New survey results underscore racial disparities in government relations

From: POLITICO Influence - Tuesday Jul 05,2022 10:45 pm
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By Hailey Fuchs

With Daniel Lippman

DIVERSITY ON K STREET AND BEYOND: Government relations professionals of color disproportionately feel overlooked in their field, according to survey results released today from the Diversity in Government Relations (DGR) Coalition.

— The report, which offered preliminary results ahead of the full release this fall, polled nearly 900 respondents both within and beyond the D.C. area. Respondents of color were less likely to be comfortable voicing opinions at work or feel respected.

— The coalition behind the survey formed last year to study diversity on K Street. In an interview, DGR Coalition co-founder Monica Almond , who runs a leadership development firm, emphasized that the results, showing the disparate experiences of white professionals and professionals of color, were unsurprising.

— “From our perspective, there are two different workplace experiences, one for white people and then one for people of color,” Almond said. “You have the vast majority of white respondents saying, yes, we feel like our voice is valued … But the flip side of that is presenting a completely different picture for people of color.”

— According to the DGR Coalition results, 59 percent of staff of color reported feeling comfortable voicing their opinions, versus 75 percent of white staff. Fifty-five percent of people of color reported feeling that their compensation is fair, compared with 63 percent of their white counterparts.

— Additionally, the report broke down some results based on gender. Fifty-two percent of women of color agreed with the statement “Perspectives like mine are included in the decision-making at my organization.” Sixty-four percent of white women agreed with the statement. Thirty-two percent of women of color at the staff level reported open and honest communication at their job, versus 56 percent for their white counterparts.

— The push to diversify K Street is also coming from the Hill. Late last year, POLITICO reported that members of the Congressional Black Caucus warned that lobbyists must diversify their firms or their access might pay the price.

Greetings from PI, and happy Tuesday. My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I’ll be your host for the week while Caitlin enjoys Miami. Send me all your money + influence tips to hfuchs@politico.com and follow me on Twitter @Hailey_Fuchs.

 

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CHAMBER PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN ON TARIFFS: U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark published a new piece in Barron’s on Friday, arguing that the Biden administration should cut tariffs to address inflation.

— “Inflation has reached its highest level in four decades. Families across the country are feeling the hit to their pocketbooks. Recession fears are growing,” she writes.

— “There’s no panacea for these woes, but tariff relief could provide quick and meaningful help for American families and businesses. Cutting tariffs is something the Biden administration can do today. Consider:”

— “Tariffs are taxes.”

THE UKRAINE LOBBY IN WASHINGTON: Vox’s Jonathan Guyer writes about the power players doing Ukraine’s bidding in Washington, amid Russia’s invasion.

— “Ukraine has unleashed an incredible influence campaign in Washington. There’s a lag to the filing of lobbying disclosures. But even in the lead-up to the war last year, Ukraine’s lobbyists made more than 10,000 contacts with Congress, think tanks, and journalists. That’s higher than the well-funded lobbyists of Saudi Arabia, and experts on foreign lobbying told Vox they expect that this year’s number will grow much higher,” Guyer writes.

— “This spring, I’ve been invited to an elegant dinner with a parliamentary delegation and morning briefings (no breakfast, just coffee) at think tanks with Ukraine’s chief negotiator with Russia. Foreign policy reporters in DC have been inundated with requests. A journalist from another outlet, who asked for anonymity to be blunt, concurred: It’s been ‘a nonstop cycle’ of Ukrainian visitors in Washington, they told me, ‘And think tanks that have basically become lobbyists but with a nonprofit status.’”

— In March, POLITICO wrote our own story about the influencers behind the country’s PR operation.

BIG TECH BILL BATTLE: Facing a potential inflection point, lobbying around Big Tech antitrust legislation is escalating, Karl Evers-Hillstrom and Chris Mills Rodrigo at The Hill report.

— “All eyes are on Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who will need to decide whether to prioritize measures to regulate Google, Apple, Amazon and Meta over other key bills prior to the August recess,” the pair write.

— “Much of the lobbying in recent weeks has centered around the Senate’s limited floor time before lawmakers leave town next month. Congress isn’t expected to make much progress on major legislation after returning from their break, when lawmakers typically shift their attention to the November election.”

— “In an effort to run out the clock, the big four tech firms and their Washington allies are warning Senate Democrats that their voters expect progress on other pressing issues entering November’s elections.”

DR. OZ ADDRESSES MLM LOBBYING GROUP: Kate Lý Johnston reports in Heartland Signal that Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Mehmet Oz addressed the Direct Selling Association not long after his official primary victory.

— “The lobbying group, called ‘Direct Selling Association,’ hosted the TV personality as the keynote speaker for the conference’s CEO Breakfast event, held at The Boca Raton resort in Florida on June 7,” Johnston writes. “The event took place just four days after Oz secured the nomination in an exceedingly close primary. On June 3, former hedge fund executive Dave McCormick unexpectedly conceded before the state recount’s results were announced, which showed on June 8 that Oz won by fewer than 1,000 votes.”

— “Oz’s presence in Florida is confirmed in an Instagram photo description posted by DSA President and CEO Joe Mariano. He can also be seen in a photo posted to Instagram by Murat Mayor, DSA’s Director of Market Research, according to LinkedIn.”

— “His attendance at the conference — and at another DSA event last fall — highlights his track record promoting MLM companies. One MLM company, USANA Health Services, was a sponsor of Oz’s show for much of its 12-year run on television, Politico reported. ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ featured Usana’s nutritional supplements, skincare and wellness products regularly, calling the company a ‘trusted partner and sponsor.’”

 

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Jobs Report

Matt Baldwin joined the accounting and business consulting firm Armanino as a tax partner.

Issi Saumtally joined Brunswick Group as a partner and chief data officer based in the firm’s London office. He recently served as chief data officer for the United Kingdom government’s cabinet office.

Matt Grossman joins Macquarie Group as government affairs manager from Altice USA, where he served as a government and community affairs specialist.

Simone Perez has joined the Aerospace Industries Association as senior director of civil aviation. She was a professional staff member for the Senate Commerce Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Subcommittee.

Alexandra Greenwood has joined West Coast at NextGen America as deputy director for major gifts. She has worked at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the DCCC.

Lindsey Johnson started today as president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association and previously served as president of the U.S. Mortgage Insurers.

New Joint Fundraisers

Alaska First Fund (Kelly for Alaska, Sarah for Alaska, Save America, Alaska PAC, Save and Restore Alaskan Honor PAC)

Mooney-Donalds JFC (Mooney for Congress 2022, Byron Donalds for Congress)

Vargas Victory Fund (Tony Vargas for Congress, Nebraska Democratic Party)

Bo Hines Freedom Fund (Bo Hines for Congress, BOPAC, House Freedom Fund)

New PACs

A Greater America PAC (Super PAC)

Facts are Stubborn Things PAC (Super PAC)

Freedom First USA PAC (Leadership PAC: Mark Gonsalves)

Educational PAC (PAC)

Wingman USA PAC (Super PAC)

Evergreen Principles PAC (Super PAC)

Democrats United (PAC)

Protection For Privacy (Super PAC)

Triumph Foods PAC (PAC)

Our Children Not Yours PAC (Hybrid PAC)

Reece Wright-McDonald for Utah Senate 2024 (PAC)

Left On Red (Super PAC)

New Lobbying Registrations

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC: Braincreators

Ballard Partners: Indelible Business Solutions, Inc.

Ballard Partners: Walgreen Co.

Avenue Solutions: Simplifed, Inc.

Michael Torrey Associates, LLC: Responsible Industry For A Sound Environment

The Raben Group: Brennan Center For Justice

Robert Goodlatte: The Walt Disney Company

Midfield Consulting LLC: Crossroads Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of TC Services, Inc.

Maynor & Stiers, LLC: Blue Origin

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Invitation Homes Inc.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Sunny Glen Children'S Home

The Ferguson Group: Deschutes Basin Board Of Control

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: America'S Frontier Fund

Debrunner & Associates, Inc.: Alliance Of Safety-Net Hospitals

New Lobbying Terminations

Morrison Public Affairs Group: 305 Fitness

Morrison Public Affairs Group: American Immigrant Investor Alliance

Johnston Group, LLC: East Adams Rural Healthcare

Avenue Solutions: Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund

Capitol Hill Advocates LLC: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

Knight Capitol Consultants: Perspectum

Alta Crest LLC: Lift

Marshall Brachman: South Carolina Heart Center LP

Marshall Brachman: Cardiology Consultants Of Philadelphia

Marshall Brachman: Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists

Marshall Brachman: Heartplace, P.A.

 

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