Stewart heads right to K Street

By Caitlin Oprysko

With Daniel Lippman

THAT WAS QUICK: Former Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), whose resignation from the House was made official on Friday, is hanging a shingle on K Street along with a top aide and a former White House national security adviser.

— Stewart and his former chief of staff Clay White have launched Skyline Capitol, which has partnered with American Global Strategies, the consultancy founded by former Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien and former National Security Council staffer Alexander Gray.

— Stewart’s firm will specialize in some of the same issues the former congressman worked on while in the House, where he was on the Intelligence and Appropriations committees, and will help defense clients ensure their priorities “resonate powerfully within the corridors of power” in Washington, according to the firm’s website.

— The firm is also pitching its ability to help transportation clients position themselves for infrastructure funding and “guide tech companies through” the “maze” of federal, state and local policies, “providing information, advocating for favorable policies, and helping them ensure compliance.”

— While Stewart is barred from directly lobbying his former colleagues in Congress for one year, he’s free to lobby the Biden administration right away, and can advise clients and offer guidance on who and how to lobby the Hill in the meantime.

AKIN GUMP REGISTERS FOR PIF WORK: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has made its work for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund FARA official, less than three weeks after POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs and I reported on the firm’s work in helping the Public Investment Fund respond to — or, depending on who you ask, stonewall — Congress’ investigation into its deal to join forces with onetime rival the PGA Tour.

— The registration came days after Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chair Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) hit PIF’s U.S. subsidiary with a subpoena for documents related to the fund’s commercial investments in the U.S., which Blumenthal said last week have soared to $35 billion today, as well as information about the fund’s stable of lobbyists, consultants and PR gurus.

— Akin Gump’s Prakash Mehta, a partner at the firm specializing in finance, and Raphael Prober, who co-heads the firm’s congressional investigations division, will engage the Biden administration in addition to the Hill on PIF’s behalf on undisclosed matters, according to documents filed with the Justice Department over the weekend.

— The firm’s work for the fund dates back to at least June, according to communications disclosed by Blumenthal. But Akin Gump contended last month that it is providing the kind of legal services for PIF that are exempt from FARA registration requirements, and suggested in FARA filings that it still believes some exemption applies.

— It was not immediately clear whether Akin Gump’s registration is intended to cover the same scope of work the firm was previously performing. “Any such engagement” with the federal government related to PIF “is distinct from engagement related to legal services provided in connection with governmental investigations,” according to DOJ filings. The filings list a Sept. 12 start date for the agreement, for which the firm said it is charging by the hour and will last no more than a year.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. It’s great to be back in the saddle, and thanks again to Hailey Fuchs and Megan Wilson for pinch hitting while I was out. What’d I miss? Drop me a line: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

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A message from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:

Congress: Support the highest possible increases for cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to make time. Literally. More than 1.9 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023 alone. But by investing in the research of today, you’re helping prevent, detect, and treat many of the cancers of tomorrow, creating countless moments for patients and their loved ones in the process. Fight Cancer. Make Time.

CRYPTO PREPS A HILL BLITZ: “A pro-crypto nonprofit is launching an advertising blitz ahead of a key regulator’s anticipated appearance before a congressional committee next week,” The Hill’s Taylor Giorno reports.

— “Dozens of crypto company founders — including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong — will also head to Capitol Hill as part of the organization’s Stand With Crypto Day on Sept. 27,” when SEC Chair Gary Gensler is expected to appear before the House Financial Services Committee.

— “Coinbase, the biggest U.S.-based crypto exchange, helped launch the independent nonprofit Stand With Crypto in August to mobilize the cryptocurrency community in support of pro-crypto policies.”

— “The group’s new campaign targets federal lawmakers and seeks to get pro-crypto constituents across the U.S. to raise their voices with Congress. The push focuses on nine ‘swing states’: Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

— “The primarily digital push urges constituents to call their lawmakers and request their support for the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21 Act), a sweeping regulatory bill supported by several crypto industry advocates, including Coinbase.”

SWIPE FEES FIGHT HEATS UP: Trade groups on each side of the legislative battle over credit card swipe fees are ratcheting up their advocacy ahead of the latest bid from Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to force a vote on their bill to rein in card networks, with advocates pushing out industry-funded research that each side insists shows consumer support for their respective positions on the issue.

— Durbin, Marshall and Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) took to the Senate floor last week to call for a vote on their Credit Card Competition Act, which would require large card-issuing banks or credit unions to offer at least one alternate network that isn’t affiliated with Visa or Mastercard and which the senators have sought unsuccessfully for over a year to attach to a legislative vehicle.

— On Monday, the National Retail Federation announced plans to drop six figures on an ad campaign highlighting consumer support for the bill, as determined by a survey conducted by the trade group that was released Friday.

— Also Monday, the Merchants Payments Coalition, an ally of the retail industry working to take down card giants Visa and Mastercard, held a news conference with small business and antitrust advocacy groups to trumpet its own findings, unveiling survey data showing that two-thirds of likely voters favor swipe fee changes.

— Lobbyists on the other side of the fight are mounting their counteroffensive to prevent an amendment vote on the swipe fees bill. The Electronic Payments Coalition, whose members include trade associations for the banking, credit union and payments industries, sent congressional leaders a rebuttal on Friday. The blitz continued Monday with an analysis from the airline industry’s chief trade group, Airlines for America.

— The group, which has picked up the banking industry’s assertion that swipe fee legislation could gut credit card reward programs, launched a new campaign highlighting the prevalence of airline reward cards and urging supporters to “Protect Our Points.”

— A4A’s analysis estimates that nearly 30 million card holders have credit cards affiliated with U.S. airlines, which fueled $23 billion in economic activity in 2022. The group argues that the swipe fee bill “would unnecessarily increase the cost associated with participating in these rewards programs, threatening the existence of not only the airline rewards points that enable millions of trips for Americans every year — but all credit card rewards programs that cardholders have come to value.”

FLYING IN: Independent salespeople and executives from the Direct Selling Association, which represents the multilevel marketing industry, will head to the Hill tomorrow to discuss independent contractor issues, as well as a forthcoming FTC rule on earnings claims. They’ve got more than 50 meetings scheduled including with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah) and the office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

— Representatives from 45 international companies part of the Global Business Alliance will also be in town this week to tout the benefits of foreign direct investment in the U.S. and push for legislation that would extend key business tax breaks and incentivize additional foreign investment.

— Members of the trade group will meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Jeffries in addition to members of the Global Investment in American Jobs Caucus and Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), among others.

A message from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:

SPOTTED at a kick off reception at Smoke & Mirrors ahead of next week’s Congressional Football Game, per a tipster: Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Blake Moore (R-Utah), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) and Rich McCormick (R-Ga.); Stan Pierre-Louis of the Entertainment Software Association, Lyndon Boozer of Capitol Counsel, Ken Edmonds of the NFL, Ryan Rusbuldt of the National Association of Realtors, Dave Grimaldi of the Blockchain Association, Fred Sottnick and Jessica Moore of Disney, NFL alumni Gary Clark, Ken Harvey and John Booty, Bill Shuster of Squire Patton Boggs, Jeff Denham of Dentons, Bob Dold of Forbes Tate, Brian Johnson of Veterans Guardian, Shawn Friesen of the American Academy of Dermatology, Meredith Allison of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dwayne Carson of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Bret Manley of Elevate Government Affairs, and Bill Sells of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

— Susan Closmore has joined Penn Quarter Partners as senior director. She was previously chief of staff for the Minnesota state House Republican Caucus.

— BAE Systems named Tisha Wright vice president of executive branch and international government relations. She was BAE’s director of government relations.

— Capricia Penavic Marshall is joining FGS Global as a partner. She previously was president, CEO and founder at CPM Global Engagement Strategies and was chief of protocol of the U.S.

— Lewis Plush is now vice president of card services and federal government relations at JPMorgan. He previously was at the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions and is a Vern Buchanan alum.

— Kelly Darnell has joined the American Clean Power Association as chief operating officer and president of the Clean Power Institute, ACP’s educational nonprofit. Darnell most recently served as the interim CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

— Advaith Thampi is now strategic adviser and VSO liaison for the chair of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals at the VA. He most recently was director of government affairs and legislative counsel at Veterans Education Success.

— Joshua Goodman is now a partner resident at Morgan Lewis. He most recently was deputy assistant director of the Mergers II Division of the Federal Trade Commission.

A message from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:

Cancer takes away many things, but the most devastating is time. And while policies and federal research investment have helped avert 3.8 million cancer deaths since 1991, the fight against the country’s second most common cause of death is far from over. With over 609,000 deaths and 1.9 million diagnoses expected in 2023, there is still work to do in the fight against cancer. And that is where you come in.

When Congress prioritizes ending cancer as we know it, you literally make time for patients, loved ones, caregivers, and everybody else affected by 200 diseases known as cancer. Supporting the highest possible funding increases for cancer research lengthens the lives of cancer patients. By investing in the research of today, you’re helping prevent, detect, and treat many of the cancers of tomorrow, creating countless moments for cancer patients and their loved ones in the process.

Fight Cancer. Make Time.

BRANDON HERRERA VICTORY COMMITTEE (Brandon Herrera for Congress, Because Real Americans Never Doubt Our Nation (BRANDON PAC))

Gottheimer Victory Fund (Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Jersey Values PAC, New Jersey Democratic State Committee)

LUDWIG VICTORY COMMITTEE (Ludwig For Congress, Leadership Unity and Dignity While Inspiring Generations (LUDWIG PAC))

Rollins Victory Fund (Rollins Victory Fund, California Democratic Party)

BECAUSE REAL AMERICANS NEVER DOUBT OUR NATION (BRANDON PAC) (Leadership PAC: Brandon Herrera)

CAMPAIGN FOR A BETTER SOCIETY (Super PAC)

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LEADERSHIP UNITY AND DIGNITY WHILE INSPIRING GENERATIONS (LUDWIG PAC) (Leadership PAC: Thomas Charles Ludwig)

A Lot of People Who Hate Ted Cruz (Super PAC)

Samuel Albert Brown for United States President 2024 (Super PAC)THE STATE CHAMBER OF OKLAHOMA PAC, INC. (PAC)

Stop The Insane Republicans (PAC)

UnitedTech Governance Coalition for National Politics and Legislation (PAC)

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Sentry Insurance Company

Blank Rome Government Relations: Stabbert Maritime

Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Blue Bird Corporation

Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Courier Plus, Inc. Dba Dutchie

Ogilvy Government Relations: Cnx Resources Corporation

Resolution Public Affairs, LLC: Spotify

Terrapin Strategy Inc.: Integrity Technologies Corp.

Thunderbird Strategic LLC: Potawatomi Business Development Corporation

Paley Rothman Goldstein Rosenberg & Cooper, Chartered: Small Business Legislative Council

Reed Smith LLP: American Health Care Association

Stono Public Affairs: Department Of Military & Veterans Affairs, State Ofnew Jersey

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