interactive problem-solving and guided lessons will lead you to mastery. Learn More | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
