At a time when many policy shops in Washington are announcing cutbacks (see our recent blog entries on the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Association of Home Builders), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is making promotions in its congressional and public affairs division.

"We will be stepping up our lobbying efforts in the new Congress and administration, significantly bringing more focus to big issues such as healthcare, legal reform, energy, the environment and pensions," says chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel.

The chamber is promoting Pete Lawson and Ron Eidshaug to the position of vice president. Lawson is the chamber's chief lobbyist on legal reform, corporate governance, and financial services issues. Prior to joining the chamber in 2004, Lawson served as senior counsel to Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., where he co-developed and co-authored the New Democrat Coalition legislative agenda. He has also served as deputy director of government affairs for an accounting and consulting firm and worked as a consumer protection specialist in the North Carolina Attorney General's Office.

Eidshaug is the chamber's chief lobbyist on environmental and energy issues, and helps manage the chamber's team of 15 full-time Capitol Hill lobbyists. Eidshaug joined the chamber in 1999 after serving as senior environmental policy analyst with the New York State Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform under Gov. George Pataki.

The chamber has also promoted several senior lobbyists to executive director titles including: Tim Maney, who handles budget and appropriations; Ashley Miller, who leads the taxation and pension portfolio; and Katie Strong, the chief healthcare lobbyist.

One chamber lobbyist, Nicole Venable, is leaving the chamber and Wohlschlegel said the group plans to fill that spot.

National Journal recently sat down with chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue and Executive Vice President for Government Affairs R. Bruce Josten to get their take on the battles over legislation and policy expected in 2009. See the story here. (subscription required)

                                                                                                                -- Winter Casey