| | | | | |  | | By Caitlin Oprysko | | | With Daniel Lippman BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE SOUNDS ALARM ON DEBT CEILING: Leaders of the country's most prominent companies this afternoon issued a plea for congressional leaders to come to an agreement pronto to raise the nation's debt limit. "Failure to lift the U.S. federal debt limit to meet U.S. obligations would produce an otherwise avoidable crisis and pose unacceptable risk to the nation's economic growth, job creation and financial markets," Josh Bolten, president and CEO of the Business Roundtable, and Doug McMillon, Walmart's chief executive and the chair of the business lobby, wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. — That moment could come as soon as next month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned the lawmakers in a letter last week. The lawmakers have been in a standoff over raising the debt ceiling for weeks, with Senate Republicans repeatedly insisting that they will not help Democrats reach the 60-vote threshold needed to pass an agreement in their chamber while Democrats pursue trillions of dollars in spending without GOP votes. On the other side of the Capitol, Pelosi has refused to include a debt limit resolution in the party's reconciliation package. Democrats have sought to pass a debt ceiling increase alongside an extension of government funding, which expires at the end of the month, and disaster aid for hurricane and wildfire-battered states. — The looming threat of defaulting on the nation's loans "poses an even higher risk than usual as America continues to confront economic risk from the pandemic," the Business Roundtable said in its letter today. The warning was issued on behalf of the group's members, which includes leaders of hundreds of the nation's largest corporations like 3M, Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard and The Walt Disney Co . "Congress has the authority to lift the debt ceiling to safeguard the full faith and credit of the United States—and the responsibility to do so," they wrote, asking lawmakers to do so "swiftly." Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Get in touch: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko. | | A message from Natural Allies for Clean Energy: Natural gas is accelerating America's transition to a clean energy future. The reliability of natural gas enables the rapid expansion of low-carbon renewable generation, and by partnering the two together, we can achieve rapid emissions reductions today - without sacrificing reliability and affordability. Academics and researchers agree: continuing to invest in natural gas infrastructure will help us reach our climate goals faster. Natural gas -- accelerating our transition to a clean energy future. Learn more at www.naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org | | | BGR GROUP NAMES NEW COMMERCE PRACTICE CO-LEAD: Justin Rzepka, a principal at BGR Group, has been named co-chair of the lobbying firm's commerce practice, and Robin Colwell will be joining the practice full-time as a senior vice president, representing broadband, semiconductor and transportation clients. Rzepka joined BGR in 2018 after nearly a decade at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. Colwell joined the firm earlier this year after serving at the White House National Economic Council working on telecom issues, and as chief of staff to FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly. PLAYING HARD TO GET: "People in Washington, D.C., often like to portray Silicon Valley as all-powerful. But the nation's capital is the real powerhouse, tech lobbyist Steve DelBianco asserted Wednesday during POLITICO's Tech Summit," according to our Emily Birnbaum. "DelBianco, the CEO of tech trade group NetChoice, said Washington 'has all the power' — but hasn't made it clear what it wants the tech industry to do." — "'Silicon Valley just wants to reestablish the fact that what we're all about is building companies, pleasing customers, growing our audience and making money,' DelBianco said. Throughout the panel, DelBianco repeated that Silicon Valley is struggling to understand what Washington wants. 'And the biggest question is, does D.C. want a highly competitive and lightly regulated tech sector, or does D.C. want a very highly concentrated and heavily regulated tech sector?' he said. 'Those are the two choices. Right now we're hearing both sides coming out of Washington.'" — DelBianco, of course, is likely referring to the vast range of complaints leveled by members of Congress from both parties. Social media platforms in particular have been accused of censorship and political bias by the right, and of failing to properly stem the spread of disinformation and violent rhetoric by the left — all while allegedly hoovering up potential competition and consolidating power. "Charlotte Slaiman, competition director with digital rights group Public Knowledge, said consensus agrees on one major point. 'There is a clear signal coming from Washington: It is that these companies are too powerful and we are working as quickly as we can to address that problem,' she said." | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | PETERSON, TRUMP USDA OFFICIAL TEASE MIDWEST AG ADVOCACY GROUP: Collin Peterson, the longtime Minnesota congressman who chaired the House Agriculture Committee until his defeat last November, is teaming up with Trump-era USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey to form an advocacy group aiming to amplify the voice of agribusiness interests in the Midwest, Ag Week's Jenny Schlecht reports. During a farm show in North Dakota on Tuesday the 16-term Democrat lamented that similar groups advocating for other regional agriculture sectors had "eaten [the Midwest's] lunch." — "According to Minnesota Secretary of State records, Peterson registered the Midwest Council on Agriculture as a nonprofit corporation in Minnesota in June. The base of the organization, the pair explained, will be agribusinesses, bankers, farm credit unions, machinery dealers, crop insurance agencies, seed dealers and large-scale farmers." The former Ag chair compared his new group to the National Federation of Independent Business, "but for Midwest agriculture and said it could sort through what's important and deliver that message to Congress." — At the appearance, Peterson also revealed that he had joined the chorus of former farm state lawmakers — including Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Max Baucus of Montana — urging his former colleagues not to target the so-called stepped-up basis, or the ability of the rich to pass assets on to heirs tax-free, in their reconciliation package. Heitkamp was the face of a six-figure ad campaign against the proposal, which was ultimately left out of the bill. | | | |   | | | MICHAEL BEST ACQUIRES WISCONSIN FIRM: Michael Best Strategies, the lobbying firm run by former RNC Chair and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, has acquired the Madison-based shop Capitol Consultants . As part of the merger, Capitol's Managing Partner Bill McCoshen will join Michael Best as a partner, along with Senior Vice President Tony Langenohl. McCoshen "has a long track record of delivering client wins on some of the most important public policy issues facing the business community," Robert Marchant, president of Michael Best Strategies, said in a statement. — The acquisition is the latest expansion for Michael Best Strategies in recent months. Over the last year it added former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) to its board, with former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) taking on an expanded role, and also brought aboard a former staffer, Andrea Riccio. The merger also came as McCoshen was eyeing a run for governor in Wisconsin, though he said Wednesday he will not enter the race. GENSLER ON THE HOT SEAT OVER CRYPTO: "SEC Chair Gary Gensler sparred with GOP lawmakers Tuesday about what should be done to regulate cryptocurrencies, highlighting the partisan split over policy approaches for coping with the emerging and increasingly popular technology," POLITICO's Kellie Mejdrich writes. — Kellie rounded up the major takeaways from the contentious oversight hearing, where Gensler defended his positions on the rapidly growing sector of the economy. Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee, such as Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, "urged Gensler to have the SEC work more with industry to help firms better understand how federal securities laws apply," to which the SEC chair "countered that the law is well-established on what constitutes activity subject to SEC rules." — Gensler did not have an easier time with the panel's Democrats, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) reiterating calls to crack down on the industry. "Regulators need to step up to address crypto's regulatory gaps and ensure that we're actually building the inclusive financial system that we need, and Chair Gensler, I expect you and the SEC to take a leading role in getting this done," she said. IF YOU MISSED IT TUESDAY: "Lobbying firms have pushed back official reopening dates, and some events have switched to virtual with the resurgence of COVID-19," Roll Call's Kate Ackley reports. "But K Street denizens say they still are attending in-person meetings, heading to their downtown offices and gathering for campaign fundraisers. The fundraising solicitations to events benefiting lawmakers' reelection coffers come with caveats now. — "On the cusp of Memorial Day back in May, most lobbyists were gearing up for a more normal return to their in-person work life, as they began to suit up and reemerge for meetings on Capitol Hill and sessions with clients and colleagues. The rise of the delta variant, however, has prompted most firms to postpone requirements for employees to return to the office, and many K Street denizens said most of their advocacy activities and team meetings remain virtual. But they crave extra human interactions and are seeking to break out of the confines of their home offices." | | | | Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today . | | | | | | | | — The Bank Policy Institute hired Anthony Bush as assistant vice president of government affairs, focusing on consumer and small business issues and economic inclusion. He previously served as a legislative assistant on the majority staff of the House Oversight Committee. — Allison Schneider is now director of media relations for the American Council of Engineering Companies. She most recently was senior director of communications for the National Beer Wholesalers Association. — Downey Magallanes was promoted to lead policy and federal government affairs at BP. She joined the BP government affairs team in 2018. — Scott Lindlaw, managing director at Sard Verbinnen, has moved to the firm's D.C. office from its San Francisco one. He will continue to focus on helping clients prepare for and respond to cybersecurity crises; litigation, especially IP; mergers and acquisitions and IPOs; and all types of matters that affect valuation and reputation. — Thomas Kincheloe will be associate of federal government affairs at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He was most recently a health legislative assistant for Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.). — Sarah Riley will be head of association partnerships at the Managed Funds Association, overseeing the MFA Partnership Program. | | | None. | | | 34N22, INC. (Super PAC)
Coherus BioSciences Political Action Committee (PAC)
Michigan Democratic Action PAC (Super PAC)
Missouri for Better Roads Political Action Committee (Hybrid PAC)
OLD GLORY SUPER PAC (Super PAC) | | New Lobbying Registrations | | A1.9 Strategies LLC: National Association Of Development Organizations
Advanced Policy Consulting, LLC: Summit Ridge Energy, LLC
Ajw, Inc.: Hemlock Semiconductor Operations LLC
Banner Public Affairs, LLC: Foro
Banner Public Affairs, LLC: Zoltek Corporation
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Fish Guidance Systems, Ltd.
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Personalis
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP: Springfield Armory, Inc.
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Climate Advisers
Clark Hill, Plc: Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc.
Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC: Members Exchange
Government Relations Group, LLC: Clc Enterprises
Government Relations Group, LLC: Cyberclean Systems, LLC
Government Relations Group, LLC: The Savi Group
Holland & Knight LLP: National Association Of Clean Water Agencies
Ice Miller Strategies LLC: Teradata Government Systems LLC
Keller Partners & Company: Hocking Valley Community Hospital
Liebman & Associates, Inc.: Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc.
National Group, LLP: 908 Devices, Inc.
Rock Creek Counsel: American Institute Of Cpas
Tai Ginsberg & Associates, LLC: Nossaman LLP On Behalf Of San Francisco County Transportation Authority
The Nickles Group, LLC: Connected Dmv
The Nickles Group, LLC: Saildrone Inc.
Van Scoyoc Associates: Florida State University Board Of Trustees On Behalf Of Florida State University
Van Scoyoc Associates: Servicenow
Venable LLP: Digitaloptometrics LLC | | New Lobbying Terminations | | American Maritime Congress: American Maritime Congress
Cj Lake, LLC: Friends Of The Children | | A message from Natural Allies for Clean Energy: Natural gas is accelerating America's transition to a clean energy future. The reliability of natural gas enables the quick expansion of low-carbon renewable generation, and by partnering the two together, we can achieve rapid emissions reductions today - without sacrificing reliability and affordability. Academics and researchers agree: with the world's greatest interstate energy highway already in existence, and the ability to transport zero-carbon fuels of the future like green hydrogen, natural gas has the potential to continue to support carbon reduction and help us reach our climate goals faster.
Natural gas -- accelerating our transition to a clean energy future. Learn more at www.naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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