Thorn Run will lobby on presidential travel reimbursement Presented by the Consumer Brands Association

With David Beavers and Daniel Lippman

THORN RUN WILL LOBBY ON PRESIDENTIAL REIMBURSEMENT: Here’s an intriguing disclosure filing: Thorn Run Partners has registered to lobby for Florida’s Palm Beach County on a number of issues, including Community Development Block Grants, opioid abuse grants and help recovering from Hurricane Irma. But Thorn Run’s Jim Davenport will also lobby on a less common issue: “FEMA programs including reimbursement for presidential travel.” It’s unclear exactly the filing is referring to; Davenport didn’t respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump did visit a Coast Guard station in the county in November after Irma hit. Palm Beach County also retains Becker & Poliakoff and Barlow Consulting to lobby in Washington.


MORE DETAILS ON TRUMP’S DINNER LAST NIGHT: We listed more than a dozen executives in Tuesday’s PI who were expected to have dinner with President Donald Trump as his Bedminster golf club. Chris Ruddy of Newsmax and Keith Krach of DocuSign were there, too, POLITICO’s Andrew Restuccia, Christopher Cadelago and Stephanie Murray report. Gabriel Leydon, a founder and former chief executive of the mobile gaming startup MZ, was also there, per a pool report. Leydon is now the chief executive of Satori, according to his LinkedIn page.

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API STAFFERS HEAD FOR THE EXITS: The American Petroleum Institute has lost several staffers amid leadership turnover at the trade group, POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and Marianne LeVine report. “At least six API officials, including one of its top lobbyists, have left in recent months, an association spokesman confirmed. Additional senior officials are expected to leave in the coming weeks, according to two other sources familiar with the moves.”

— “The departures come as Mike Sommers, a former chief of staff to then-House Speaker John Boehner, formally takes over API from former president and chief executive Jack Gerard. … API’s former senior director of federal affairs Khary Cauthen has left to become vice president of federal affairs at [liquid natural gas] supplier Cheniere, according to a Cheniere spokesperson. Former API policy adviser Heidi Keller joined oil company BP as associate director in July, according to her LinkedIn account.”

— Former API Senior Director for External Mobilization Deryck Spooner joined e-cigarette company JUUL Labs, according to a JUUL spokesman. Tyra Metoyer, who worked in API's Houston office, also decamped for JUUL in July, according to her LinkedIn profile. Former Chief Financial Officer John Robertson left in June, according his LinkedIn page. Vice President of Global Industry Services Lisa Salley has also left the association, the API spokesperson confirmed.” Full story.

NONPROFIT OWES MONEY TO U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIAL IN JERUSALEM: “A top aide to the U.S. ambassador to Israel has financial ties to entities involved in Israel policy or that could have business with the government, according to newly released disclosure forms,” ProPublica’s Justin Elliott reports. “One of the groups, an anonymously funded nonprofit called Shining City Community that has been involved in U.S. and Israeli politics, owes perhaps as much as $50,000 to Aryeh Lightstone, a senior adviser to U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, according to his financial disclosure forms. Lightstone, a Long Island businessman and rabbi, reported he is also retaining three positions outside his government job.” Full story.

IF YOU MISSED IT LAST NIGHT: Three Mar-a-Lago members — Ike Perlmutter, the chairman of Marvel Entertainment; Bruce Moskowitz, a Palm Beach, Fla., doctor; and a lawyer named Marc Sherman — together make up “an informal council that is exerting sweeping influence” on the Department of Veterans Affairs, ProPublica’s Isaac Arnsdorf (a PI alum) reports. “None of them has ever served in the U.S. military or government. Yet from a thousand miles away, they have leaned on VA officials and steered policies affecting millions of Americans. They have remained hidden except to a few VA insiders, who have come to call them ‘the Mar-a-Lago Crowd.’”

— “Documents obtained by ProPublica reveal “a previously unknown triumvirate that hovered over public servants without any transparency, accountability or oversight. The Mar-a-Lago Crowd spoke with VA officials daily, the documents show, reviewing all manner of policy and personnel decisions. They prodded the VA to start new programs, and officials traveled to Mar-a-Lago at taxpayer expense to hear their views. ‘Everyone has to go down and kiss the ring,’ a former administration official said.” Full story.

JOBS REPORT

— CLS Strategies has added Mona Elkaban and Chelsy Shipman as senior associates. Elkaban previously worked for the American Law Institute. Shipman previously worked for Moorgate Communications in London. The firm has also promoted Meghan Keane to managing director and Ana Fernandez to senior associate. Keane was previously a managing associate; Fernandez was previously an associate.

— The American Tort Reform Association has hired Bailey Griffith as the trade group's public affairs and digital media coordinator. She previously worked as an aide to New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB: Forbes Tate Partners is looking to add a number of people to its public affairs team, including a vice president for public affairs; a grassroots director; a communications director; a digital engagement director; a deputy director of public affairs; a research associates and several public affairs analysts. Give them a shout.

NEW JOINT FUNDRAISERS:

Aviators for Action Victory Fund (Amy McGrath, Ken Harbaugh)

Luria Victory Fund (Elaine Luria, Democratic Party of Virginia)

Walters-Grant Victory Fund (Rep. Mimi Walters, Andrew Grant, Making Investments Majority Insured PAC, NRCC)

NEW PACS:

American Opportunity Fund PAC (Super PAC)

Independent Congressional Element Political Action Committee (PAC)

Metapac (Super PAC)

Urban Michiganders for Trump (Super PAC)

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS:

Accenture Federal Services LLC: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Advanced Policy Consulting, LLC: Metropolitan Solutions, Inc

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Aaron's Inc.

Bockorny Group, Inc.: Alliance for Cell Therapy Now

Bockorny Group, Inc.: Allied Group

Bold Strategies, LLC: Huntsman Corporation

Bracewell LLP: Foreman Electric Bracewell LLP: OlympiansRising

Bracewell LLP: The Trevor Project

Clark Hill, PLC: Gramercy Funds Management LLC

CSS Partners, LLC: Sundance Airport, LLC

Jochum Shore & Trossevin PC: Achaogen

Jochum Shore & Trossevin PC: America Abroad Media

Jochum Shore & Trossevin PC: Kitcheck

K&L Gates LLP: Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation

Meltsner Strategies, LLC: Actors' Equity

Njoy, LLC: Njoy, LLC

Oldaker & Willison, LLP: Medic.Life

Thorn Run Partners: Palm Beach County, FL

Venable LLP: Association of National Advertisers

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS:

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: TerreStar Corporation

Brimley Group Inc.: 2017 SLS/Orion Suppliers Conference

Brimley Group Inc.: Firefly Aerospace

Sixkiller Consulting, LLC: Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs

Sixkiller Consulting, LLC: Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

Sixkiller Consulting, LLC: Institute for International Education

The Jerry Costello Group, LLC: Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC

Think Policy Consulting, LLC: Renew Biomass

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