ICYMI- Google amps up lobbying, hires new firm – Senate staff taking lead on future flow – Arent Fox lobbied pro bono on VAWA provision – U.S. Airways, Dairy Association hire Gibson

Politico
Google amps up lobbying, hires new firm – Senate staff taking lead on future flow – Arent Fox lobbied pro bono on VAWA provision – U.S. Airways, Dairy Association hire Gibson
Posted: March 4, 2013 1:57PM EDT

GOOGLE AMPS UP LOBBYING, HIRES NEW FIRM: Google has hired Garrett McNatt Hennessey & Carpenter 360 to lobby on all provisions related to technology issues, according to Senate lobbying disclosures. Mitch Hunter and Chris Carpenter will be lobbying on behalf of the technology giant. Hiring the firm follows the company’s re-evaluation of lobbying contracts in 2012 when Google ended its contracts with Tuggey Fernandez, Holland & Knight and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. The tech company also recently brought on JGB & Associates in January and Sandi Stuart of The Stuart Murray Groupin July 2012.

Google spent a whopping $16.5 million on lobbying in 2012 as it faced an antitrust probe. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld,Capitol Legislative Strategies, Crossroads Strategies,Franklin Square Group, McBee Strategic Consulting and Podesta Group were among the firms that lobbied on behalf of the company last year.

SENATE STAFF TAKING LEAD ON FUTURE FLOW: After weeks of intense negotiations between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO over how lawmakers should address the process for allowing future immigrants into the country, Senate staffers are now taking the lead on trying to come up with a fix, PI has learned. The change comes as the two sides have stalemated beyond putting out general principles and have been unable to close in on an agreement on specifics. A source familiar with the talks tells PI that one clear sign of the stalling is there are no upcoming meetings scheduled between the two groups. One labor source told PI that the main issue is over how the new visa program would be tied to the labor market. “They just keep insisting that they want more and more and more,” the labor source said, adding that business is trying to jam through their version into the Senate bill because they don’t have leverage when it comes to getting 60 votes. Stay tuned.

GOOD MONDAY AFTERNOON, where it’s been 80 years since the first female Cabinet member was sworn in. Frances Perkins served as secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, under Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Bonus PI trade association/advocacy tie-in: One of her jobs before heading the Labor Department was as head of the New York Consumers League. Send your lobbying and campaign finance news, gossip, tips, scoops and secret Cabinet ambitions to btau@politico.com or apalmer@politico.com. And follow us on Twitter at @ByronTau and @apalmerdc. Tarini is at tparti@politico.com or on Twitter at @tparti.

ARENT FOX LOBBIED PRO BONO ON VAWA PROVISION: Arent Fox government relations partner Jon Bouker and director James Hunter lobbied pro bono for the inclusion of a provision in the Violence Against Women Act, which passed in the House last week, on behalf of Second Chance Employment Services, a nonprofit that provides job training and placement services for women who were victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. The provision will allow nonprofits like Second Chance Employment Services to apply for federal grants.

U.S. AIRWAYS, DAIRY ASSOCIATION HIRE GIBSON: The Gibson Group has signed U.S. Airways Group to handle issues relating to the merger of U.S. Airways and American Airlines. The two airlines have to convince regulators that a merger won’t adversely impact consumer choice. The proposed merger would leave just three major carriers: Delta, United and American.

Gibson Group has also inked a deal to represent the International Dairy Foods Association. It will lobby on issues related to competition in the dairy industry, as well as dairy issues in theAgriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013.

CIGNA JOINS BEHAVIOR HEALTH ASSOCIATION: Cigna  is joining the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness. The company’s chief medical officer for Cigna’s behavioral health business Doug Nemecek will serve on the group’s board of directors.

**A message from Ogilvy Washington: When it comes to doing business in Washington, be it to a affect a specific policy or manage overall political risk and reputation within the Nation’s Capital, Ogilvy Washington has both a veteran team of professionals and a proven approach to assist clients with their public affairs needs. www.ogilvypr.com or @OgilvyDC **

WEINMAN TO JOIN ITI: Yael Weinman, the attorney adviser for FTC Commissioner Julie Brill, is leaving the agency to join the Information Technology Industry Council in April, PI colleague Tony Romm is reporting. She’ll assume the title of vice president for global privacy policy and general counsel, a key role at ITI as online-privacy regulation and enforcement remain at the forefront of D.C. tech policy.

CROSSROADS DUBS OFA ‘ORGANIZING FOR ACCESS’: The Karl Rove-backed super PACAmerican Crossroads has a new ad criticizing the new Obama nonprofit Organizing for Action for selling access to the White House. The New York Times recently reported that donors who give $500,000 or more to the nonprofit would be rewarded with quarterly  meetings with the president. Calling the new group “Organizing for Access,” Crossroads rips Obama for flip-flopping on his position on the influence wealthy donors and corporations have in Washington. OFA did not respond for comment. Watch the ad here: http://bit.ly/VuulXm

INTERNET ASSOCIATION DEBUTS ON HILL: The Internet Association is making its Capitol Hill debut Tuesday, hosting “The Internet, the Economy and the Future.” Sens. ChuckSchumer and Ron Wyden and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer are kicking things off in the Rayburn building at 9:30 a.m. Panels are set to examine privacy, trade, the cloud and patent reform, among other topics. Click here for the full slate of panels and speakers:http://bit.ly/YPBb7P

BEN NELSON GETS ANOTHER HAT, FORMS NEW FIRM: Former Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (D) will be a busy man. He and two Nebraska-based partners announced Friday the launch of Heartland Strategy Group. The Omaha-based firm will take on businesses, advocacy groups, trade associations and nonprofit clients. Nelson will serve mostly in an advisory capacity but is a full financial partner in the firm. His day job is CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He’s also a senior adviser to the public affairs firm Agenda. Byron has the story here: http://politi.co/ZWKl3g

PATTON BOGGS LAYS OFF THREE IN LOBBYING SHOP: As part of a major shakeup that saw the law and lobbying giant Patton Boggs lay off 65 staffers, three members of the firm’s legislative staff were let go Friday. Patton — the largest K Street firm by revenue — saw its lobbying business contract by $2 million last year. Byron and Anna have the story from late Friday afternoon here: http://politi.co/WDNUsC

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