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Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | With Daniel Lippman BIDEN TOUTS RESTAURANT AID PROGRAM: President Joe Biden visited a Mexican restaurant in Washington today that was a beneficiary of the pilot program for the industry’s $28.6 relief fund and announced that more than 186,000 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses had submitted applications in the two days since the Small Business Administration had opened up the process. — The number is nearly a third of all of the restaurants and bars in the country, according to a spokesman for the Independent Restaurant Coalition , a group of chefs and independent restaurant owners which was among the key groups pushing for targeted relief, with more than half of the applications thus far coming from establishments owned by socially disadvantaged groups, according to the White House. — “The overwhelming demand for this fund makes clear that restaurants and bars are suffering,” Erika Polmar , IRC’s executive director, said in a statement, thanking the Biden administration for its rollout of the program, which was included in March’s $1.9 trillion relief bill after a yearlong lobbying effort. — In comments at the White House, the president noted that “our nation's restaurants were some of the first hit and the worst hit” when the pandemic struck last spring, and called the industry a “key part of the American story.” — But while he touted the aid program’s focus on serving smaller or socioeconomically disadvantaged businesses, he also suggested that demand had already far outstripped the pot of money allocated for the program, saying that it appears the program will be able to help “about 100,000” eligible businesses. LOCKHEED TAPS NEW TOP LOBBYIST: Defense giant Lockheed Martin has named Christian Marrone as its next senior vice president of government affairs to replace Robert Rangel when he retires later this year. Marrone has been with Lockheed, which continually ranks among the top spenders on K Street, since 2019 and served in both the Bush and Obama administrations as chief of staff to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and acting assistant secretary of Defense for legislative affairs. CONSUMER BANKERS GEAR UP FOR ‘AGGRESSIVE’ LANDSCAPE: The Consumer Bankers Association, a trade group that represents retail banks, announced a slate of new personnel changes as the organization gears up for what President and CEO Richard Hunt acknowledged is likely to be an “aggressive regulatory landscape” under the new administration and with Democrats in control of Congress. The group hired Ebony Sunala Johnson, former senior litigation counsel at CFPB, as vice president and associate general counsel on its regulatory affairs team. — Susan Stutz joined from Truist (formerly known as SunTrust) as vice president of advanced education, and Alyssa Dean will be education coordinator for the group. Lauren Blair Bianchi, who joined CBA from Sen. Ted Cruz’s office earlier this year, will be vice president of public affairs while Billy Rielly will serve as assistant vice president for media relations. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Tips: coprysko@politico.com. You can also follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko. SUBJECT MATTER ADDS GILLIBRAND AIDE: Keith Castaldo , who serves as general counsel for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), is departing the Hill and will join Subject Matter as a lobbyist. Castaldo said in an interview he’ll act as a utility player for the firm, providing clients insight on the massive bills that passed through and could pass through Washington in the coming months. “I think I'll be able to provide our clients with a fresh take on what's going on, what they should be focused on,” he said. TRUMP TO STAY BOOTED FROM FACEBOOK FOR NOW: “Former President Donald Trump’s Facebook account should remain suspended for the time being, the company’s oversight board announced Wednesday — agreeing that his rhetoric had created "a serious risk of violence" but saying the social network had been "arbitrary" in ousting him indefinitely,” POLITICO’s Cristiano Lima reports. — The board left open the possibility that the former president could return to the platform, however, punting the decision back to Facebook to “reexamine” his removal “within six months.” But that possibility did not blunt the torrent of criticism from Republicans like House Judiciary ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who tweeted: “Break them up.” Trump, in a statement blasted out through his leadership PAC, complained that his freedom of speech had been stripped away and pledged that “corrupt social media companies must pay a political price.” — Other lawmakers, like Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the top Republican on the Energy & Commerce Committee, panned the ruling as “Orwellian,” and fundraised and campaigned off the ruling while McMorris Rodgers’ Democratic counterpart, Energy & Commerce Chair Frank Pallone vowed to come for the platform anyways , asserting that “real accountability” for the platform allowing the spread of disinformation “will only come with legislative action.” HERITAGE SWEARS OFF BIG TECH CASH: The Heritage Foundation, one of Washington’s premier conservative think tanks, preempted the Facebook oversight board’s Trump ruling by announcing it would no longer accept contributions from tech companies that President Kay Cole James accused of censoring conservative viewpoints. — James, who is stepping down this year, had previously rejected six-figure checks from Google and Facebook, Axios reported in March, sparking a larger call for conservative groups to reject money from tech giants. Google had previously donated a total $1.55 million to the group while Facebook had given $275,000, a spokesperson told Axios then. BUSINESS, CONSERVATIVE GROUPS HOME IN ON MODERATE DEMS TO BLOCK TAX HIKES: “Congressional Republicans are expected to uniformly oppose Biden’s plan to raise taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals to finance his economic recovery packages. That’s freed up K Street opponents to focus on Democrats, who have razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate,” The Hill’s Alex Gangitano reports. — “Groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are targeting pro-business moderate Democrats in hopes of steering the conversation away from corporate taxes as a way to pay for infrastructure spending.” — “‘We’re talking to any member we can talk to. But in particular, we’re talking to the members who have expressed their concern about American competitiveness and about jobs,’ Neil Bradley , the Chamber’s chief policy officer, told The Hill. ‘It’s really a lot of the members that we worked with in the last Congress.’” WHO GOT REYNOLDS AMERICAN’S CASH LAST YEAR: “America's second-largest tobacco company burned through over $16 million in political donations in 2020, a show of force that previews the difficulty the Biden Administration might face as it seeks to ban menthol cigarettes,” Insider’s Kayla Epstein and Dave Levinthal report. — “Reynolds American made more than 700 donations totalling $16,229,475 to candidates, committees, ballot initiatives, and PACs from both sides of the aisle and at all levels of government, according to a new corporate governance document posted on Reynolds American's website and reviewed by Insider.” — The company, which manufactures Camel, Pall Mall and Newport cigarettes, “last year poured $10 million into the ‘California Coalition for Fairness.’ The blandly named group is backing an effort to repeal a 2020 California law that banned flavored cigarettes. The law is currently suspended until 2022 pending a referendum.” BEHIND TWO BLACK EXECS’ PUSH TO PROD CORPORATE AMERICA ON VOTING RIGHTS: Former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and current Merck chief executive Kenneth Frazier “are now the leading faces of a campaign seeking to galvanize corporate power and pocketbooks against legislation that critics say is designed to make it harder for minorities to cast ballots,” The Washington Post’s Todd C. Frankel writes. “But whether the inside game that worked for the two men in corporate America will succeed in politics remains in doubt.” | | | — Jana Barresi has joined Lowe’s Companies as head of their D.C. office, responsible for federal government affairs strategies and engagement for the company. She was most recently senior director of federal government affairs at Walmart and is an Olympia Snowe alum. — Eric Hylton is now national director of compliance at the tax and management consulting firm alliantgroup. He was previously IRS commissioner of the Small Business and Self Employed Division. — SoundExchange has promoted Linda Bloss-Baum to vice president of government relations and public affairs. She was previously senior director for artists and industry relations. — Philip Morris International has named Jacek Olczak, previously the tobacco company’s COO, chief executive officer. André Calantzopoulos , its former CEO, was named executive chair of the board. — Cole Leiter is joining Purple Strategies as a director. He was most recently communications director at the DCCC. — Nina Palmer is joining the Center for American Progress’ national security and international policy team as a senior fellow, leading work on U.S.-China policy. She most recently was at Albright Stonebridge, and is an Energy Department alum. — Viviann Anguiano is joining the Senate HELP Committee to lead part of Democrats’ higher education portfolio. She was most recently associate director of higher education at the Center for American Progress. — The Coalition for Green Capital has hired Meghan Conklin as policy director. Conklin most recently served as a policy adviser to Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and as a senior staff member in the Obama administration. — NARAL has named chief research and communications officer Adrienne Kimmell its acting president while it searches for a permanent replacement for outgoing President Ilyse Hogue. | | | Team Earls (Earls for Georgia, Dependable Conservative Leadership PAC) | | | CONSERVATIVE ACTION COUNCIL INC (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | 535 Group, LLC: Missouri Association Of Sheltered Workshop Managers
Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Sorenson Communications, Inc.
Dentons US LLP: Ilc Dover
Dentons US LLP: Kuakini Health System
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: City Of Shelbyville, In
Holland & Knight LLP: Memphis River Parks Partnership
Key Advocates, Inc.: Mathis Harple Group
Lobbyit.Com: Ingush-American Society
Lobbyit.Com: United Hmong Vision, Inc.
Lobbyit.Com: Yint, Inc.
Mr. Landon Fulmer: Rock Regional Hospital
Ms. Susan Molinari: Viridi Parente, Inc.
Pearson & Associates, LLC: North Fund
The Bennett Consulting Group: City Of Ogden, Utah | | | | DON'T MISS OUT ON OUR NEW PLAYBOOK DEEP DIVE PODCAST: Washington is full of whispers, colorful characters and little-known back stories that even D.C. insiders might not know. Playbook Deep Dive is a new, weekly podcast that pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the power. From Congress and the White House to bar stools and backrooms, POLITICO's top reporters and Playbook authors bring you the most compelling and confounding stories that explain what’s really going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Sap America, Inc.
Jones Walker, LLP: Gulf Island Fabrication Inc
Jones Walker, LLP: Gulf Island Fabrication Inc
Kirk Global Advisors: Mp Materials
Lee Consulting, Kenneth G.: City Of Ogden
Mckinley Strategies, LLC: Lincoln Electric
Mr. Brian Dearing: Select Engineering Services
Spirit Rock Consulting: Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld On Behalf Of The Gila River Indian Community | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
