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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