Advocacy and lobbying stories from this week's National Journal: (subscription)
"Political Panhandling Surges:" An especially volatile and expensive election season is under way this year, as evidenced by the number of open palms in search of money on K Street. Lobbyists report that they are getting solicited for personal contributions and fundraising help by lawmakers and campaign committees with a ferocity that rivals, and some say surpasses, previous elections. Why? Many races are shaping up as highly competitive, with some 60 House seats and 12 Senate seats in play.
"Inside Washington:" With top executives from two embattled companies, WellPoint and Toyota, facing tough questioning on Capitol Hill this week, it was a lucrative moment for some K Street lawyers who specialize in helping corporations navigate tempestuous hearings. WellPoint had the services of Hogan & Hartson's Reid Stuntz, while Toyota was counseled by King & Spalding's Ted Hester ...And Modern restrictions on influence-peddling would certainly be a
challenge for pioneer lobbyist Sam Ward. The late-19th-century
Washington insider, known for his savoir faire and lavish dinners that
brought together lawmakers and stakeholders over fine wines and haute
cuisine, is the subject of a new biography by Kathryn Allamong Jacob:
King of the Lobby: The Life and Times of Sam Ward, Man-About-Washington
in the Gilded Age."On The Move:" Google's elections and advocacy group has tapped Andrew Roos as an account manager; Bill Kelly is moving from Michigan to Washington to become senior vice president of the National Foreign Trade Council, where he will focus on member relations and development; Will Telligman is the new legislative and advocacy manager for the Organic Trade Association; Patton Boggs has hired Dick Thompson, the former top lobbyist at Bristol-Myers Squibb, to advise its clients on health care and pharmaceutical issues.
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