Space Command HQ fight brought business to K Street

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Aug 01, 2023 View in browser   By Hailey Fuchs K STREET CASHING IN: As the Biden administration elected to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, political leaders from the state celebrated the decision. — But behind closed doors, the state and local governments had tapped lobbyists to advocate on their behalf. Like perhaps all other contentious issues in Washington, K Street saw some cash come from the crossfire. — Former President Donald Trump had elected to move the headquarters to Alabama, and in keeping the HQ in Colorado Springs, President Joe Biden effectively reneged that decision. — Colorado Springs tapped Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to lobby on the location of the Space Command headquarters in 2021, and its lobbyists have included former Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor. — Melissa Kuipers Blake, a lobbyist at the Denver-based Brownstein, said the team was heavily engaged with the House and Senate Armed Services committees and the White House on the issue “to really make the case that the decision made by Trump was purely political, and that it had to be done on the merits.” The firm argued that the cost of moving the Command was too great and the ability to reach “full operational capability” was much faster in Colorado Springs than Alabama or elsewhere, she said. — ACG Advocacy was briefly registered to represent the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation around issues “related to the location of the United States Space Command.” El Paso County, Colo., had enlisted Van Scoyoc Associates earlier this year to lobby on issues related to the Space Command, and paid Potomac Partners DC to lobby on issues “related to US SPACECOM and defense basing issues,” according to recent disclosures. — The office of Colorado’s Gov. Jared Polis had also paid Squire Patton Boggs to advocate around the Space Command staying in Colorado. — Beyond those in the the Centennial State, other local governments had also appeared to tap K Street to help move the headquarters to their state, although unsuccessfully. Among them, Sterling Heights, Mich., hired a lobbyist in 2020 to assist on advocacy related to the Space Command headquarters. Carpi & Clay helped Kern County, Calif., advocate for Palmdale, Calif., as the permanent headquarters in 2020. Cassidy & Associates lobbied for the greater Omaha region to be chosen, on behalf of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership. Happy Tuesday, and welcome to PI! My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I’m taking the helm of the newsletter this week while Caitlin is away. Please send me all your lobbying tips to hfuchs@politico.com. Follow me on the platform formerly known as Twitter @Hailey_Fuchs.   HITTING YOUR INBOX AUGUST 14—CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.     7-ELEVEN ADDS EV LOBBYISTS: Venn Strategies registered to lobby for 7-Eleven on issues around electric vehicles and EV charging, amid the company’s push to develop its business in the EV charging space. — 7-Eleven has begun installing electric vehicle charging stations at locations across the country as part of a network called 7Charge. They are currently in California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas. — The company has been lobbying around issues related to electric vehicles for some time now. But the new agreement with Venn Strategies adds Kate Marks, former deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response at the Department of Energy, among others, to the company’s roster of lobbyists on EV issues. MAJOR CREDIT UNION MERGER: “The two main credit union trade associations said Tuesday they plan to combine, in a move to bolster the industry's lobbying impact,” my colleague Victoria Guida reports. — “If approved by their membership, the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions and the Credit Union National Association would become America’s Credit Unions, led by current CUNA head Jim Nussle. NAFCU President Dan Berger will step down at the end of the year ‘to fulfill family obligations and pursue other opportunities,’ the groups said.” — “A combined trade association would mean a more unified Washington voice for credit unions, which are often at odds with banks over their tax-exempt status.” — “The groups' members will have a 60-day period to vote on the union, and the new organization is expected to be operational by early 2025.” NO LABELS EYES GOP DONORS: “The centrist group No Labels has targeted Republican donors disaffected with Donald Trump, pitching its unity ticket as a way to beat the former president without funding an entity assisting President Joe Biden,” POLITICO’s Shia Kapos reports. — “Such a strategy was confirmed by three people who have either heard the pitch or are familiar with it and were granted anonymity to speak candidly about private fundraising conversations. It could have profound political ripple effects, complicating both the current Republican primary and future general election by siphoning funds away from candidates and entities challenging Trump to a ticket that does not yet exist.” — “Some Republicans say No Labels insists that donations to it are ‘a good way to keep Trump out and not have to donate to Biden,’ according to a person representing a corporate CEO who was approached by the group. The person is receptive to No Labels’ message of bipartisanship — but skeptical of the organization’s aims to mount a third-party bid.” P.E.-BACKED PHYSICIAN’S PUSH: “Three large and growing physician groups backed by the private equity giant Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe have hired a prominent lobbying firm to influence federal policy covering mergers and acquisitions,” reports Bob Herman for Stat. — “Over the past two weeks, United Musculoskeletal Partners, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, and U.S. Radiology Specialists each registered with Forbes Tate Partners, a lobbying shop founded by political insiders who used to work in President Bill Clinton’s administration.” — “Welsh Carson is no stranger to lobbying, and its physician groups’ hiring of the lobbyists coincides with federal antitrust officials and lawmakers circling their businesses. Not only are the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice proposing to increase scrutiny of private equity ‘platform’ deals, like those used by Welsh Carson and these three doctor groups, but the FTC also started investigating U.S. Anesthesia Partners last year over concerns the anesthesia practice has amassed too much pricing power in its markets.” JOBS REPORT — Rachel Feinstein has joined the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington as director of D.C. government and community relations. She was a legislative director with Polsinelli. — Phoebe Sweet is launching a climate comms firm, Acadia Strategies. She was managing director of campaigns and strategies at Climate Nexus. She was also a speechwriter for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and then-Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden. — John Milko is joining Carbon180 as a senior managing policy adviser. He was a former policy advisor at Third Way. — Matt Williams is now an SVP on Precision’s comms team, Playbook reports. He was previously staff director for the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. NEW JOINT FUNDRAISERS None NEW PACS Donald Trump Legal Defense Fund (Super PAC) Our America PAC (Hybrid PAC) IT Serve alliance - CPAC (PAC) NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS Sorini, Samet & Associates, LLC: Dillard's Inc. Caresource Mission: Caresource Mission Baker & Hostetler LLP: Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Federal Group, Inc.: Break Through Cancer The McSwane Group: CATF Action, Inc The 51 Group, LLC: National Council For Community And Education Partnerships Venn Strategies: 7-Eleven Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Nestle USA FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): United States Telecom Association NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS None   STEP INSIDE THE GOLDEN STATE POLITICAL ARENA: YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST … Add California Playbook to your daily reading to keep up with the latest political news and policy moves from deep inside the power centers at the heart of the world’s fourth largest economy. Authors Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner take you inside the state Capitol and governor's mansion in Sacramento, the mayor’s office and City Council and Los Angeles, and the most influential rooms in Silicon Valley and deliver buzzy scoops and behind-the-scenes details that you simply will not get anywhere else. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the game!       Follow us

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