Suozzi heads to K Street

From: POLITICO Influence - Tuesday Feb 28,2023 11:50 pm

Feb 28, 2023

Presented by the Coalition for Medicare Choices

With Daniel Lippman

SUOZZI HEADS TO K STREET: Former Rep. Tom Suozzi is the latest member of this year’s class of departing or retiring lawmakers to land at a lobbying firm. The New York Democrat has joined Actum, the firm launched last year by a crew of former Mercury lobbyists and former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, as a co-chair.

— He’ll serve as a strategic adviser to clients rather than registering to lobby, according to the firm. Suozzi, whose unsuccessful gubernatorial bid opened up the seat now held by embattled GOP Rep. George Santos, was a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and also served as vice chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus during his three terms in office.

CONSUMER TICKET GROUPS OFFER REFORM FRAMEWORK: A coalition of consumer groups and ticketing industry advocates are coalescing behind a new push for consumer ticketing reforms at the federal level, looking to capitalize on renewed scrutiny of events giant Live Nation’s business practices as well as broader competition issues within the events industry and the White House’s crusade against so-called junk fees.

— The Consumer Federation of America, Fan Freedom, the National Consumers League, Protect Ticket Rights and Sports Fans Coalition have jointly released a set of principles for a “Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights” that the groups argue should form the basis of any federal ticketing legislation.

— Some of the coalition’s asks, like all-in pricing and disclosure requirements for tickets, are in line with legislative requests that Live Nation itself has made. Other areas of the coalition’s proposal touch widely acknowledged issues with ticket markets, like the proliferation of ticket bots. How to crack down on the use of bots is where the consumer groups split with Live Nation, said John Breyault, a lobbyist with the National Consumers League.

— The coalition also wants greater flexibility for consumers when it comes to the transferability of their tickets, an issue Brian Hess of the Sports Fans Coalition said is especially important when it comes to season ticket holders across sports.

— Breyault and Hess agreed that there seems to be renewed momentum behind ticket reforms in Washington following the botched presale for Taylor Swift tickets by Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010. Typically Hess said, the response to calls for ticket reforms “has been, you know, this doesn’t really impact people, this isn’t a big deal, … it’s discretionary income to go to an event like this.”

— “What the Ticketmaster debacle showed with Taylor Swift, finally, was what we had been saying for many, many years: that something catastrophic was going to happen, and a lot of voters were going to get hurt,” he added.

— Breyault, meanwhile, pointed to the bipartisan fury in a Senate hearing on the issue last month, as well as to Live Nation’s efforts to get ahead of potential ticket reforms by offering their own framework. “We want to make sure that the focus is on fans, … what they need to have a better experience when it comes to going to see their favorite acts in concert or sporting events,” he said.

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

A message from the Coalition for Medicare Choices:

Despite strong bipartisan support for Medicare Advantage, the Administration is considering harmful cuts to the program that would result in higher premiums and fewer benefits. 85% of voters with Medicare Advantage believe that President Biden would be breaking his promise to protect Medicare if cuts are made to Medicare Advantage. More than 30 million seniors and people with disabilities depend on Medicare Advantage for high quality, affordable health care. Don’t cut their care.

TRADE GROUPS ASK CONGRESS TO STEP IN ON NONCOMPETE BAN: More than 200 trade groups have asked members of Congress to intervene in the Federal Trade Commission’s bid to block most noncompete clauses, in the latest clash between the business community and the agency.

— In a letter to lawmakers today, associations including the Consumer Brands Association, the Consumer Technology Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Federation of Independent Business argued that the agency had infringed upon congressional jurisdiction.

— The agency “lacks the constitutional or statutory authority to issue such a rule and, in attempting to do so, the agency is improperly usurping the role of Congress,” the groups contended. The letter was also signed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has waged its own fight with the FTC and its chair, Lina Khan, over the noncompete proposal.

OPERATIVES TO SQUEEZE VULNERABLE DEMS ON PERMITTING: “Republican operatives are launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to pressure swing-state lawmakers to make it easier to build energy projects such as pipelines and power lines — with a special focus on squeezing vulnerable Senate Democrats,” POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports.

— The new effort is led by former American Petroleum Institute lobbyist Bill Koetzle and allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence — two potential GOP contenders in next year’s presidential race — as well as Capitol Counsel’s Jonathan Kott, a former aide to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

— The push, which is dubbed Building a Better America, “could speed federal approvals for energy initiatives that members of both parties champion — including renewable energy projects such as solar farms that are vital for President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. But it could alienate some parts of Biden’s environmentalist base by clearing the way for mines, pipelines and other fossil-fuel projects that green activists oppose.”

— “The effort underscores the importance that Republicans and their corporate allies have placed on using their narrow House majority to fast-track energy projects — even as leading members of the party wage vocal fights on issues such as Chinese surveillance and investigations into Biden’s family. But to pass the Senate, they will need support from Democrats, including those facing tough reelection fights in 2024.”

MEANWHILE, IN CALIFORNIA: “The once-in-a-generation contest for a California Senate seat could unleash a tsunami of outside spending as independent expenditure committees with unlimited fundraising powers work to differentiate Democrats jostling in an open field,” our Jeremy White reports. “And that could lead to the kind of negative broadsides that candidates themselves could be reluctant to level.”

— “Allies of Rep. Barbara Lee launched a super PAC even before the Oakland congresswoman opened her Senate campaign” to succeed retiring Dianne Feinstein. “That committee is staffed with some of California’s most prominent political operatives — as with a rival PAC backing Rep. Adam Schiff — and supporters of Rep. Katie Porter are laying the foundation for a third.

— “The dynamic could deepen intraparty strife as liberal donors fund advertising targeting more centrist Democrats, and vice versa, in what is likely to be one of the most expensive contests in California history.”

— “Candidates and political operatives have spent months preparing for a Senate race under the presumption Feinstein’s retirement was imminent. That has intensified the competition for top political staffers.”

— “Among those running the pro-Schiff committee are partners at Bearstar Strategies, a blue-chip California consulting firm whose roster has included Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Alex Padilla — and, in 2018, Porter. The Orange County Democrat and the firm parted ways after the 2020 cycle, when Porter endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — her political mentor — over then-Bearstar client Kamala Harris.”

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CHOPPY WATERS IN NATIONAL HARBOR: “With CPAC readying to welcome [former President Donald] Trump back to its flagship annual gathering in D.C. this week,” its chair, Matt Schlapp, is facing more challenges than just a recent allegation of sexual assault — “including the exodus of more than half of its staff since 2021,” current and former employees and board members told The Washington Post’s Beth Reinhard and Isaac Arnsdorf.

— “Some expressed concern that Schlapp has given an inexperienced contractor too much influence. One former employee notified the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last month of plans to sue over claims that she was fired in retaliation for complaining about a co-worker’s sexist and racist comments.”

— “The current turmoil comes as CPAC grapples with corporate backlash over its embrace of the far right and concerns about a potentially lackluster turnout this year as Trump’s political future appears uncertain. The Fox Nation streaming service is not returning as a sponsor, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an ascendant figure in the Republican Party and Trump’s emerging rival in the 2024 campaign, is skipping it.”

— And as Schlapp and his allies deny the assault accusation, “several board directors are growing anxious that the allegation … poses a risk to the reputation of the organization, which has expanded internationally in recent years, according to members of the leadership team who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.”

FLYING IN: Early childhood educators from dozens of states and D.C. are on the Hill today as part of a three-day fly-in held by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Advocates are set to meet with more than 200 House and Senate offices to push for child care workforce investments and touting the benefits of early learning.

— NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, which advocates on emergency communications issues, is flying in this week as well. They’ve got roughly five dozen meetings with offices on both sides of the aisle, and are pushing to have 9-1-1 professionals reclassified as “protective service” workers and for funding for advanced 9-1-1 technology.

— Former “Bachelor” and NFL star Colton Underwood is also back on the Hill today with a group of current and former student athletes to lobby for mental health pilot programs targeted for student athletes. He’ll be joined by football players Sarah Fuller, Byron Perkins and Henry Miller and lacrosse player Cailin Bracken.

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Jobs Report

— Former Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) will be a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, with an emphasis on linking economic and democratic strength.

— Mike Burnside is joining Rep. Marc Veasey’s (D-Texas) office as senior policy adviser. He was previously a vice president at Elevate Government Affairs where he focused on issues including transportation, telecommunications, technology and travel and tourism.

— Kate Yeager is now a project manager at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. She previously was a senior associate at the American Economic Liberties Project.

— Global Situation Room has struck up a partnership today with U.K.-based public affairs consultancy Blakeney to support clients on both sides of the pond.

— Jessica Bayer has joined DHR Global as a managing partner for corporate affairs and communications. She was previously an executive director at Patino Associates.

— Andrea Young is now counsel to FEC Chair Dara Lindenbaum. Young was most recently a voter protection adviser at the DSCC and is a Biden campaign, DNC, and Democratic Party of Georgia alum.

— Ana Unruh Cohen, who served as majority staff director of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis last Congress, is now a distinguished visiting fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

— John Cox is now a partner at Newport LLC. He is a former managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group and is a Bush HUD alum.

— Vincent Polito is now CEO of the Society of Independent Show Organizers. He most recently was managing director of mdg.

— Courtney Parella is now communications director for the Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network. She previously was a regional press secretary at the NRCC.

— Jennifer Kohl has launched Chrysalis Communications, a new strategic comms agency. She previously was senior director at Purple Strategies and is an Obama campaign, FDA and Elijah Cummings alum.

— Sam Paisley is now communications specialist at New Deal Strategies. She previously was press secretary for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

— Michael Tadeo is now a senior media relations adviser at TC Energy. He previously was a senior adviser for Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and is a Trump DOE alum.

New Joint Fundraisers

Slotkin Victory Fund 2024 (Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Mitten PAC, Michigan Democratic State Central Committee)

New PACs

The American Dream PAC, Inc. (Hybrid PAC)
DonateRight PAC (Hybrid PAC)
Loren for President Americans real chief citizen (Super PAC)
Psychedelic Medicine PAC (Hybrid PAC)

A message from the Coalition for Medicare Choices:

New Lobbying Registrations

A1.9 Strategies LLC: Caci International, Inc
Carmen Group Incorporated: Arm Limited
Cenovus Energy: Cenovus Energy
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP: Venezuela Creditor Committee
Collective Strategies & Communications LLC (Formerly Collective Communications L: Ororatech Gmbh
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Rare Access Action Project
Hanka Advisor LLC: Strategics Consulting LLC On Behalf Of The City Of Fayetteville, Nc
John Brian Ledbetter Missions Corporation: John Brian Ledbetter Missions Corporation
Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Quantum Radiology (Americans For Fair Healthcare)
Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Interstate Natural Gas Association Of America (Ingaa)
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Graymont
Sonfield Policy Solutions LLC: Hopewell Fund
Taras, LLC: Ultra Lite Brakes And Components, Inc.
Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Advocates For Community Health
Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Novartis
Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Octaviant Financial Inc.
Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Valneva USa, Inc
The Conafay Group, LLC: Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Winning Strategies Washington: Birdon America

New Lobbying Terminations

Tollhouse Enterprize LLC: The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers And Trainmen

A message from the Coalition for Medicare Choices:

Medicare Advantage is facing billions in cuts that would hurt the more than 30 million Americans who depend on Medicare Advantage for high-quality, affordable health care.

The consequences of cutting funding to Medicare Advantage are dire. A majority of senior voters with Medicare Advantage believe that cuts would impact their ability to afford health care.

Funding Medicare Advantage is an extremely important issue for senior voters. Voters with Medicare Advantage overwhelmingly believe that it is important for the federal government and the Administration to fully fund Medicare Advantage to cover increasing health care costs.

Medicare Advantage provides affordable health care to more than 30 million seniors and people with disabilities. 32% of Medicare Advantage enrollees are racial and ethnic minorities – compared to 21% of original Medicare enrollees.

Don’t cut their care.