| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | Presented by the Merchants Payments Coalition | With Daniel Lippman GOING TO HOLLYWOOD: The Motion Picture Association has lured Democratic tech lobbyist Josh Rogin over to its lobbying shop to help the film industry trade group fill a hole made by a key departure. — Rogin will join MPA at the beginning of the year as senior vice president for federal government affairs. He currently serves as vice president of federal affairs for the Computer and Communications Industry Association, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and more. — Before that, Rogin spent more than two decades in total on the Hill. He served as chief of staff to former Rep. Ted Deutch, a member of House Judiciary’s antitrust and internet subcommittees, leading Deutch’s work on intellectual property, copyright and technology policy. Rogin worked for former Rep. Robert Wexler prior to that. — In a statement, MPA’s top D.C. lobbyist Patrick Kilcur called Rogin a “key part of an exceptional team that supports the film, TV and streaming industry as the federal government considers new ways to address the evolving digital marketplace.” — Rogin will join MPA as Washington wrestles with thorny questions over copyright and IP when it comes to AI, as well as a possible revamp of broadcast rules for the streaming era. His hire comes as one of the trade group’s longtime Democratic lobbyists, Ben Staub, departs to become a partner at the Judiciary Committee-focused firm Thorsen French Advocacy. CHINESE GENOMICS FIRMS SKATE BY IN NDAA: The compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act, released late last night, spares a group of Chinese biotech firms from a ban on contracting with the federal government after a last-minute lobbying fight, but the final version of the bill does not sidestep the issue entirely. — The House-passed NDAA would have banned the Chinese genomics conglomerate BGI Group, MGI and Complete Genomics from doing work with the federal government and asked for a Pentagon review of whether two other biotech firms should be subject to restrictions as well. — In an effort to fend off the ban, BGI Group and Complete Genomics hired quickly inked pricey lobbying contracts, as PI reported last week, and the effort appears to have had some success thanks to opposition from Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). — Instead of a ban, the compromise bill would require an evaluation by the Pentagon of biotech companies headquartered in China to determine if they should be added to a list of entities operating in the U.S. who are affiliated with the Chinese military. — In a less successful lobbying fight, the final NDAA “ditched an environmental review exclusion that the semiconductor industry had pushed for, just as Washington will inject billions into new microchip plants through the CHIPS and Science Act,” our Christine Mui reports. The Senate version of the bill initially gave chips projects for which taxpayer dollars makes up no more than 10 percent of the total cost an exemption from more stringent environmental reviews. — “Industry groups had pushed for a ‘categorical exclusion’ from NEPA, warning that environmental reviews could impose years of delays and stymie the U.S. effort to reclaim a top spot in global semiconductor production amid fierce Chinese competition,” while green groups warned against such an exemption. Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. We’re just gonna drop this here. Send K Street tips and drop us a line to let us know about any other notable wins or losses in the NDAA: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | A message from the Merchants Payments Coalition: Big banks and credit card companies are gouging American consumers by charging them the highest swipe fees in the industrialized world – seven times what Europeans are paying and twice as much as in Canada. Wall Street’s swipe fees cost American consumers and small businesses $160 billion each year, and these hidden fees have increased by more than 50% since 2020. The Credit Card Competition Act would help bring swipe fees under control. Learn more: https://merchantspaymentscoalition.com/ | | | BUSINESS PUSHBACK AGAINST JOINT EMPLOYER RULE GROWS: The coalition of business lobbying groups calling on Congress to reverse the Biden administration’s new joint employer rule has almost doubled since the effort launched last month. — The International Franchise Association-led Coalition to Save Local Businesses garnered signatures from more than 70 national trade groups for a letter supporting a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the rule last month, alleging that it would “cripple small businesses in numerous sectors by exposing them to frivolous litigation, eliminating jobs, and slowing wage growth across the country.” — Since the Nov. 9 letter, the coalition says, nearly five dozen state and local business associations across a range of industries in 10 different states have followed up with their own missives in favor of the CRA push to their congressional delegations. The new additions include states where key congressional races will decide control of both chambers of Congress next year — including Arizona, Montana, New York, California, Maine and Nevada. WHITE HOUSE PUNTS ON MENTHOL BAN: “The Biden administration delayed a decision on Wednesday about whether it would ban menthol cigarettes amid intense lobbying from tobacco companies, convenience stores and industry-backed groups that contend that billions of dollars in sales and jobs will be lost,” The New York Times’ Christina Jewett, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and David Fahrenthold write. — “The proposal has also generated concerns that Black smokers will become the targets of aggressive police tactics, although some Black leaders, top lawmakers and government officials dispute that and say that tobacco companies are financing and fueling those fears.” — “The plan to eliminate menthol cigarettes has been years in the making,” but “in recent months, dozens of groups have had appointments with administration officials to discuss the proposal. Tobacco companies and convenience store groups fighting the ban have aligned with the National Action Network, founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, to advance the argument about the potential for racial targeting by the police. The group attended a large meeting with tobacco lobbyists and top administration officials on Nov. 20.” — “Many other Black organizations, including a majority of the Congressional Black Caucus, have dismissed the policing argument, calling it a cynical attempt to exploit trauma and distract from the harm of cigarettes.” — “Convenience store, gas station and wholesaler groups have stacked the White House meeting calendar, too, predicting a loss of $34 billion in sales from menthol cigarettes and snacks and drinks purchased by customers, and from flavored cigars that would be banned under a companion proposal. The menthol ban would not cover the sale of menthol e-cigarettes.” ANNALS OF DARK MONEY: The Daily Beast’s Roger Sollenberger reports that shipping supplies magnate and conservative benefactor Richard Uihlein, “appears to have changed up his strategy, according to a Daily Beast analysis of new financial disclosures, scaling back his personal largesse while an associated dark money group’s spending soared.” — “The disclosures also reveal for the first time a direct convergence of arguably the three most influential conservative megadonors in the country—cardboard billionaire Dick Uihlein, investor Jeff Yass, and Leonard Leo, the deep-pocketed backroom architect of the judiciary.” — “Uihlein, founder of the Illinois-based Uline shipping empire, is among the most ardent and active backers of election deniers in the country. His $90 million in contributions during the 2022 midterms ranked first among conservative donors and placed Uihlein as the second-biggest political financier in the United States, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.” — “Previously unreported tax filings from two organizations tied to Uihlein, also covering 2022, reveal that the Illinois cargo magnate accelerated the political influence binge he embarked on at the end of Donald Trump’s presidency.” — “In 2021, Uihlein grew increasingly active, particularly in election denier circles, funding Jan. 6 participants and underwriting conservative efforts to control ballot boxes nationwide. The new disclosures extend those traditions, pushing Uihlein’s midterm political spending well above $100 million.” — “But the documents … show that while both organizations posted significant revenue gains, the group tied directly to Uihlein reeled in its spending, with another, more distant nonprofit picking up the slack.”
| | | | A message from the Merchants Payments Coalition:   | | | SPOTTED at the Entertainment Software Association’s annual holiday party last night at District Winery, per a tipster: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Wayne Williams of Jeffries’ office, Marvin Figueroa of Sen. Laphonza Butler’s (D-Calif.) office, Brian Garcia of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Carlos Paz of Gomez’s office, Alyssa Mensie of Rep. Pete Aguilar’s (D-Calif.) office, Cinnamon Rogers and Dileep Srihari of PlayStation, Neil Fried of Warner Bros. Discovery and Bill Bailey of Disney. — And at the National Confectioners Association’s Cocktails and Candy Canes reception for members of the Senate Press Secretaries Association and other guests at The Salt Line, per a tipster: John Downs, Christopher Gindlesperger, Brian McKeon and Carly Schildhaus of NCA, Ben Jenkins of Locust Street Group, Corinne Day of Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, Matt Burton and Stephanie Penn of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office, J.P. Freire of the House Ways and Means Committee, Maggie Ward of Rep. Mike Turner’s (R-Ohio) office, Matt Haller of the International Franchise Association, Jonathan Nabavi of the NFL, Spenser Horton of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Rick Pasco of the Sweetener Users Association, Courtney Clark of Hershey, Bennett Richardson of Google, Norman Ross of PIM Brands, Ellie Portillo, Maximiliano Sepúlveda, and Kelly Smith of Ferrero and Jenna Valle-Riestra of Treasury.
| | — Jessica Lawrence-Vaca is joining Array Technologies as senior vice president for policy and external affairs. She most recently was vice president of government affairs at SOLV Energy. — Jessica Brady joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association as vice president of federal affairs for tax policy. She most recently was senior director of federal government relations at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. — Andy Pierucci is now head of government affairs for Savage. He previously was manager for state and local government relations for Northrop Grumman. — Alex Baiocco is now director of government affairs at People United for Privacy Foundation. He previously was a policy analyst at the Institute for Free Speech. — Sydney Throop is now vice president of sales at Relentless. She most recently managed Charlie Crist’s campaign for Florida governor and is a Pete Buttigieg campaign alum. — Beth Friedrich has joined Moore & Van Allen as a director of public affairs. She most recently served as senior policy adviser and deputy general counsel to the North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore. — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has named Patrick Berry as its new chief executive officer. He was previously president and CEO of Fly Fishers International. — Tim Goeglein has joined Off Hill Strategies as director of government affairs. He most recently was a legislative assistant and communications specialist for Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). — Chloe Habelreeh is now communications director at Albright Stonebridge Group. She was previously with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. — Ana Montañez has joined Forward Global as a director. She was previously a government relations manager at Independent Sector and is a Council on Foundations and SmithBucklin alum.
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| | | | A message from the Merchants Payments Coalition: Congress: Stop Wall Street from gouging American consumers and small businesses and pass the Credit Card Competition Act. America was built on competition. But because Visa and Mastercard dominate more than 80% of the credit card market and set the Wall Street megabanks’ prices, they have the power to inflate credit card fees at any time. And they’ve certainly taken advantage, with swipe fees increasing by more than 50% since 2020. Credit card swipe fees now cost American consumers and small businesses $160 billion each year at a rate that is seven times as much as Europe and double what consumers pay in Canada.
By allowing competition and promoting innovation, the Credit Card Competition Act would reduce the cost of fees now averaging over $1,000 a year for each U.S. household. Make Wall Street compete and pass the Credit Card Competition Act. | | | | | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | Arentfox Schiff LLP: Credit Builders Alliance Best Best & Krieger LLP: Deschutes River Conservancy Center For Ai Policy, Inc.: Center For Ai Policy, Inc. Cr Federal: Global Training Institute Delta Development Group, Inc.: Cranberry Township Delta Development Group, Inc.: Lafayette College Ens Resources, Inc.: Utica Water And Power Authority Hannegan Landau Poersch & Rosenbaum Advocacy, LLC: Protecting Progressive Values, Inc. Husch Blackwell Strategies: Lifetime Advisors LLC Nvg, LLC: Health Care Without Harm Obo The Good Food Purchasing Coalition Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Dba Taft Advisors LLC Fka (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP): Mid-American Gunite, Inc. The Ferguson Group, LLC: Applied Research Associates The Ferguson Group, LLC: City Of Burbank, Ca
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | T A Business Development, LLC: Pcs Wireless, LLC The Ferguson Group, LLC: Somach Simmons & Dunn On Behalf Of State Of Texas
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