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Presented by Electronic Payments Coalition: 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 A KENNEDY ON K STREET: Former Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy has a new gig on K Street, where he’s tapping his passion for mental health and addiction policy to launch a new practice focused on those issues at the health-focused consulting and lobbying firm Healthsperien. — Kennedy is joining the firm as a partner and will register to lobby on issues related to community-based health care services and transforming the health care system broadly in addition to mental health and addiction policy. — Kennedy, who authored the 2008 law requiring insurers to cover mental health on the same terms as physical health, told our Ruth Reader that he’s aiming to bring together labor unions, insurers and the government to address shortages in the mental health workforce — which insurers have pegged as a roadblock to offering parity in mental health coverage, earning the industry a rebuke from the Biden administration last year. “What I’ve really wanted to do is create an AFL-CIO for addiction,” he told Ruth, adding that Congress can help with “an infrastructure bill” for mental health. — Since leaving office amid his own public mental health struggles, Kennedy co-founded and leads a nonprofit focused on mental health policy advocacy, but to this point had not formally registered as a lobbyist. He said in a statement provided by the firm that he’s eager to “re-engage with my colleagues on Capitol Hill to advance our longstanding bipartisan commitment to high-quality, community-based mental health and addiction care.” ALPINE GROUP HIRES SCOTT AIDE: Shayne Woods is heading back to the private sector after eight years on the Hill to join the Alpine Group as a vice president. Woods most recently worked as a senior legislative assistant for Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), where his portfolio included health, budget, Social Security, retirement and commerce, science and transportation issues. Before joining Scott’s office, Woods worked for six years for Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and is the founder of two health care startups, FwdHealth Inc. and Scipio Strategies. — Woods, who said in an interview he does plan on registering to lobby, will focus primarily on health care clients and AI policy at Alpine Group, the latter of which he compared to the congressional frenzy over “Big Data” several years back, with a lot of talk and concern about the issue running up against a significant education gap. — He added that he’s eager to contribute to a more fluid flow of information between the downtown community and the Hill. “Being a staffer, some of the ways that we were able to best achieve a policy objective or goal was when we were having that bi-directional flow” of information, he argued — “when we were actually working in partnership with our industry stakeholders” rather than being talked at by them. “I’m very much looking forward to being able to use some of those pain points … being able to take those lessons learned, and make it better for my colleagues who are still on the Hill, and those who may come after them as well.” Happy Wednesday, and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CREDIT UNIONS & COMMUNITY BANKS IN All 50 STATES OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL: Local credit unions and community banks serve an essential role in supporting Main Street. So, when 9,600+ credit unions and community banks throughout the country oppose the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill, Congress should pay attention. Durbin-Marshall lines the pockets of corporate mega-stores by shifting costs and risks to credit unions, community banks, and their 135 million customers. Click here to learn more. | | | VCs MAKE THEIR PLEA FOR DROPPING MARCH-IN PUSH: The head of the trade group representing venture capital firms is calling on the Biden administration to drop plans to test its authority to seize the patents of certain high-priced drugs, warning in a letter to President Joe Biden that a new draft framework issued at the end of last year risks undermining programs created under his marquee legislative achievements. — “This framework is counterintuitive to the recent economic stimulus programs intended to bolster America’s public-private partnerships, competitiveness, and economic stability,” National Venture Capital Association President and CEO Bobby Franklin wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. — The framework from the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology was a win for progressives who have long insisted that the government has the ability to break the patents of costly drugs that had been developed with public funds in a bid to lower prices. But Franklin cautioned that the Biden administration’s interpretation of the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act is not only incorrect, but would make public funding “toxic” for venture capitalists. — He alleged that “VCs are questioning their involvement and investment in programs” born from bills like Biden’s pandemic aid package and the CHIPS and Science Act that aim to bolster small businesses and incentivize investments in underrepresented regions, and argued it would “stifle R&D in emerging fields that rely on government-funded intellectual property, including renewable energy, telecommunications, agriculture, healthcare, and more.” — The framework threatens to tank “the remaining VC trust” in the U.S. patent system, while opening the door for potential abuse by large corporations to target smaller competitors, Franklin argued. NAR GETS A RIVAL: “Two prominent real estate agents have started a new trade association in a direct swipe at the embattled National Association of Realtors,” The New York Times’ Debra Kamin reports. — “Jason Haber, a New York agent with Compass, and Mauricio Umansky, the Los Angeles-based celebrity agent and founder of the luxury brokerage the Agency, told The New York Times that their new group, the American Real Estate Association, could be an alternative.” — “Mr. Haber, 46 and a native New Yorker, is a broker and entrepreneur who has also worked in local, state and federal government. He has been one of the most outspoken critics of N.A.R. since August, when The New York Times revealed widespread allegations of sexual harassment against its then-president, Kenny Parcell. He started the N.A.R. Accountability Project, a grass-roots organization that made several demands, including the immediate resignation of Mr. Parcell and its chief executive, Bob Goldberg. Both men have since stepped down.” — “Mr. Umansky, 53, is a reality TV regular and co-founder of the Hollywood brokerage the Agency” who has “also been at loggerheads with N.A.R.; in 2020, he sued the organization over its policies on databases for real estate listings, arguing that they were anti-competitive and damaged a private database of off-market listings that he had created in Los Angeles.” — “The two agents had planned to start their group at a later date, but moved up the clock as they looked at N.A.R.’s legal troubles and leadership drain. The group’s new president abruptly stepped down in early January over what was described as a blackmail threat.” FLYING IN: The Louisiana Motor Transport Association is in town this week for the American Trucking Associations’ first fly in of 2024. Members were slated to meet today with members and staff from the entire Louisiana congressional delegation to discuss workforce development, supply chain issues, energy and environment policy and tort reform — for which Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) will receive an award from the group for his work. MEANWHILE, IN CALI: Our Chris Cadelago got a sneak peek at Uber’s plans for a major infusion of cash into California politics, which involve the rideshare giant “dropping $30 million into its existing state committee — called the Uber Innovation PAC — all of which it plans to spend on candidates and causes in 2024, people familiar with its plans said.” — “That will make it one of, if not the largest, single-funded state PACs this election cycle, injecting a decidedly pro-business bent into the mix. In addition to its sheer size, Uber’s incoming money bomb is notable given moves by other major corporations to pull out of California, citing complaints over its voluminous regulations and a broader climate that can be unfriendly to large businesses.” — “The PAC’s new money is the latest sign that booming tech companies with ties to Silicon Valley are growing significantly in their political clout and sophistication — following years of being naive and even adverse to the ways of Sacramento. That dynamic is expected to increase, lobbyists and industry representatives tell POLITICO, with the rise of artificial intelligence and lawmakers’ plans to introduce bills to regulate AI and other fledgling industries.” — “The PAC money also comes as the company works to flex its muscle in statehouses across the U.S., plunging millions into gig-economy ballot measures to reshape the ride-sharing industry by enshrining drivers as independent contractors.” CORRECTION: Huntington Ingalls has filed an amendment to their fourth quarter lobbying report. They spent $1.1 million on federal lobbying last quarter, versus $1.1 million in Q3 2023 and $1.1 million in Q4 2022. SPOTTED at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s annual fundraising dinner for the DSCC at the Riggs hotel last night, per a PI tipster: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Norm Brownstein, Mark Pryor, Al Mottur, David Reid, LaKeitha Anderson, Mae Babbington, Greg Berger, Mimi Burke, Samantha Carl-Yoder, Annmarie Conboy-DePasquale, Steve Demby, Lauren Diekman, Nadeam Elshami, Kate Gonzales, Daniel Joseph, Chris Lay, Drew Littman, Alice Lugo, Doug Maguire, John Menges, Radha Mohan, Zach Pfister, David Ransom, Pratik Rungta, Gabrielle Russo, Sage Schaftel, Michael Stratton, Russ Sullivan, Greg Sunstrum, Deema Tarazi and Andrew Usyk of Brownstein, over a dozen Senate chiefs of staff, clients and friends of the firm. — BGR Group hosted its own fundraiser on Tuesday that raised more than $700,000 for the NRSC. SPOTTED at the event, per a tipster, were: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.); Brian Herrington of Scotts Miracle-Gro, Kevin Keane of the American Beverage Association, Stefanie Holland of Qualcomm, Bryan Wood of BlackRock, Peter Eckrich of Centene, Paul Scolese of Cox Enterprises, Missy Foxman of the Entertainment Software Association, Helen Rhee of Amgen, and Bob Wood, Dan Murphy, Haley Barbour, Joe Lai, Erskine Wells and Justin Rzepka of BGR Group.
| | | | JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | | — Bose Public Affairs has promoted Devon Davis and Austin Hall to vice presidents and Sarah Lamson to senior public policy specialist. — Emily Lenzner is stepping down as executive vice president of communications and public affairs at the Motion Picture Association to transition into a consulting role. — Ivo Daalder has joined WestExec Advisors as a senior adviser. He’s CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and was previously U.S. ambassador to NATO and is a Brookings alum. — Wells Ellenberg is now vice president of communications for Southern Company Gas, a subsidiary of energy utility Southern Company. He most recently was director of governmental affairs for Southern and also previously served as an adviser to the former chair, president and CEO Tom Fanning. — Tanner Johnson will become a partner at Van Ness Feldman. He was previously policy counsel in the firm’s Baton Rouge and D.C. offices. — Marcus Weisgerber has joined Invariant’s strategic communications and public affairs team. He was previously global business editor for Defense One. — Marissa Padilla and Jade Floyd have been promoted to executive vice presidents at Global Strategy Group. Padilla was previously with the Obama DOT and HHS and is a Tom Udall alum. Floyd was previously with the Case Foundation. — Christian Hulen is now senior vice president and principal at Victory Enterprises. He currently is a senior adviser at TLC Political. — Alida Garcia has launched her own firm, Twin Impact. She previously has been vice president of advocacy at FWD.us, and is a Biden White House alum. — Kevin Rachlin is joining the Nexus Leadership Project as its inaugural Washington director. He previously has been vice president of public affairs at J Street.
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| | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | A10 Associates, LLC: Waterkeeper Alliance Allevan-US Advocate Corp: Allevan-US Advocate Corp Ardeidae Group LLC: Edge Creek Partners On Behalf Of Met Holding Ag Capitaledge Advocacy Inc. (Formerly Capitaledge Advocacy, LLC): City Of San Bernardino, Ca Cj Lake, LLC: Husch Blackwell Strategies (On Behalf Of National Children'S Alliance) Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC: Cyware Currentstrategic LLC: California Association Of School Business Officials Fti Government Affairs: California Apartment Association Galvanize Partners LLC: Arete Inc Galvanize Partners LLC: Motorola Solutions, Inc. Galvanize Partners LLC: The Nature Conservancy Jacobson, Magnuson, Anderson & Halloran P.C.: Minnesota Police And Peace Officers Association Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Carbon County, Wyoming Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: City Of Beatrice, Nebraska Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: City Of Sheridan, Wyoming Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Delaware County Community College Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Friend Community Healthcare System Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Hilbert College Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Margaret Mary Health Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: New Orleans Area Habitat For Humanity Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Portland Recovery Community Center Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Stafford County, Virginia Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: University Health System, Inc. Dba University Of Tennessee Medical Center Michael Best Strategies LLC: Schott Pharma USa, Inc. Mwmurray Consulting LLC: Helen Keller International Mwmurray Consulting LLC: Kiwanis International Mwmurray Consulting LLC: Unicef USa National Health Advisors, LLC: Restorixhealth Omega Strategies, LLC.: Am General, LLC O'Neill And Associates: Teradar, Inc. Pacific Partners: Austal Limited Paddock & Associates: Weapons And Tactics Alliance Group Inc. Revere Federal Strategies: Nominal Revere Federal Strategies: Picogrid Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Cleveland Ld, LLC Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Delta Regional Authority Tgb Strategies LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Obo Cogitativo, Inc. The Connolly Group: Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 The Feighan Team: Community Reinvestment Fund USa Tower 19: Edge Creek Partners On Behalf Of Met Holding Ag Townsend Public Affairs: City Of Moreno Valley Townsend Public Affairs: City Of Union City Townsend Public Affairs: City Of Westminster Townsend Public Affairs: San Gabriel Valley Council Of Governments Vitello Consulting: Hudson Valley Fisheries
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:   | | | | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Arena Strategies, LLC: Independence Blue Cross Article One Group, LLC: Freedom Foundation Article One Group, LLC: Juul Labs, Inc Atlantic Strategies Group: Tactical Air Support, Inc. Bockorny Group, Inc.: Cvs Health Inc Caresource Mission: Caresource Mission Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: Holland & Knight On Behalf Of Astranis Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: Holland & Knight On Behalf Of Biomason Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: Holland & Knight On Behalf Of Boston Metal Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting LLC: Holland & Knight On Behalf Of U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Forethought Advisors, LLC: Audible, Inc. Fti Government Affairs: Spaceflight Inc. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton: Signature Flight Support Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: City Of Opa-Locka, Fl Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Columbia County, Fl Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Connally Memorial Medical Center Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Fort Healthcare Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Marian University Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Thomas Jefferson University Dba Jefferson Health Merchant Mcintyre & Associates, LLC: Valley Children'S Healthcare Mindset Advocacy, LLC: 2U, Inc. Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Midfirst Bank Mindset Advocacy, LLC: Purpose Financial Inc (Formerly Listed As Advance America Cash Advance Cntrs) Mrs. Emily Hetherington: Aarp Northern Compass Group LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Obo Clear Northern Compass Group LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP Obo University Of Alaska Rasky Partners, Inc.: Shipt Signal Group Consulting, LLC: Solv Energy (Fka Swinerton Builders) The Consilio Group: Istormwater LLC Townsend Public Affairs: California Academy Of Sciences Townsend Public Affairs: Carl Zeiss X-Ray Microscopy, Inc Vitello Consulting: C4 Recovery Foundation Western Hemisphere Strategies, LLC: Reed Smith LLP
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CREDIT UNIONS & COMMUNITY BANKS IN All 50 STATES OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL: The Durbin-Marshall credit card bill would create new government mandates on credit cards that would put consumer data and access to credit at risk. The bill would benefit corporate mega-stores, like Walmart and Target, at the expense of Main Street and the 135 million Americans who rely on credit unions and community banks. The threat of Durbin-Marshall to small financial institutions is so clear that 9,600+ credit unions and community banks in America are opposed to the bill. They also see through the so-called “carve out” for smaller banks which is a hoax to try and buy their support. Their message to Congress is simple: on behalf of credit unions and community banks in all 50 states, commit to actively opposing the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill. Click here to learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
