Trade groups mobilize to fight shutdown Presented by American Academy of Dermatology Association

With David Beavers and Daniel Lippman

TRADE GROUPS MOBILIZE AGAINST SHUTDOWN: Washington trade groups, frustrated by a partial government shutdown that seems to have no end in sight, are fighting back. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has circulated a draft letter to other trade associations that it plans to send to President Donald Trump and members of Congress urging them to “immediately take steps to restore the full operation of the federal government.” “The current shutdown — now the longest in American history — is causing significant and in some cases lasting damage to families, businesses and the economy as a whole,” reads the letter, which was obtained by PI.


— The American Hotel & Lodging Association, meanwhile, sent an “action alert” to its members on Wednesday asking them to “urge your elected officials to work in a bipartisan fashion with the Administration to find a solution and end the shutdown.” “Domestic travel is a significant driver of our nation's economy and our industry, along with many others, is being significantly impacted by the government shutdown,” Brian Crawford, the trade group’s top lobbyist, wrote in the message.

FIRST IN PI — FORMER WEXLER | WALKER STAFFERS LAND AT REPUBLIC CONSULTING: Several former staffers at Wexler | Walker have joined Republic Consulting after their former firm was shut down at the close of 2018 by its parent company, the British conglomerate WPP. George Robb Rogers, Wexler | Walker’s former chief executive, will run Republic with former Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) as managing partners. Davis started Republic in 2012 with Hunter Bates, a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who later left for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He had partnered with Wexler | Walker on some matters for the past couple of years.

— Republic has signed a dozen former Wexler | Walker lobbying clients, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and WW International, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers. Other Wexler | Walker veterans who have joined Republic include Jody Hoffman and Tom Carpenter, who will be senior partners; Dale Snape, who will be a senior adviser; former Rep. Bob Walker (R-Pa.), who will be a strategic partner; and Natalie Nehme, who will be a senior associate. “I am excited to formalize our relationship,” Davis said in a statement, noting that he had worked with Rogers since Davis was a congressman and Rogers was a congressional staffer.

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SKADDEN SAYS IT MISLED JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ON UKRAINE WORK: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom “admitted to misleading the Justice Department about its work with Paul Manafort on behalf of the Ukrainian government and agreed to hand over nearly $4.7 million in a settlement made public Thursday,” POLITICO’s Theodoric Meyer reports. Manafort helped to hire the law firm in 2012 to produce “a report on the prosecution of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Her imprisonment had led to international condemnation of Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian president at the time and Manafort’s patron.”

— “When the report was finished, a Skadden partner reached out to a “national newspaper” to set up a call with a lobbyist for Ukraine, according to the settlement. But when the Justice Department sought to determine whether the firm needed to register as a foreign agent under U.S. law, Skadden, relying on the partner’s representations, misled the Justice Department about the partner’s contact with the media and submitted false documents, according to the settlement. … The settlement doesn’t name the Skadden partner, but it appears to be Greg Craig, a former White House counsel under President Barack Obama who led the Ukraine work.” Full story.

THREE MOVE UP AT PECK MADIGAN JONES: Peck Madigan Jones has made Drew Cantor, Andrew McKechnie and Jeffrey Shapiro equity owners in the firm. All three are former Republican congressional staffers. They join Jonathon Jones, Harold Ickes and Jeff Peck on the firm’s board.

AEI TAPS DOAR AS NEXT PRESIDENT: “The American Enterprise Institute has selected Robert Doar as its new president, elevating the veteran government administrator and poverty scholar to an influential perch within the conservative movement and policy circles,” The Washington Post’s Robert Costa reports. “Doar, 57, will succeed Arthur C. Brooks, who has served as AEI’s president for the past decade and put an emphasis on drawing Republican leaders’ attention to poverty issues.”

— “One of those Republicans, former House speaker Paul Ryan, had been floated by his allies as a possible candidate for the job. But Ryan declined those entreaties because he lives in Wisconsin and is pursuing various political and service projects, according to a person close to him who was not authorized to speak publicly.” Full story.

TRADE GROUPS ASK FOR CLIMATE CHANGE GUIDANCE: “Business groups are asking the White House to direct federal agencies to consider climate change in environmental reviews because the lack of any formal guidance is hindering progress on natural gas pipelines and other energy projects,” POLITICO’s Zack Colman reports. “At issue is the Council on Environmental Quality’s guidance on greenhouse gas emissions under the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to certify that their activities would not have an adverse effect on ecosystems or public health.

— President Donald Trump rescinded the Obama administration’s version two months after taking office, but his administration has not offered a replacement in the nearly two years since. Industry lobbyists say they are optimistic that they will see progress on the guidance now that [Council on Environmental Quality] chief Mary Neumayr has been confirmed, but the ongoing government shutdown has hindered work on the project. … Groups including the American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Manufacturers and Interstate Natural Gas Association of America have reached out to the White House urging it to release new guidance.” Full story.

JOBS REPORT

— The International Franchise Association has hired Lauren Pfingstag as associate director of government relations and public policy. She was previously an aide to Sen. Angus King (I-Maine). The trade group also promoted Rikki Amos to executive director of its educational foundation.

— Mark Bescher has joined Mondelēz as its U.S. government relations lead. He was previously a lobbyist for Unilever.

SPOTTED: At 46 Minna in San Francisco Thursday night for the opening of Monument Advocacy’s new office there, according to a PI tipster: Jarryd Davis of Zillow; Pierson Stoecklein of Filld; Demetrios Marantis of Visa; Vince Sollitto of Yelp; Vikrum Aiyer of Postmates; Courtney Gillespie of TaskRabbit; Nick Pickles of Twitter; Jaclyn Louis of Intel; and Stewart Verdery, Gideon Lett, Tim Punke, Chan Park and Stacey Hutchinson of Monument.

None

Centered Citizens Alliance (Super PAC)

Alliance Party of Tennessee (PAC)

Centered Citizens Alliance (Super PAC)

Korean Americans in Action Political Fund (PAC)

SEPA4SEPA (PAC)

CGM Advisors, LLC: 3Cinteracive

Clark Hill, PLC: Poly-Technical Solutions, Ltd.

Envision Strategy: Avaya Government Solutions

Envision Strategy: Childrens Law Center of California

Ervin Hill Strategy: The Tethys Group

Holland & Knight LLP: Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP: Freepoint Commodities LLC

Keller Partners & Company: Grace Christian University

Keller Partners & Company: The Durst Organization

Keys Group, LLC: Propel

Miller & Chevalier, Chtd: MoneyGram International Inc.

Rasky Partners, Inc.: Andiscern

Republic Consulting, LLC: ABB, Inc.

Republic Consulting, LLC: CFA Institute

Republic Consulting, LLC: Finicity

Republic Consulting, LLC: IQVIA

Republic Consulting, LLC: Kelly Services

Republic Consulting, LLC: Mortgage Bankers Association

Republic Consulting, LLC: National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders

Republic Consulting, LLC: National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)

Republic Consulting, LLC: National Association of State High School Associations

Republic Consulting, LLC: Personal Connected Health Alliance

Republic Consulting, LLC: Workiva

Republic Consulting, LLC: WW International (formerly known as Weight Watchers)

The Raben Group: Cannabis Trade Federation

9b Group, Inc.: Holland Knight obo Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Abernathy Consultants, Cathy: Account Control Technology, Inc.

Alcalde & Fay: Fresno County CA

American Capitol Group: National Corn Growers Assocaiton

American Capitol Group: The Cormac Group, on Behalf of Steiner Leisure Ltd.

APCO Worldwide LLC: StrategEast

APCO Worldwide LLC: Tin Thanh Electricity Steam Industrial Corp.

APCO Worldwide LLC: ZHS IP Americas Sarl

Arent Fox LLP: The Wilderness Society

Ballard Partners: Mjalli Investment Group USA

Ballard Partners: Salcedo Attorneys at Law, P.A.

BC Consulting, LLC: JB Hunt Transport

Bracewell LLP: Andeavor (Formerly Tesoro Refining Company)

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Pc: PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC

Capitol Legislative Strategies LLC: National Restaurant Association

Capitol Legislative Strategies LLC: PJC Investments

Carpi & Clay, Inc.: Indio Water Authority

Chamber Hill Strategies: Abbott Laboratories

Chamber Hill Strategies: Association of Air Medical Services

Chamber Hill Strategies: Avadel Pharmaceuticals

Chamber Hill Strategies: Caravan Health (Formerly Known As The National Rural Aco)

Chamber Hill Strategies: Smiths Group

Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies: Firstrust Bank

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP: Davidsohn Global Technologies

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP: H2O Engineering Inc

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP: Ponce Health Sciences University

Davis & Harman LLP: American Horse Council Inc

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: 340B Health

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance

Federal Science Partners LLC: American Society of Anesthesiologists

Hess Corporation: Hess Corporation

Hoboken Strategy Group: Stevens Institute of Technology

Hogan Lovells US LLP: Delfin LNG

Hogan Lovells US LLP: Gas Technology Institute

Hogan Lovells US LLP: Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa

Hogan Lovells US LLP: Reuland Electric Company

Hogan Lovells US LLP: Vertical Infrastucture [sic] Coalition

Holland & Knight LLP: Netafim Ltd.

Holland & Knight LLP: Wix.com, Inc.

Jahanian Strategies LLC: Intel Corporation

Jahanian Strategies LLC: The Washington Tax & Public Policy Group on behalf of the Tax Reform Coalition

Jahanian Strategies LLC: WTPPG on Behalf of Alliance for Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness & Innovation

Kilpatrick Townsend Stockton LLP: Buck Knives

Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips: Change Healthcare F/K/A Altegra Health

McAllister & Quinn, LLC: Fontbonne University

McAllister & Quinn, LLC: National Aquarium

McDermott Will & Emery LLP: IFO Group, LLC

McDermott Will & Emery LLP: Intuit, Inc.

Miller Strategies, LLC: BlueGreen Preservation and Development, LLC

Miller Strategies, LLC: Practical Employee Solutions

Ml Strategies, LLC: National Association of Health and Educational Facilities Finance Authorities

National Industrial Sand Association: National Industrial Sand Association

Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, PC: Diageo North America

Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, PC: National Pork Producers Council

Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, PC: North American Meat Institute

Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, PC: Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.

Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman & Matz, PC: United Fresh Produce Association

PACE, LLP (Formerly PACE-CAPSTONE): Vets Advocacy, Inc.

Plurus Strategies, LLC: CSC Holdings, LLC

Plurus Strategies, LLC: ML Strategies, LLC (on behalf of NAHEFFA)

Poyner Spruill LLP: American College of Sports Medicine, Inc.

Rich Feuer Anderson: Blockchain (US) Inc.

SCANA Corporation: SCANA Corporation

Schumacher Partners International, LLC: American Chemistry Council

Schumacher Partners International, LLC: Vinyl Institute

SMW Partners, LLC: Comcast Corporation

SMW Partners, LLC: Roberti Global on behalf of Nord Stream 2 AG

Strategies 360: ARES North America

Strategies 360: City of Lake Stevens

Strategies 360: Itek Energy

Strategies 360: Native American Financial Services Association

The Glover Park Group LLC: Hikvision, USA Inc.

The Glover Park Group LLC: Liberman Broadcasting

The Glover Park Group LLC: Sanofi U.S. Services Inc.

The Ingram Group LLC: Blyncsy, Inc.

The Sheridan Group: One Action

The Sheridan Group: Save the Children Action Network (SCAN)

The Smith-Free Group, LLC: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

The Washington Tax & Public Policy Group (formerly The Washington Tax Group): Allianz Real Estate of America LLC

Timmons Consulting: Patient Services Inc.

Winning Strategies Washington: General Dynamics

Winning Strategies Washington: WellCare

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