Companies with lobbyists raked in Covid contracts — Consumer Brands adds House staffer — Tiber Creek beefs up health practice

From: POLITICO Influence - Thursday Apr 15,2021 08:17 pm
Presented by REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry.: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street.
Apr 15, 2021 View in browser
 
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By Caitlin Oprysko

Presented by REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry.

With Daniel Lippman

REPORT: COVID LOBBYISTS RAKED IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS: Prospective government contractors who lobbied the Trump administration last year scored quite the payoff in coronavirus-related contracts, according to a new report from watchdog group Public Citizen and the Center for Responsive Politics.

— The groups looked at more than $36 billion in Covid-related contracts awarded to over 6,000 companies last year and found some staggering numbers. More than half of that money, $19.4 million, went to the 6 percent of companies that lobbied the federal government last year, while $13.4 million was awarded to contractors who lobbied either the Trump administration or the agency that gave out the contract on specific pandemic-related issues, the report found.

— Several companies that won cash from the government were first-time lobbyists at the federal level: Vyaire Medical received more than $390 million in contracts for ventilators after not previously reporting any lobbying, while three other contractors that received more than $50 million total for testing supplies also had not reported lobbying before last year.

The report concludes by calling for more stringent disclosure of lobbying activities to include more details about what specifically companies lobby for and who in the government they contact, and urging Congress to rein in so-called shadow lobbying and the Biden administration to require more transparency with regard to political donations from government contractors.

 

A message from REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry:

The firearm industry is creating safer communities through partnerships with law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders. Our REAL SOLUTIONS® programs have distributed more than 40 million free gun locks to promote secure storage, strengthened the FBI background check system to keep guns out of the wrong hands, and provided thousands of suicide prevention toolkits in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. These are true gun safety programs. Make a difference at NSSFRealSolutions.org.

 

FIRST IN PI CONSUMER BRANDS ADDS HOUSE STAFFER: The Consumer Brands Association has hired Jen Daulby , who is currently GOP staff director for the House Administration Committee, as senior vice president of government affairs. She also previously lobbied for Land O’Lakes and Monsanto.

— “I definitely put my years in,” Daulby joked in an interview about her decision to leave the Hill, where she previously worked as the top aide to Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), pointing to the panel’s role in overseeing this year’s Electoral College certification, insurrection fallout and the coronavirus pandemic.

MERCK LOBBYIST HEADS TO TIBER CREEK: Corey Malmgren has joined Tiber Creek Group, which until this week was known as Peck Madigan Jones, as a partner in its health care practice. Malmgren was most recently executive director for U.S. policy and government relations at the pharmaceutical giant Merck, for which Tiber Creek lobbies. She previously served as health counsel and deputy legislative director to former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

—The firm has also added John Twomey, a former chief of staff at HHS in the office of the assistant secretary for legislation and a Tom Price alum, earlier this year.

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

FIRST IN PI DEM ELECTION CHIEFS TAP NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, which devotes itself to electing Democrats as states’ top election officials, is bringing on Kim Rogers as executive director. Rogers — an alum of unions like the National Education Association and United Food & Commercial Workers, as well as the strategy and voting groups Impactual, Rock the Vote and EMILY’s List argued in an interview that amid GOP crackdowns on voting access, “secretaries are the last line of defense in a lot of places.”

— The organization is also focusing on centering secretaries of state with regard to Democrats’ voting expansion and government ethics bill, H.R. 1. If the package succeeds — despite stiff opposition from Republicans and even the Chamber — “secretaries are still the folks who are going to implement it,” she noted.

W.H. READYING ORDER ON CLIMATE RISK IN FINANCE: “President Joe Biden is preparing to instruct federal agencies to take sweeping action to combat climate-related financial risks to government and the economy, including moves that could impose new regulations on businesses,” according to a draft executive order obtained by POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert.

— The order “reaches into all corners of the federal government with plans that would touch every sector of American industry, including banking and insurance, oil and gas, housing, agriculture, and federal contracting, purchasing and lending,” a reflection of “growing global concerns about how rising sea levels and devastating disasters could have knock-on effects on the financial system.”

 

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WHO THE CHAMBER IS BACKING FINANCIALLY: The Chamber today “said it is backing Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema with campaign contributions, rewarding them for their opposition to some of President Joe Biden's legislative initiatives and for trying to work with Republicans,” Reuters David Lawder writes.

— The Chamber said its PAC “ made about $17,000 worth of contributions to the two senators and nine house members” during the first quarter of this year, including to GOP Reps.Carlos Giménez of Florida and Chabot, both of whom voted against certifying Biden’s electoral victory following January’s insurrection. The business lobby said in a memo last month that objecting to the election results alone would not disqualify members from its financial support.

— Manchin and Sinema, who this week have won praise from peculiar corners of Congress , have both resisted pressure from the left to abolish the legislative filibuster, which the Chamber has urged Democrats to preserve. They also helped defeat an amendment to Biden’s relief package last month to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, a policy the Chamber also opposes.

TAI SHADES PHARMA OVER VACCINE IP FIGHT: The Biden administration’s trade chief on Wednesday “told pharmaceutical companies that they must be prepared to make ‘sacrifices’ to ensure that people in developing countries have access to Covid-19 vaccines, signaling openness to a demand from India and South Africa that has been opposed by the industry,” POLITICO’s Doug Palmer reports.

— In a closed-door WTO discussion on alleviating vaccine shortages, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai argued of drugmakers that “‘the desperate needs that our people face in the current pandemic provides these companies with an opportunity to be the heroes they claim to be — and can be.” She added: “‘As governments and leaders of international institutions, the highest standards of courage and sacrifice are demanded of us in times of crisis. The same needs to be demanded of industry.’”

— “A USTR spokesperson said Tai was merely stressing the need for collective action rather than signaling either support or opposition for the waiver request,” but arguments for backing South Africa and India’s request to temporarily waive intellectual property rights protections for Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics “seem to have found a sympathetic ear within the National Security Council, industry lobbyists said.”

BIDEN TAPS FORMER ADL LOBBYIST TO BE AAPI LIAISON: The Biden administration on Wednesday announced Erika Moritsugu as deputy assistant to the president and Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison, a new role created “amid pressure from Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii over the lack of Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the president's Cabinet and in senior roles in the administration,” CBSWeijia Jiang and Jack Turman reported.

— Moritsugu is an alum of several Senate offices, including Duckworth’s, and most recently served as vice president for congressional relations and economic justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families. She’s also a K Street vet, lobbying for the Anti-Defamation League for two years and for Hogan Lovells and Wexler | Walker for about a decade before that.

YANG’S MAYORAL CAMPAIGN RUN BY LOBBYISTS:Andrew Yang’s two campaign managers, his press secretary, his policy director and multiple senior advisers don’t actually work for his New York City mayoral campaign,” reports City and State New York’s Jeff Coltin. Instead, those running the former presidential hopeful and mayoral frontrunner’s bid for City Hall are “employed by Tusk Strategies, a lobbying firm that’s regularly hired by clients to advocate for or against bills that are being considered by the City Council and the mayor. And the arrangement raises concerns about what kind of access this lobbying firm — and the private clients that hire Tusk — would have to the mayor if Yang were to win the election.”

 

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Jobs Report

Honeywell has named Joseph Fengler vice president of government relations for its Aerospace business group, which includes defense, space and civil aviation. He was most recently vice president of government relations for transportation, infrastructure and federal acquisition policy.

— The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has named Ashley Slater vice president of regulatory affairs. She most recently served as vice president for government affairs and policy for PNGC Power.

— Former Ambassador to Russia and China and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is joining Ford as vice president of policy.

Intel’s Michelle Johnston Holthaus will be joining the board of directors for Software.org: the BSA Foundation.

Dustin Carmack and Kara Frederick will join the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Technology Policy as research fellows. Carmack most recently served as chief of staff to former DNI John Ratcliffe. Frederick was most recently a research fellow at the Center for a New American Security and is a Facebook and DoD alum.

— The Consumer Technology Association has promoted Suzanna Kang to general counsel. She joined CTA in February of last year and most recently served as deputy general counsel.

Neil Canfield is joining the University of Michigan as director of federal relations. He was previously a legislative assistant in the National Science Foundation’s Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

Rebekah Clark is now a consultant in the government and public services practice of Deloitte. She most recently was deputy White House liaison at the Department of Education.

 

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New Joint Fundraisers

None.

New PACs

GrassRoots Organizing Wins PAC (GROWPAC) (PAC)
IREP PAC (Super PAC)
Lakes and Notches PAC (PAC)
TEXAS FIGHTER FUND (Super PAC)

New Lobbying Registrations

Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Starz Entertainment LLC
American Continental Group: Delaware County Community College
Andrew Vogt Strategies LLC: Alliance For Cell Therapy Now
Ballard Spahr LLP: Aecom
Ballard Spahr LLP: Alberstons Companies, Inc.
Ballard Spahr LLP: City Of Prpvidence
Ballard Spahr LLP: City Of Tempe
Ballard Spahr LLP: Independence Blue Cross, LLC
Ballard Spahr LLP: Lockheed Martin Corporation
Bgr Government Affairs: DHL Express (USA), Inc.
Bgr Government Affairs: MLK Community Healthcare
Bgr Government Affairs: Recycling Infrastructure Now
Bgr Government Affairs: Trio Health Regulatory Advisory Group, LLC
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Medivant Healthcare
Capitol Consulting Group LLC (Dc): Seasonal Employment Alliance
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: American Society For Radiation Oncology
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Dive Technologies Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Empowerdx, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Livinguard Ag
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Pison Technology, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Urbix, Inc.
Grant Consulting Group: The North Group
Guide Consulting Services, Inc.: Trilogy Integrated Resources, LLC
J.Sullivan Advocacy: U.S. Travel Association
Lot Sixteen LLC: Hopewell Fund
Mlj Strategies: Ankura Consulting Group, LLC On Behalf Of Chimes
Mlj Strategies: Ankura Consulting Group, LLC On Behalf Of Global Connections Employment
Mlj Strategies: Ankura Consulting Group, LLC On Behalf Of On Demand Pharmaceuticals
Mlj Strategies: Ankura Consulting Group, LLC On Behalf Of Servicenow
Mlj Strategies: Bockorny Group, Inc. On Behalf Of Riskld
Mz Advising, LLC (Megan Zavertnik): Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
New Century Government Affairs (F/K/A Terrence C. Wolfe): Town Of Miami Lakes
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: American Council Of Independent Laboratories
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: American Subcontractor Association
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: Carpenters' Company Of The City And County Of Philadelphia
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: Fca International
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: Finishing Trades Institute Of The Mid Atlantic Region
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Local 98
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: M&Sca Of Eastern Pa
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: National Electrical Contractors Association - Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: Steamfitters Local 420
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: The Support Sight Foundation
Oscar Policy Group, LLC: Vetri Community Partnership
Perseus Strategies: The Civilitas Foundation
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Carpenter Technology Corporation
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Igm Biosciences, Inc.
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Intrivo Diagnostics
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Nanograf Corporation
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Rank One Computing
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Zeel
Summit Strategies Government Affairs LLC: Center For Sustainable Infrastructure
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): American Fuel And Petrochemical Manufacturers
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Braavos, LLC
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Children'S Hospital Association Of Texas
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions, Inc.
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Countrymark Cooperative
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Facebook
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Fsx, LLC (Formerly Freight Shuttle International)
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Hillenbrand Inc.
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Vulcan Materials Company
Virgin Galactic: Virgin Galactic

New Lobbying Terminations

Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC: Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC
American Continental Group: Cargill, Inc.
American Continental Group: Center For Policing Equity
American Continental Group: Peraton Corporation
Audentes Therapeutics: Audentes Therapeutics
Bgr Government Affairs: Ancestry
Bgr Government Affairs: Quadrant Holdings
Christian Care Ministry: Christian Care Ministry
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Bank Policy Institute
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Crossroads Strategies LLC Obo Lake Tindall LLP Obo Mississippi Levee Board
Covington & Burling LLP: Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Infor (US), Inc.
Dentons US LLP: Drl Enterprises, Inc.
Dentons US LLP: Helicopter Association International
Dentons US LLP: King Ranch, Inc.
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP: Camp Echo Lake
Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Equifax, Inc.
Orion Advocates: Lignetics Inc.
Orion Advocates: Pfi
Tauzin Strategic Networks: Tauzin Consultants (On Behalf Of T-Mobile USa, Inc.)
The Livingston Group, LLC: Avara Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Ward And Smith, P.A.: Med-El Corporation

 

A message from REAL SOLUTIONS®, a community safety program of the firearm industry:

Partnerships with over 15,000 law enforcement agencies. Distribution of more than 40 million free firearm safety kits. A 266% increase in disqualifying records submitted to the FBI background check system. These are just a few of the success metrics behind the firearm industry’s REAL SOLUTIONS® programs. For decades, the firearm industry has been creating safer communities through partnerships with law enforcement, elected officials, and community leaders. We’re proud to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and members of Congress, regardless of political stripe to create safer communities. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: to keep guns out of the wrong hands. The proven-effective REAL SOLUTIONS® programs promote true gun safety that everyone should be able to rally behind and support. Let’s work together at NSSFRealSolutions.org.

 
 

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