President Obama today nominated Richard Verma for the post of assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the State Department. Verma has a lengthy lobbying pedigree at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, which he rejoined in 2007 after serving for more than five years as a senior policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., according to the firm.

While at Steptoe, Verma was a member of the government relations and public policy practice. He registered to lobby on behalf of a variety of clients including: Williamsport Wirerope Works; U.S.-India Business Council; The Humane Society Legislative Fund; TD Bank Financial Group; Sterling International Consultants; Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America; MyRichUncle; National Association of Convenience Stores; Manufactured Housing Institute; Liberty Media Corporation; InterAction; EchoStar Corporation; Dish Network; and CIGNA Corporation.

The Steptoe web site on Verma, an Indian-American, holds that: "He advises on legislative and political strategy and helps companies successfully navigate crisis situations including handling Congressional investigations to designing effective public affairs and messaging campaigns." Verma originally joined Steptoe in 1998 as a member of the firm's international and technology practices

According to the White House, last year Verma was appointed to serve on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. Verma, a former Air Force officer, once also served as country director for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and worked for Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. He served on the Obama/Biden Defense Department transition team.

My colleague, Bara Vaida, reported in January that Verma was in line for the State Department post.

                                                                                                                -- Winter Casey