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Presented by Aon: Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. | | | | | |  | | By Theodoric Meyer | Presented by Aon | With Daniel Lippman PROGRAMMING NOTE: POLITICO Influence will not publish on Monday, May 31. We'll be back on our normal schedule on Tuesday, June 1. HOW K STREET SEES THE INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS: Where do the infrastructure negotiations between President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans stand as lawmakers head home? “In our view, it is only a matter of time before Democrats move to a reconciliation for infrastructure legislation,” the Smith-Free Group wrote in a memo to clients this week. “It might be a matter of a few days or a few weeks but the bipartisan discussions between the White House, Senate GOP and various gangs of senators are doomed to fail: the differences between the two sides are simply too great to bridge.” — When the House returns, “it is our expectation the Speaker will urge her committee chairs to complete work quickly on a budget resolution and other implementing legislation to have something to show for their efforts by her self-imposed July 4th deadline,” the lobbying firm wrote. “The challenge for Democrats will of course be the calendar. Can they pass a resolution and reconciliation bill through both Houses before the August recess? Almost certainly not. So at what point will they want to be in the process before leaving town” and facing their constituents in August? FORTINET BUILDS UP ITS PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON: Fortinet is stepping up its Washington lobbying efforts. The cybersecurity company, which retained only one lobbying firm at the start of the year, hired Subject Matter in March and brought on BGR Group and Salt Point Strategies last month, according to newly filed disclosures. Fortinet also retains Efrus Federal Advisors, which the company hired last year. — Asked what spurred the company’s hiring spree, Hugh Carroll, Fortinet’s head of government affairs, cited the “recent attacks on critical infrastructure.” The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned last month that hackers were likely trying to attack the company's VPNs. “With the increased attention on the need to protect digital infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity policy, Fortinet recognized an opportunity to share its established network security expertise and we are excited to be a resource to policymakers at this important juncture,” Carroll said in a statement. Good afternoon and welcome to PI . It's been a pleasure filling in for Caitlin, who will take back the PI reins on Tuesday. Thanks for reading, and special thanks to the reader who suggested a recipe for using up my leftover rhubarb stalk. Enjoy the long weekend, and send Caitlin and me your tips for next week: tmeyer@politico.com and coprysko@politico.com. You can also follow us on Twitter: @theodoricmeyer and @caitlinoprysko. | | | | A message from Aon: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way companies think about supply chain risk. According to our COVID-19 Risk Management & Insurance Survey, the general risk readiness of major corporations was at its lowest level in 12 years. Learn how Aon helps businesses minimize the risk of supply chain disruptions. | | | FARA FRIDAY: The Supreme Court ruled in February that heirs of Jewish art dealers who claimed they’d been forced to sell artwork in the 1930s for roughly a third of its value couldn’t sue the German government in U.S. courts. Last week, several lawyers for Wiggin and Dana , which represented Germany in the case, belatedly registered as foreign agents on behalf of the German government and a German consortium of museums and archives, the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz. — Lawyers representing foreign governments in court aren’t required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. But “certain Wiggin attorneys involved in the litigation occasionally engaged in communications with news media in the United States (relating to the litigation) on behalf of the German government and SPK,” the firm wrote in its registration. “After further review of recent DOJ opinion letters, Wiggin now understands that its media-related activities concerning the litigation — as limited as they may be — could be construed by DOJ as registrable ‘political activities,’ and Wiggin has therefore proceeded to register in an abundance of caution.” — David Laufman, a Wiggin partner who previously oversaw the government’s enforcement of FARA while working at the Justice Department, said the firm decided on its own that it should register for the work. “As indicated in its filing with the Justice Department, Wiggin registered on its own initiative, not in response to any DOJ directive or determination that it had to register,” he said in a statement. FACEBOOK’S PAC STARTS GIVING AGAIN — BUT NOT TO REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST CERTIFICATION: “Facebook is resuming contributions through its political action committee but will not give money to any members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 US election, the company notified employees on Thursday,” BuzzFeed News’ Ryan Mac and Sarah Mimms report. — “In an internal announcement, Brian Rice, a public policy director at Facebook, said that the decision came after the Jan. 6 insurrection and a review of the company’s contribution policies. Five days after the storming of the Capitol, Facebook said it would pause all political donations for at least three months.” — “‘As a result of our review, the FBPAC Board has decided to resume contributions, but not to any members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election following the events at the Capitol on January 6,” Rice said in an internal note obtained by BuzzFeed News. “While a contribution to a candidate for office does not mean that we agree with every policy or position that a candidate may espouse, we believe this decision is appropriate given the unprecedented events in January.” | | | | 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. | | | | | MEANWHILE, IN FLORIDA: Two trade groups, NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, filed a lawsuit on Thursday in “federal court challenging a controversial bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis said is aimed at cracking down on social media censorship — but opponents argue is an unconstitutional infringement on free speech,” POLITICO Florida’s Matt Dixon reports. — “‘Americans everywhere should oppose Florida’s attempt to run roughshod over the First Amendment rights of private online businesses,’ said Carl Szabo , vice president and general counsel of NetChoice. ‘By weakening the First Amendment rights of some, Florida weakens the First Amendment rights of all.’ The bill requires social media companies to post concrete criteria they use to deplatform users, and allows the Florida Elections Commission to fine social media companies up to $250,000 for banning political candidates, among other things.” | | | — Venable has hired Tom Perez, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and Labor secretary. He’ll be a partner working on “legal, legislative, and regulatory matters across a broad range of subject matter areas.” He doesn’t plan to register as a lobbyist, according to the firm. | | | |   | | | | | | GOP Winning Women (Reps. Young Kim, Michelle Steel, María Salazar, Ashley Hinson, Marianette Miller-Meeks, Nicole Maliotakis, Stephanie Bice, Nancy Mace, Beth Van Duyne and Jaime Herrera Beutler)
Ready for Battle Fund (Esther for Congress, Joy PAC)
Smiley Victory Fund (Smiley for Washington Inc., Stronger Washington PAC, Washington State Republican Party)
Van Duyne Kim Victory Fund (Reps. Beth Van Duyne and Young Kim) | | | National Obesity Prevention of America (PAC)
New Mexico Freedom Fund (Leadership PAC: Rep. Yvette Herrell)
Principled Veterans Fund (PV Fund) (Super PAC)
The National Council for American Education (PAC)
WV Senate Republican Nominee Fund 2024 | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | New Lobbying Registrations | | Alston & Bird LLP: Provider Partners Management Services, LLC
Armory Hill Advocates (formerly known as Rawlson Policy Group): Acadia Healthcare Inc.
Delta Development Group, Inc.: Bedford County Development Association
Reston Strategy Group, LLC: Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
Salt Point Strategies: Aurora Insight, Inc.
Salt Point Strategies: Fortinet, Inc.
Summit Strategies Government Affairs LLC: National Association of Development Organizations
The KPM Group DC LLC: Acceleron Pharma
The KPM Group DC LLC: Mannkind Corporation
The KPM Group DC LLC: Orphazyme US, Inc.
The KPM Group DC LLC: Pharmaessentia Corporation
The KPM Group DC LLC: Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc | | New Lobbying Terminations | | Baker & Hostetler LLP: Prime Time Commerce, LLC | | | | A message from Aon: Businesses are largely unprepared for the next big threat, particularly grey swan events. A leader’s ability to respond to these long-tail risks are a key indicator of the overall strength of their leadership and their business. Aon helps prepare leaders to identify, understand, and mitigate these risks. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
