| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With help from Daniel Lippman FIRST IN PI: Capitol 6 Advisors, the consulting firm started by the National Rifle Association’s former top lobbyist, Chris Cox, has tapped a Hill veteran to expand its lobbying practice. Stephanie Gadbois, who’s spent nearly two and a half decades on the Hill, is joining the firm as vice president of government affairs. — Gadbois is currently staff director and majority clerk for the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the sciences and the Commerce and Justice departments. Before that, she was an attorney for the House Judiciary Committee and House Agriculture Committee. Before working on the Hill, Gadbois was a legislative counsel for the Law Enforcement Alliance of America. — In an interview, she noted that in addition to that broad base of subject matter expertise, her experience working on authorizations and appropriations on the Hill will be especially beneficial to the firm’s clients. Capitol 6 Advisors has just three registered lobbying clients currently: solar power dronemaker Skydweller Aero, defense tech firm Parry Labs and private security consultancy Tomahawk Strategic Solutions. MONUMENT TEAMS UP WITH BRUSSELS TECH FIRM: Monument Advocacy, the D.C. tech-heavy lobbying firm, has struck up a strategic partnership with a fellow tech-focused firm overseas as Europe becomes a staging ground of sorts for tech and competition regulations still being debated across much of the U.S. — The partnership with Brussels-based AK Public Affairs “will allow us to leverage our respective strengths and provide clients with a seamless experience as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology policy,” Andrew Howell, who leads Monument’s tech and cybersecurity practices, said in a statement. Monument’s tech lobbying clients include the Flex Association, Waymo, Zillow, Workday, Netflix, Microsoft, Discord and Amazon. — AK Public Affairs co-founder and managing partner Andreas Constantinides noted that in addition to recent landmark regulations on AI, data privacy and more originating from the EU, both regions are holding elections this year that could be critical for the future of tech policy. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. Send K Street tips and gossip: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CRS: NO EVIDENCE THAT DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL WOULD HELP CONSUMERS OR SMALL BUSINESSES. The independent Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the latest organization to release a report questioning whether the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill would help consumers or small businesses. CRS echoed an earlier report by the Richmond Fed noting that consumers failed to see any meaningful cost savings because of similar legislation imposing routing mandates and price caps on debit card interchange. Learn more HERE. | | | GUESS WHO’S BACK: “Former president Donald Trump is expected to enlist Paul Manafort, the former campaign manager he pardoned, as a campaign adviser later this year,” four people familiar with the talks told The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey. — “The job discussions have largely centered around the 2024 Republican convention in Milwaukee in July and could include Manafort playing a role in fundraising for the presumptive GOP nominee’s campaign, according to these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations.” — Manafort, of course, was Trump’s campaign chair in 2016 until he was pushed out amid reports that he had not properly disclosed foreign lobbying work. He was later convicted of financial fraud and pleaded guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent, for which he served prison time and which triggered a more aggressive posture on FARA enforcement from DOJ that has continued. UKRAINE ALLIES LAUNCH A PAC: “A pro-Ukraine political campaign committee has launched to boost lawmakers who are supportive of the country as it attempts to fend off Russia’s invasion,” The Hill’s Filip Timotija reports. American Ukraine PAC “is headed by Jed Sunden, the founder of Kyiv Post, the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, which he owned from 1995 to 2009.” — “Over the next few months, the group aims to have 20 fundraisers for lawmakers in Congress from both sides of the aisle. For many of the fundraisers, the PAC will be partnering with local Ukrainian communities. ‘The Ukrainian community has a lot of allies in Congress who support us and support Ukraine. It is incumbent on us to support them in their reelection campaigns,’ Sunden said.” — The PAC’s efforts kicked off with what it said was a “successful” fundraiser for Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), and its initial beneficiaries will be members of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus. IS IT COOL THAT I SAID ALL THAT: “When Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor on Thursday to issue a sharp rebuke of Israel’s leadership amid that country’s war with Hamas, he broke with longstanding precedent in American foreign policy,” our Hailey Fuchs and Elena Schneider report. — “But so far, the reaction from the most prominent pro-Israel group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has been largely muted, underscoring the difficulties it faces navigating a conflict that’s testing its own political influence. The war is also proving increasingly fraught for Democrats, and making things uncomfortable between AIPAC and some longtime allies in the party.” — “AIPAC did not even name Schumer in its response to his comments, in which he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘major obstacle to peace’ and said new elections were needed.” — “‘[AIPAC] recognizes that Schumer has a left flank problem just like the Israel lobby has a left flank problem,’ said one Democratic consultant who works with major Jewish donors, granted anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. ‘You stick with the guy who’s always been with you, but you also let him have the breathing room to say what he needs to say if it helps him with his left flank.’” FLYING IN: The U.S. Travel Association is flying in advocates from all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico for a day of nearly 300 meetings on Wednesday, including with Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo) and Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.). — Among the issues the industry plans to discuss are U.S. visitor visa wait times and customs wait times, a long-term FAA reauthorization, and fully funding the new Commerce Department post of assistant secretary of travel and tourism. — The Mortgage Bankers Association is hosting its fly-in this week as well, bringing 500 real estate finance professionals to town to meet with congressional offices. The group will hear from Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), and HUD chief of staff Julienne Joseph. — Meanwhile the Plastics Industry Association and American Chemistry Council are partnering up for a fly-in beginning today, where discussions will include sustainability and recycling. Members of the National Organic Coalition, which includes farmers and farming organizations, organic companies, consumer food co-ops and environmental and consumer groups, will be on the Hill this week as well to push for funding for industry priorities and programs to boost organics in the Farm Bill. EMILYS LIST ALUMNI HANG A SHINGLE: Former EMILYs List President Stephanie Schriock and several other alumni of the abortion rights group have launched a new strategic consulting firm, Copper Sky LLC. — In addition to Schriock, fellow EMILYs List alumni Emily Cain and Jess McIntosh will also work at the firm along with former Clinton-world spokesperson Matt McKenna and Nicco Mele, who was previously director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Copper Sky’s first clients include Third Way, the Democratic Mayors Association, Environmental Working Group, NewDEAL Leader, Reproductive Freedom for All and more.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:   | | | | | — Jennifer Friedman has joined Federal Health Policy Strategies. She was previously vice president of government affairs at Outset Medical and is a Biden HHS and House Ways and Means alum. — Ashley Allen has joined CO2EFFICIENT as a senior adviser for corporate sustainability. She was previously chief sustainability officer at Oatly, and is founder and president of CSO Copilot LLC. — Dwayne McCallum is joining Actum as global COO. He was previously COO for the greater New York region at Aon. — Mike Schiller has been appointed executive director of the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management of the American Hospital Association. Schiller has been interim leader since late 2023, and previously worked as AHRMM’s senior director of supply chain. — SKDK has announced more than two dozen promotions, including those of Stephanie Reichin, who is now a managing director; Daniel Barash, Cameron French and Mariel Sáez, who are now executive vice presidents; Paige Hill, who is now a senior vice president and chief of staff in D.C.; and Kyle Schnoebelen, who is now a senior vice president. — Brian Sims is joining Dream for America as a senior adviser on the group’s advisory board. Sims was previously a Pennsylvania state representative. — Rachel Oglesby has been promoted to chief state affairs officer at the America First Policy Institute. She was previously director of AFPI’s Center for the American Worker. — Cygnal has hired Mike Kemp and Fred Cooper as account strategists, Carlisle Sutton as sampling strategist and Paulina Buzaite as executive assistant to CEO Brent Buchanan. — Jon Hukill has launched a new PR and public affairs firm, Crimson Atlantic Communications. He most recently led earned media teams at Fovndry and kglobal. — Antonio Scott is now deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the Biden campaign. He previously was managing director and chief of staff at the African American Mayors Association. — Jackson Hammond is now a senior policy analyst at Paragon Health Institute. He previously was a health care policy analyst at American Action Forum. — Kelci Hobson is now director of media relations for League of Conservation Voters, and Elena Gaona is communications director for LCV’s Chispa program, Morning Energy reports. Hobson was deputy communications director for Cheri Beasley’s 2022 Senate campaign, while Gaona was communications director for Catholic Climate Covenant. — Brennen Cain will be senior manager of energy and labor policy at power developer Invenergy, per ME. He previously was senior policy adviser at the BlueGreen Alliance.
| | | | On the ground in Albany. Get critical policy news and analysis inside New York State. Track how power brokers are driving change across legislation and budget and impacting lobbying efforts. Learn more. | | | | | | | | | House Victory Project 2024 (Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Don Davis, Susan Wild, Adam Gray for Congress, Rudy Salas for Congress, Josh Riley for Congress, Engel for Arizona, Baccam for Iowa, Hertel for Michigan, Mondaire for Congress) Steve Garvey Victory Fund (Steve Garvey for U.S. Senate, NRSC, California Republican Party Federal Acct., You Gotta Believe) Victory NOW for Baldwin (Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Victory Now PAC)
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| | | | JOIN US ON 3/21 FOR A TALK ON FINANCIAL LITERACY: Americans from all communities should be able to save, build wealth, and escape generational poverty, but doing so requires financial literacy. How can government and industry ensure access to digital financial tools to help all Americans achieve this? Join POLITICO on March 21 as we explore how Congress, regulators, financial institutions and nonprofits are working to improve financial literacy education for all. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS | | | Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Garmin International, Inc. Corrigan & USsery LLC: Knowmadics Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Avient Protective Materials LLC Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Densebreast-Info, Inc. Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Seymour Support Council, Inc. Dba Friends Of Seymour Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Dzyne Technologies Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Fivecast Inc. Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Systematic Inc. Farragut Partners LLP: National Court Reporters Association Oculus Strategies, LLC: The Livingston Group, LLC Obo Innivative Vaccine Technologies Reed Smith LLP: Medicare And Medicaid Advantage Products Association Of Puerto Rico Sirona Strategies LLC: Cadence Skydio, Inc.: Skydio, Inc. The Daschle Group: American Health Care Association The Daschle Group: Comcast Corporation The Daschle Group: Compass Capital The Daschle Group: International Olympic Committee The Daschle Group: Lite Run The Daschle Group: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. The Daschle Group: Stand With Hong Kong Action, Inc. The Daschle Group: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. The Daschle Group: Youth America Grand Prix (Yagp) Thorn Run Partners: Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC Womble Bond Dickinson US LLP: Pc Landing Corp.
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | None.
| | | | A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: CRS QUESTIONS WHETHER DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL WOULD HELP ANYONE AT ALL Every member of Congress should read the CRS analysis which discusses the impact the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill could have on small businesses and American families. Report after report has plainly demonstrated that consumers and small businesses did NOT save any money when Congress passed the 2010 Durbin Amendment, imposing new mandates on debit cards. Now, a decade later, why would anyone assume a monumental restructuring of our nation’s secure, worry-free credit card system would yield different results? After considering the facts, the only logical solution would be to strongly OPPOSE the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill. Click HERE to learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
