Colombia adds PR help

From: POLITICO Influence - Friday Sep 15,2023 11:49 pm

Sep 15, 2023

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With Daniel Lippman

COLOMBIA SIGNS FGS: FGS Global registered with the Department of Justice as an agent of the Colombian government. The firm will provide public relations services around the U.S.-Colombia relationship.

— The agreement with the Colombian Embassy in D.C. was filed with the Department of Justice earlier this week and signed earlier this month. The firm’s responsibilities include outreach to the media, think tanks, academics and others, along with event support and help with U.S. visits from Colombian government officials.

— The government will pay the firm $45,000 each month. FGS personnel on the account include firm partner Joshua Gross, who previously handled press for the Afghanistan Embassy, and managing director Adam Sharon, who was communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

— Colombian mayors also formally added communications help of their own this week. Dentons Global Advisors Government Relations registered to represent Asociación Colombiana de Ciudades Capitales (Asocapitales) under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The association is “directed and controlled by an assembly comprised of the mayors of the capital cities of Colombia.”

— Dentons will help with a potential visit to New York and Washington D.C. later this year and build relationships with public and private sector officials, according to the contract filed with DOJ.

Happy FARA Friday, and welcome to PI! My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I’m your host of the newsletter today while Caitlin is out. Please send me your money and politics tips to hfuchs@politico.com and follow me on X (formerly Twitter): @Hailey_Fuchs. Our star health influence reporter Megan Wilson will take the reins of the newsletter on Monday. You can reach her at mwilson@politico.com and follow her on X @misswilson.

FAMILY TIES: The United Auto Workers union began its strike on Friday, affecting some General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis plants. One notable lobbying arrangement these days: Jeff Ricchetti, brother to counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, represents General Motors.

— It’s just one of the ways that General Motors is connected to the White House. The company’s chief executive officer Mary Barra has been a consistent ally to the administration. She is also chair of the powerful business advocacy group Business Roundtable.

— We wrote about Barra’s friendliness with the administration not long after she assumed the helm of Business Roundtable. You can revisit that here.

— Jeff Ricchetti did not return a request for comment. He told The Washington Post that he no longer lobbies the White House Office. When asked whether Jeff Richetti had spoken to his brother on the matter or whether he was involved in any discussions with the White House on the UAW strike, White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said, “The answer’s just a simple no.”

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

What makes children’s hospitals different? Designed to meet children's needs, with care provided by specially trained experts, children's hospitals are the primary facilities for specialized care for children and teens – no matter their financial situation. Across the country, children’s hospitals are making it possible for children and their families to experience life’s important moments – from the everyday to the extraordinary. To find out more about the work children’s hospitals are doing, visit madepossible.org.

GOP CHAIRS RAKE IN $$: Republicans with committee gavels are finding themselves with lots of campaign cash, according to Bloomberg Government’s Kate Ackley and Maeve Sheehey.

— “Rep. Jason Smith shattered his political fundraising records this year, hauling in almost 2,900% more to his leadership political action committee with donations from JP Morgan Chase, Verizon and Lockheed Martin.”

— “Smith’s seat in a ruby-red, rural district is just as safe as it was in the last election, but the increase in donations followed one major change: Smith (R-Mo.) became chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax, health and trade policy.”

— “Smith and other Republicans who took the top spots on House committees this year have, all combined, raised 86% more in campaign donations in the first six months of 2023 than they did in the same period two years ago, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis of federal campaign disclosures.”

JOHNSON’S TRUMP TRAIN: “Billionaire and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is part of a very small group within former President Donald Trump’s inner circle: Wealthy supporters who are willing to invest their own personal capital to convince Republican megadonors to donate to Trump’s presidential campaign,” Brian Schwartz reports for CNBC.

— “Not only is Johnson backing Trump himself, he is also doing something even more important: lobbying members of the unofficial Republican billionaire’s club to come back into Trump’s fold, said several of Johnson’s allies who were granted anonymity in order to relay private conversations.”

— “Beyond the outreach to fellow donors, Johnson has also signaled that he plans to help organize and host fundraisers for Trump as the primary season ramps up next year, when the pivotal caucus and primary elections begin, a person close to the Jets owner explained.”

JOIN US ON 9/20 FOR A TALK ON TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE BILLING: Bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate would align costs for services across hospitals and doctors’ offices and reduce out-of-pocket spending that could potentially save the federal government billions of dollars. Can this legislation survive a polarized Congress? Join POLITICO on Sept. 20 to explore this and whether site-neutral payments and billing transparency policies could help ease health care costs. REGISTER HERE.

UAW STRIKE REACTION: “One of the nation’s most prominent business groups on Friday blamed President Joe Biden directly for United Auto Workers’ decision to strike late Thursday night, as lawmakers and other groups rushed to stake out positions just hours after the strike was announced,” Olivia Olander reports for POLITICO.

— ”’The UAW strike and indeed the ‘summer of strikes’ is the natural result of the Biden administration’s ‘whole of government’ approach to promoting unionization at all costs,’ Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Friday in a statement.”

— “The Chamber’s message — that the strike, and any ensuing economic fallout, is Biden’s fault — could presage a rich vein of attack for other business groups and conservatives, especially if the strike stretches into weeks.”

DEMS’ SUPREME COURT INVESTIGATION: Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Dick Durbin (D-Il.) have requested information from two businesspeople about undisclosed gifts or payments to Supreme Court Justices.

— “Recent investigative reporting identified instances in which you have provided Justice Clarence Thomas with various gifts of lodging and travel on your private jet and yacht,” the Senators wrote to Paul Anthony Novelly, one of the two businesspeople. “Justice Thomas did not report these gifts on his annual financial disclosure forms, in apparent contravention of the Supreme Court’s April 25, 2023, ‘Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices,’ which asserts that Justices since 1991 ‘have followed’ the financial disclosure requirements provided in relevant Judicial Conference regulations, and other applicable obligations.”

— Here’s a link to the bombshell ProPublica story that inspired the inquiry.

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

JOBS REPORT

— Michaela Balderston is now head of marketing and communications at Lead Edge Capital. She most recently was a partner at Tusk Venture Partners.

— The communications firm Hunt & Gather has promoted Sara Gurkin, Dani Pines, Emily Farrar and Alexa Schwartz to managing director.

— Laura Kurup is now principal director for data science innovation at Accenture Federal Services. She most recently was chief data and analytics officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

— Ian Fluellen is now the director of government affairs for General Electric. He previously was deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).

— Reservoir Communications Group has added Clare Krusing as EVP, Rikki Campbell Ogden as design director, Lauren McQuatters and Hanna Hayden as managers, Megan Tebbenhoff as a senior associate and Jack Holdsworth as an associate.

— Lisa Herring is now strategic adviser to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. She currently is president of the Propel Center and most recently served as superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

— Karen Anderson is now managing director of the Social Finance Institute. She previously was at University of Chicago’s Becker Friedman Institute for Economics and is a Brookings Institute, Obama and Clinton Administration alum.

— Colette Honorable is now EVP for public policy and chief external affairs officer at Exelon. She previously was a partner at Reed Smith LLP.

— Bayly Winder is joining USAID as a political appointee and the special assistant to the deputy administrator for management and resources. He previously was a senior associate at satellite startup E-Space.

GO INSIDE THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC PLATFORM WITH UNGA PLAYBOOK: The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four city blocks in Manhattan. POLITICO's special edition UNGA Playbook will take you inside this important gathering starting Sept. 17 — revealing newsy nuggets throughout the week and insights into the most pressing issues facing global decision-makers today. Sign up for UNGA Playbook.

NEW JOINT FUNDRAISERS

None.

NEW PACS

NC Alliance For Families (Super PAC)

Michigan's Resurgence PAC (MR PAC) (Leadership PAC: Mike Rogers)

Freedom Wins (Super PAC)

Women's action for New Directions, Inc PAC (PAC)

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS

DLA Piper LLP (US): Kulicke And Soffa Industries, Inc.

Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Betterment LLC

Magill Associates, LLC: Cadence Design Systems, Inc

TheGROUP DC, LLC: Ultium Cells LLC

Dentons US LLP: Future Of Life Institute

Dentons US LLP: Sysco

The Vogel Group: Trilogy Integrated Resources

Dentons US LLP: Stafl Systems

Sorini, Samet & Associates, LLC: Haggar Clothing Co.

Dentons US LLP: Capital Southeast Connector Joint Powers Authority

K&L Gates, LLP: Shikun & Binui USA

BGR Government Affairs: Razom, Inc.

BGR Government Affairs: Rigetti & Co., LLC

BGR Government Affairs: Valero Services, Inc.

BGR Government Affairs: Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd.

BGR Government Affairs: Lockheed Martin Corporation

BGR Government Affairs: Emovis Technologies US, Inc.

Schaeffler Group USA, Inc.: Schaeffler Group USA, Inc.

CGCN Group, LLC: Association For Competitive Technology

The Vogel Group: Neuronetics Inc.

Venn Strategies: Cyclic Materials

Capitol Counsel LLC: Foster Homes Of Healing

Jeffrey J. Kimbell And Associates: Anivive Lifesciences

Jeffrey J. Kimbell And Associates: Aurion Biotech

Venn Strategies: Enersys Advanced Systems Inc.

Jeffrey J. Kimbell And Associates: We Work For Health

Scott Garrett: Honduras Prospera Inc

Atlas Crossing LLC: Treehouse Island, Inc. DBA Team Treehouse

BL Partners Group, LLC: Albertsons Companies, Inc.

Akzonobel Coatings Inc.: Akzonobel Coatings Inc.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Doma Holdings, Inc

Jake Perry + Partners: Holland And Knight On Behalf Of Cyanco International LLC

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS

Marijuana Policy Project: Marijuana Policy Project

BGR Government Affairs: Marcum LLP

BGR Government Affairs: Siemens Healthineers

BGR Government Affairs: SC Health SPV, LLC

Jeffrey J. Kimbell And Associates: iOR Partners

A message from Children's Hospital Association:

Children’s hospitals play a central role in advancing the health of all children – from prevention to critical care. Of the 6,000 hospitals across the country, only 200 are children’s hospitals and these specialized hospitals and health systems educate and train the majority of pediatricians and pediatric specialists.

Children’s hospitals are where the most complex pediatric care happens and are often the only location in an entire state or region of the country where the sickest children can receive the lifesaving care they need.

Because of children’s hospitals, key moments are made possible in our children’s lives – from first dances to family camping trips, birthdays to graduations – children’s hospitals are on the front line of children’s health care, treating children across the country regardless of circumstances or ability to pay. Learn more.