Where's The Obama K Street Bonanza?

Fri, 01 May 2009 13:21:45 GMT

From this week's National Journal and Congress Daily: (subscription)

K Street is still waiting for its Obama bonanza, writes Bara Vaida. Although the president has been pummeling lobbyists and restricting their contacts with his administration, expectations were high that Barack Obama's aggressive policy agenda and an emboldened Democratic Congress would mean plenty of new business for Washington lobbying firms. So far, that hasn't happened for many of K Street's biggest hired guns. Ten of the top 15 lobbying firms in Washington posted declines in lobbying fee income from January through March compared with the first quarter of 2008.

A couple of weeks ago, with relatively scant media attention, the very liberal Families USA joined forces with a longtime adversary, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, better known as PhRMA, the drug industry's primary trade group, writes Julie Rovner. The two groups agreed on a set of principles they would together urge be included in any health overhaul.

Veteran Democratic media consultant Anita Dunn was named Thursday as interim communications director at the White House, according to news reports. Dunn will take over from Ellen Moran, formerly of Emily's List. Moran is leaving the post to become chief of staff to Commerce Secretary Locke.

Under The Influence: Where's The Obama K Street Bonanza?