| | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With Daniel Lippman NEW BUSINESS: Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has added more conservative bona fides to its outside lobbying team. The social media network has hired Brant Imperatore and Rick Dearborn of Cypress Advocacy to lobby on antitrust and competition bills — several forms of which, of course, are pending on the Hill right now. Imperatore is a former attorney for the House Financial Services Committee, while Dearborn served as White House deputy chief of staff at the outset of President Donald Trump's term. — Cypress is Meta's first new lobbying hire this year, coming off record spending of more than $20 million for the embattled platform in 2021. Sources familiar with the matter told POLITICO in 2019 that the company was bringing on Cypress as it amassed a lobbying team to pitch its since-scrapped digital currency , Libra, to the Hill, but no registration was ever filed, disclosures show. — Meanwhile Issue One, the political reform advocacy group, has hired a team of lobbyists from Crossroads Strategies that includes former Sen. Trent Lott to push for updates to the Electoral Count Act, the 19th-century law that governs certification of presidential elections. A bipartisan group of senators is working on potential reforms to the law, which Issue One argues in a blog post on its website has numerous gaps and ambiguities that were revealed in the aftermath of the 2020 election and "exposed the nation to enormous risks." — Crossroads' Mathew Lapinski and Alex Gleason will also work on the account. Crossroads is the only outside lobbying firm currently on retainer for Issue One, which spent $145,000 on lobbying last year, according to disclosures. FORD TAPS NEW HEAD LOBBYIST: Christopher Smith is joining Ford as its chief government affairs officer, the automaker announced today. Smith will replace Mitch Bainwol, who retired from the company at the end of last year. He spent the past four years with LNG producer Cheniere Energy as senior vice president for policy, government and public affairs, and before that he served in the Obama Energy Department as assistant secretary for fossil energy. — Smith joins Ford as the auto industry forges ahead in its transition toward electric vehicles. Ford announced earlier this month that it will split its operations into one business for gas-powered cars and one to ramp up its production of battery-powered models. "Chris has devoted his career to shaping progressive energy policy and driving toward a more sustainable future," Steven Croley, Ford's chief policy officer and general counsel, said in a statement. "He brings tremendous passion and expertise to Ford as we shape the future of transportation." Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Send tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
| | A message from Freight Rail Works: In times of recovery, America needs a transportation network that can keep goods moving, help businesses prosper and remain responsive to changing customer needs. Not only does freight rail invest $25 billion annually to provide U.S. businesses with safe, reliable service. Today's rail shipping rates are 44% lower than in 1981, which keeps U.S. businesses competitive. See how railroads are helping America get back on track. | | | DEMS DOWNPLAY DEMAND JUSTICE LINKS: After Demand Justice, the liberal judicial advocacy group, took a starring role in Republican senators' opening statements in the confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson on Monday, Democrats in the chamber sought to differentiate the group from its conservative counterparts like the Federalist Society, Marianne Levine reports. — Republicans' signals that they plan "to use Jackson's confirmation hearing as a forum to slam Demand Justice — a liberal organization that advocates for adding seats to the Supreme Court and pushed for Jackson's nomination — as a pernicious 'dark money' group acting as puppet master to her selection" is "a playbook Democrats have employed in the past against conservative nominees and the organizations that work to promote them, such as the Federalist Society, but Democrats insist there's a major difference: They don't work directly with Demand Justice." — "'I honestly don't know that much about them,' said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Judiciary Committee. 'If you pick the ACLU, or the [Center for American Progress] those are groups that we've worked with. They're not to us what the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society are to [Republicans].'" — "When [Judiciary ranking member Chuck] Grassley asked Jackson about whether the high court is 'bought' by 'dark money groups,' she responded that 'I don't have any reason to believe that that's the case. I have only the highest esteem for the members of the Supreme Court.'" Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) "asked Jackson whether she had ever interacted with the group. She replied she hadn't." CLUB FOR GROWTH HAULS IN CASH: The conservative Club for Growth's super PAC brought in $6.6 million in February, our Brittany Gibson and Zach Montellaro report in a round-up of campaign finance filings from this weekend's deadline. The committee has $26.7 million in the bank. — "Its largest benefactor continues to be Jeff Yass, who has emerged as one of the most powerful Republican donors in recent years. He personally gave $3 million to the Club, and Kentucky Freedom PAC — a super PAC that supports Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and which Yass has funded — gave an additional $2 million. Shipping magistrate Richard Uihlein kicked in an additional $1 million. — "The Club has been active in Republican primaries this year, and it has been the largest outside spender of the cycle so far,according to OpenSecrets . The group — which after opposing Trump during the 2016 primaries has closely aligned itself with him ever since — has spent heavily backing Rep. Ted Budd's (R-N.C.) Senate bid, as well as Rep. Mo Brooks' (R-Ala.) struggling campaign for Senate."
| | | | JOIN THURSDAY FOR A CONVERSATION ON CRYPTOCURRENCY AND REGULATION: Cryptocurrency has gone mainstream. With the market now valued at $1.8 trillion, Washington's oversight of the fast-growing industry remains in its infancy. How should Congress and federal agencies shape future regulation of digital asset markets? Join POLITICO in person or virtually for a deep-dive discussion on what's next for crypto, regulation and the future of finance. Programming will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT with a reception from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | …WHILE DEMS REJECT KOCH MONEY: "More than two dozen U.S. lawmakers received roughly $110,000 in campaign contributions from Koch Industries in the weeks leading up to Vladimir Putin 's attack on Ukraine — money some ethics lawyers say should be returned given the company's decision to maintain operations in Russia," CNBC's Brian Schwartz reports. — "U.S. lawmakers are being scrutinized for accepting campaigns contributions from the conglomerate, which is run by billionaire Charles Koch , even as other major U.S. and European companies flee the country to avoid sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine." — "The company's glass manufacturer Guardian Industries, which has two facilities in Russia, will remain fully active despite the Kremlin's war with Ukraine, Koch Industries President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertsonsaid in a statement last week . U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and Western allies have taken aim at Russia with sanctions, including targeting the country's central bank." — "At least one lawmaker, Rep. Kurt Schrader , D-Ore., won't accept future donations from Koch Industries and will donate what it has recently received to a charity dedicated to providing aid to Ukraine, spokeswoman Deb Barnes said after CNBC emailed to ask about the donations. Schrader's campaign received $4,500 from the Koch Industries' political action committee during the 2022 election cycle, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign donations and spending." — After Schwartz's story published, Georgia Democrat Sanford Bishop "told CNBC that his campaign will not accept contributions from Koch Industries as long as they are continuing to do work in Russia and will be donating the amount they've received this cycle to a charity providing aid to Ukraine. Bishop's campaign has seen $2,500 from the Koch Industries PAC this cycle."
| | | | A message from Freight Rail Works:   | | | | | | — Gladys Barcena is joining the Madison Group as senior director of government relations. She previously was an administrative assistant for the House Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee. — NFT marketplace OpenSea has hired Loni Mahanta as their new vice president of policy and government affairs. She most recently served as vice president of government relations and public policy at Zillow and is a Lyft alum. — Alex Stroman has been promoted to director of U.S. state government and community relations at TC Energy. He previously led U.S. East stakeholder relations at the company, and is an RNC and Trump inaugural alum. — Ian Choiniere has been promoted to director of product advocacy at the American Chemistry Council overseeing the spray foam division. He was previously a manager of product communications for ACC. — Jackie Subar is now national director of strategic partnerships for the Anti-Defamation League. She previously was an assistant director of policy and political affairs for the American Jewish Committee. — Crystal Ebert is now a director for digital and communications at Bully Pulpit Interactive, Playbook reports. She most recently was a digital adviser at EMILY's List, and is a DCCC alum.
| | | Kistner Victory Committee (KISTNER FOR CONGRESS, Service Knowledge Oath Leadership PAC (SKOL PAC), NRCC)
Mary Miller Victory Committee (Rep. Mary Miller, House Freedom Fund, Faith in America PAC)
Valor Honor Country Fund (Van Orden for Congress, Eli Crane for Congress, The Pat Harrigan Committee)
| | | Financial Freedom PAC (Hybrid PAC)
Hispanic Leadership Trust (PAC)
Louisville for Public Safety (Super PAC)
The Reparations Pledge (Super PAC)
The Right Voice For New Jersey (Super PAC)
Stand for Freedom PAC (Super PAC)
| | | | DON'T MISS POLITICO'S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | New Lobbying Registrations | | 90 West LLC: Woodwell Climate Research Center
Alta Crest LLC: American Postal Infrastructure
Alta Crest LLC: Specialist Telemed
Blank Rome Government Relations: Chunker
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP: The City Of Eufaula
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Nurse-Family Partnership
Cypress Advocacy, LLC: Meta Platforms, Inc.
Dentons US LLP: Dc Water
Foris, Inc And Its Affiliated Entity, Foris Dax, Inc. D/B/A Crypto.Com: Foris, Inc And Its Affiliated Entity, Foris Dax, Inc. D/B/A Crypto.Com
Franklin Square Group, LLC: Helion Energy, Inc.
Holland & Knight LLP: Quicktrip Corporation
Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies And Rc Billing
Port Side Strategies, LLC: New Venture Fund
Ridge Policy Group: The Coalition For App Fairness
Sidley Austin LLP: Foris Dax, Inc. D/B/A Crypto.Com
Squire Patton Boggs: Stellant Systems
Starzyk & Associates, LLC: Santee Sioux Nation
Subject Matter (Fka Elmendorf Ryan): Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
The Livingston Group, LLC: Health Supply US, LLC
Valneva USa, Inc.: Valneva USa, Inc.
| | New Lobbying Terminations | | Alta Crest LLC: Oregon Institute Of Technology
Alta Crest LLC: The Austin Center For Manufacturing & Innovation
Alta Crest LLC: Ursa Major Technologies
American Public University System: American Public University System
Brody Group L.L.C. Public Affairs: Ursa Major Technologies
Deutsche Organization Incorporated: Cixcess Inc.
Ice Miller Strategies LLC: Celo Foundation
| | A message from Freight Rail Works: Alleviating an extraordinary supply chain crisis requires an extraordinary transportation network—like America's freight railroads. The dedicated employees of America's freight railroads are working 24/7 to find powerful solutions to maximize efficiency and reliability. Learn more about how railroads are creating an unbreakable link between manufacturers, retailers and other critical rail customers. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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