Forbes Tate adds a Republican
January 20, 2021Presented by AT&T
With Daniel Lippman
FIRST IN PI — FORBES TATE HIRES FORMER W.H. AIDE: Elizabeth “Tate” Bennett left the White House earlier this month to become a senior vice president on Forbes Tate’s government affairs team. She will register to lobby. Bennett joined the Trump administration last year as a special assistant to the president for agriculture and prior to that worked at EPA under the rocky tenure of former Administrator Scott Pruitt as well as at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She is also a Mitch McConnell alum.
— Bennett “brings a wealth of knowledge of agricultural issues, as well as a deep understanding of both the federal spending and legislative processes,” founding partner Jeff Forbes said in a statement announcing her hiring.
SWAMP CHECK: Just after 1 a.m. today, former President Donald Trump rescinded the 2017 ethics pledge for appointees of his administration, making one of his last official acts as president his lifting of a five-year ban on lobbying for former officials and a lifetime ban on lobbying for a foreign government. It’s unclear for now how much of an impact the revoked ban will have, as there are still statutory restrictions in place on lobbying the government after leaving it, and former Trump officials are not likely in high demand for lobbying the Biden administration.
— The last-minute move mirrors a similar step that former President Bill Clinton took shortly before leaving office in 2000, and defies one of Trump’s key campaign pledges to “drain the swamp,” our Meridith McGraw notes. Trump signed the original executive order with “great fanfare in 2017,” joking at the time “that some of his aides would ‘not be able to go to work’ after leaving his administration.”
— The order rescinding the lobbying bans immediately drew condemnation from government reform advocates. “President Trump, as essentially his final act, was to restore the revolving door so that members of his administration who should've been dedicated to [the] people’s business can go out and make millions of bucks lobbying. And it’s — the anticipation of that possibility is a corrupting force.” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who is one of the lead sponsors on a Senate government reform bill, said in an interview. He added that Trump’s order makes his “For the People Act,” a package of campaign finance, election and ethics reforms, which among other things would codify former President Barack Obama’s ethics rules, “all the more important.”
— “By rescinding his ethics order and letting his staffers immediately become lobbyists, the man who pledged to drain the swamp took a giant step to fill it,” said Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “You don't do things you're proud of last-minute in the middle of the night when you hope no one is watching. This is one last cravenly corrupt act from our most cravenly corrupt president.”
Good afternoon, and welcome to PI. Well, we made it to another Inauguration Day. Send all your K Street tips, gossip and wildest Biden administration predictions: [email protected]. And follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
RESOLUTE ADDS VETERAN DEM STRATEGIST: Raul Alvillar has joined Resolute Public Affairs as an executive vice president. Alvillar is a longtime fixture in Democratic politics, joining former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign back in 2007 and later serving in the Obama administration Alvillar also served as political director for the DNC and most recently ran President Joe Biden’s New Mexico state campaign operation. Alvillar told PI he likely won’t register to lobby, instead leveraging his rolodex to help clients develop strategic plans and “meshing the corporate world with the governance world slash political world.”
— “Sometimes, a lot of the time, a lot of these folks don’t understand how some of these things operate and, you know, they’re needing us to navigate,” he said, adding that he’s eager to join the firm’s “all-star team.” Alvillar will split time between Washington and his home state of New Mexico.
TECH LEADERS, BUSINESSES CALL FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM: A group of nearly 200 corporate and industry power players called on Biden and Congress to prioritize bipartisan immigration reform, as Biden prepares to send a plan for exactly that up to the Hill. In an open letter, companies including Google, Walmart, Lyft, Apple and Amazon as well as business lobbies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, TechNet, the Information Technology Industry Council and other groups, like the Kochs’ Americans for Prosperity and FWD.us, called for a path to citizenship for Dreamers as well as enhanced “border security, expanded visa programs for high-skilled and agricultural workers, and regularizing the status of undocumented immigrants.” “Our nation’s immigration laws are decades overdue for an overhaul. To get this done, it will require the new administration and Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner,” the groups said.
INFRASTRUCTURE OUTLOOK: Biden “wants to enact a mammoth infrastructure plan that would juice the economy, boost hiring and fight climate change, an enormously ambitious effort he’s pitched as a cornerstone of his presidency,” POLITICO’s Tanya Snyder reports. And the mood on K Street is that striking a sweeping and bipartisan deal on infrastructure is all but certain. But “achieving even a fraction of it will require Biden to secure new funding streams or expand debt-fueled spending, potentially upend the way infrastructure policy typically works and ensure hundreds of Democratic lawmakers in a closely divided Congress remain in lockstep, with no room for error.”
FILIBUSTER WATCH: Incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is not throwing away his leverage yet by committing to preserve the legislative filibuster, our Burgess Everett reports. Schumer and McConnell met for half an hour on Tuesday to try and hash out a power-sharing arrangement for the evenly divided chamber, during which the GOP leader “expressed his long-held view that the crucial, longstanding, and bipartisan Senate rules concerning the legislative filibuster remain intact,” McConnell’s spokesperson said afterward. A spokesperson for Schumer said after the meeting that the Democratic leader proposed adopting the same governing agreement the chamber used the last time it was evenly divided, “without extraneous changes from either side.”
— Keeping the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for major legislation has been a sticking point among the Democratic caucus, with progressives arguing that enacting a bold agenda of the sort they believe the country needs will require dropping the filibuster. Some institutionalists and moderates have bristled at the idea, though some, like Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), have not ruled it out should Republicans repeatedly attempt to stonewall Biden’s agenda. As PI has noted previously, Democrats also have the option to use a budget tool known as reconciliation to circumvent the filibuster for some priorities. — Storm Horncastle has been named social secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris. She most recently was head of public affairs and diplomatic engagement, public policy, for North America at Netflix.
— Andrea Woods has joined the Consumer Brands Association as manager of media relations. She previously was an associate director of communications at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
— Hamilton Place Strategies has added Scott Haber as a director. He was previously communications director at the Internet Association.
Blumenthal Victory Fund (Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Nutmeg PAC, Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee)
Elect Democratic Women 2022 (Elect Democratic Women, Karen Carter Peterson for Congress)
Marjorie Taylor Greene's People Over Politicians Committee (Rep. Marjorie Greene (R-Ga.), Save America Stop Socialism PAC)
Take Back the House 2022 (Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Majority Committee PAC, NRCC, Congressional Leadership Fund, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), Rep. María Salazar (R-Fla.), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Claudia Tenney, Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Rep. Van Taylor (R-Texas), Rep. Ron Wright (R-Texas), Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), the Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington Republican parties)
None.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Blueberry Coalition For Progress & Health
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Davita, Inc.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Laboratory Corporation Of America Holdings
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: National Fire Protection Association
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: The Washington Consulting Group
Bracewell LLP: Suncoke Energy, Inc.
Broadwater International, Inc.: Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc.
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: Blue Force Technologies
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: Genedge Alliance
Capitaledge Strategies, LLC: City Of Elizabeth
Dla Piper LLP (US): Solarwinds Corporation
Enva Strategy, LLC: Certified American Grown
Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Discover Financial Services, Inc.
Fulcrum Public Affairs LLC: Qualtrics LLC
Holland & Knight LLP: Volta Industries, Inc.
Ikon Public Affairs: Ocugen Inc
Ipolicy Solutions: Oncocyte
Mayer Brown LLP: Lg Chem
M.J. Simon & Company, LLC: Nobelpharma America
Pacific Defense LLC: Pacific Defense LLC
Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP: Mandan Hidatsa And Akira Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes)
Porter Group, LLC: Arcata Associates, Inc.
Porter Group, LLC: Lander County, Nv
Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, P.C.: Thomas Health
Stonington Global: Barry (Dovi) Wachsler
Tgb Strategies LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Obo Novartis
The Liaison Group, LLC: Arizona Dispensaries Association
The Vogel Group: The Drug And Alcohol Testing Industry Association (Datia)
The Vogel Group: The Maclean Group (Tmg)
Thompson Coburn LLP: Invest America Ventures, Inc.
Thorn Run Partners: Alliance For Cell Therapy Now
Thorn Run Partners: Cgi Federal, Inc.
Thorn Run Partners: Medline Industries, Inc.
Van Heuvelen Strategies, LLC: Bgz Brands
Van Heuvelen Strategies, LLC: Danco, Inc.
Van Heuvelen Strategies, LLC: Hornady Manufacturing Company
Van Heuvelen Strategies, LLC: Zagg Inc.
Waxman Strategies: Ajw Inc. On Behalf Of Covanta Energy
Waxman Strategies: Ajw On Behalf Of Clean Air Task Force
West Virginia Hospital Association: West Virginia Hospital Association
Akerman LLP: City Of Tallahassee
Alcalde & Fay: Escambia County, Fl
Alcalde & Fay: Prince William County, Va
Alcalde & Fay: The Interstate 73 Coalition, LLC
Apco Worldwide LLC: Braeburn Inc.
Apco Worldwide LLC: Neqsol Holding
Apco Worldwide LLC: Sage Health Management Solutions
Arent Fox LLP: University Of Arkansas Medical Sciences
Atlantic Strategies Group: Central New York Defense Alliance, Ltd.
Atlantic Strategies Group: Consortium For Ocean Leadership
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Eos Surfaces, LLC
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Flavourart North America, Inc.
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Summit Detox LLC
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Transformations Treatment Center
Barker Leavitt, Pllc (Ska Mr. James C. Barker): Municipal Water District Of Orange County California
Barker Leavitt, Pllc (Ska Mr. James C. Barker): O'Brien, Gentry & Scott LLC (On Behalf Of Ultra Electronics)
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Firemon LLC
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Halliburton Company
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Midwest Eye Consultants P.C.
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: National Association Of Sporting Goods Association
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Tenacore LLC
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Theia Group, Inc.
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Topgolf Entertainment Group LLC
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Urbix Resources
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Vapor Technology Association
Bay Bridge Strategies, Inc.: Peck Madigan Jones (On Behalf Of Labware, Inc.)
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: St. Augustine Distillery Company
Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.: Village Of Pinecrest, Fl
Bgr Government Affairs: Ambulnz
Bgr Government Affairs: Tusk Philanthropies
Black Diamond Strategies LLC: Dci Group, L.L.C. (On Behalf Of Pro Em National Event Services)
Black Diamond Strategies LLC: Recovery Centers Of America
Borski Associates: Philadelphia Museum Of Art
Borski Associates: Schuylkill River Development Corporation
Bose Public Affairs Group: Butler University
Bose Public Affairs Group: Mml&K Government Solutions
Bose Public Affairs Group: Tampa Bay Water
Bose Public Affairs Group: Zionexa US Corporation
Brandon Audap: Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia)
Bridgeway Advocacy: Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Crowell & Moring LLP Obo Victims Of State Sponsored Terrorism
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Igt Solutions
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: J2 Global Communications Inc
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Lehigh Hanson, Inc.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Managed Funds Association (Mfa)
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Meruelo Gaming
Butzel Long, P.C.: Armaly Sponge Co.
Butzel Long, P.C.: Iee Sensing, Inc.
Capitol Counsel LLC: Abir
Capitol Decisions, Inc.: National Association For Behavioral Healthcare
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Pocono Manor Investors
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Creatures Great And Small
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Dpsg USa
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Ellwood Group, Inc.
Chamber Hill Strategies: Frequency Therapeutics Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Natural Stone Institute
Covington & Burling LLP: Amgen Inc
Covington & Burling LLP: Biotechnology Innovation Organization (Fka Biotechnology Industry Organization)
Covington & Burling LLP: General Electric Co
Covington & Burling LLP: Jewish Institute For National Security Of America
Covington & Burling LLP: Rovi Corporation
Covington & Burling LLP: The European Jewish Congress
Covington & Burling LLP: The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Brandywine Realty Trust
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Chesapeake Conservancy
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Corteva Agriscience
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Dude Solutions Inc.
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Sas Institute Inc.
Dentons US, LLP: Barron Collier Companies
Desimone Consulting, LLC: High Efficiency Dehumidification Systems, Inc. Dba Conservant Systems, Inc.
Dotchin & Associates, LLC: The Advocacy Group On Behalf Of Salt River Project
Ehrlich & Associates: Teays River Investments LLC
Epplin Strategic Planning: Van Heuvelen Strategies On Behalf Of Trestle Energy
Ernst & Young LLP (Washington Council Ernst & Young): Allegis Group
Ets Consulting LLC: Herbert Smith Freehills (On Behalf Of Vedanta Resources Limited)
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Bosma Enterprises
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: International Paper Company
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Simon Williams Pharma Consulting (Swpc) LLC
Farragut Partners LLP: Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Dla Piper, LLP (US) (On Behalf Of Discover Financial Services, Inc.)
Foley & Lardner LLP: Efg Companies, Inc.
Foley & Lardner LLP: Patterson Irrigation District
Foley & Lardner LLP: Rapid Medical Supplies LLC
Forbes-Tate: Alabama District Attorneys Association
Hance Scarborough: Disaster Recovery Services LLC
Hance Scarborough: Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District
Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC: American Patriot Holdings, LLC On Behalf Of White Stallion Coal, LLC
Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC: Planet Fitness
Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC: Scaletta Moloney Armoring Corp. Dba Scaletta Armoring
Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC: The O'Gara Group, Inc.
Holland & Knight LLP: Cgi Federal
Holland & Knight LLP: City Of Covington, Ky
Holland & Knight LLP: Homefree USa
Holland & Knight LLP: National Housing Resource Center
Holland & Knight LLP: Railway Supply Institute
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Aduro Biotech
Innovative Policy, Pllc: Dp Facilities, Inc.
Ivy Green Consulting: L3Harris Technologies Inc
Jtk Consulting, LLC: Capitol Strategies LLC (On Behalf Of Awhc)
Kcoe Isom, LLP: Banning Heights Mutual Water Company
Kcoe Isom, LLP: Farmers For Tax Fairness
King & Spalding LLP: Amazon Web Services
King & Spalding LLP: Earthlink
Liz Carter: Advantage Capital
Liz Carter: Enhanced Capital
Liz Carter: Montana Community Development Corporation (Mofi)
Liz Carter: Stonehenge Capital
Lone Rock Strategies: American Loggers Council
Mason Street Consulting, LLC: Digital Therapeutics Alliance
Mason Street Consulting, LLC: Gray Robinson On Behalf Of Patho3Gen Solutions
Mcdermott+Consulting LLC: Lymphedema Advocacy Group
Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc.: Franco Signor LLC
Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc.: Verily Life Sciences, LLC
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Altria Client Services LLC
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: American Distilled Spirits Assocation
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Asg Resolution Capital, Jsc On Behalf Of Ernests Bernis
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Gct Global Containers Inc.
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Governmentcio
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Healthe, Inc.
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Lumina Analytics
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Metal Trades Department, Afl-Cio
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Osiris Ventures LLC
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Sanit Technologies LLC D/B/A Durisan
Mj Capitol Consulting, LLC: Itc Holdings Corporation
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP: Fidia Pharma USa
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP: The Philanthropy Roundtable
National Environmental Strategies: Calumet Specialty Products Partners
National Environmental Strategies: Northwest Paper & Pulp Association
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: American Dental Association
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Ecovest Capital, Inc.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Schaeffler Group USa Inc.
Ogilvy Government Relations: Marathon Petroleum Company Lp
Ogilvy Government Relations: Oak Management Corporation
Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, Pc: Watts And Associates
Peck Madigan Jones: Fresenius Medical Care North America
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Forescout Technologies, Inc
Rem Strategies, LLC.: Clausen House
Robert Goodlatte: Mckeon Group On Behalf Of Ligado Networks Inc
Rooster LLC: Sawgrass Technologies, Inc.
Sabre Glbl Inc.: Sabre Glbl Inc
Sextons Creek: Fidelis Government Relations (On Behalf Of Aflac)
Sextons Creek: First Principles Strategies, LLC (On Behalf Of The Health Innovation Alliance)
Squire Patton Boggs: Cuna Del Mar Lp
Squire Patton Boggs: Huawei Technologies USa, Inc.
Step Up Advocacy: Personalized Medicine Coalition
Stms Consulting Partners, LLC D/B/A "Sorial Consulting": Lucas Compton LLC On Behalf Of The Berman Law Group
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Advanced Acoustic Concepts
Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Pfizer
The Cormac Group, LLC: Cardtronics USa, Inc.
The Criscom Company: City Of Sanger
The Mcmanus Group: Red Flat Nickel Corporation
The Roosevelt Group: Con Edison Solutions
Van Scoyoc Associates: City And County Of Denver
Venable LLP: Paragon Systems, Inc.
Vitello Consulting: Stonington Global, LLC On Behalf Of Brius Management Co.
Vitello Consulting: Stonington Global On Behlaf Of Timo Pipp
Waxman Strategies: European Federation For Transport And Environment
Wynne Health Group: Chemistryrx
Source: https://www.politico.com/