HILL REPUBLICANS DEFEND RESTAURANT FEES: Republicans across the Hill are rushing to the defense of the restaurant industry in restaurants’ fight with the Biden administration over so-called junk fees. Nearly three dozen House Republicans and seven Republican senators dashed off letters to the FTC in the past week, warning that its plan to crack down on fees across a variety of industries is too sweeping. — “We continue to be concerned with the broad scope of transactions deemed as ‘junk fees,’” the lawmakers wrote, arguing that “there are well-established, transparent fees, particularly in the restaurant context that serve specific business purposes for the betterment of the consumer and business owner.” — FTC’s proposal “mischaracterizes all restaurant fees and surcharges as ‘junk fees’ that must be included within a ‘total price’ for each menu item,” they argued, positing that the current rule would force restaurants to “significantly raise prices in order to comply.” — The letters single out charges like delivery fees, automatic gratuity for large parties and service charges in lieu of tips — surcharges that the National Restaurant Association implored FTC to preserve in its own comments on the junk fee proposal in February. Disclosure of “well-established business practices,” the lawmakers argued, “helps clarify for the consumers the additional cost of providing the service they are requesting,” and should be allowed to continue. WHO’S BANKROLLING GOP GREEN GROUPS: “Conservative climate change advocates may not see eye-to-eye with their liberal counterparts on a host of issues, but they do share something important,” per E&E News’ Timothy Cama and Kelsey Brugger: where their cash comes from. — “Philanthropic donors like Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation that fund Democratic-aligned green groups like the League of Conservation Voters are also spending millions on ‘eco-right’ groups — as they are commonly known — according to an analysis by POLITICO's E&E News.” — “The conservative groups, such as Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and the American Conservation Coalition, eschew policies like regulation and big spending to fight climate change. They dismiss such actions as partisan ideas that won’t spur innovation to transform the planet. And donors are fine with that,” arguing that “funding both political sides is a strategy to make climate legislation more durable.” MCCARTHY’S NEW GIG: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has made his first move in the private sector since leaving Congress, joining the advisory board of C3 AI, an AI software provider that does defense and intelligence work, to act as a strategic adviser and to further the company’s “expansion of AI solutions among all levels of government (ranging from local/state to federal), as well as foster relationships with allied nations,” per a press release. — The company registered its first lobbyists last summer and hired the McCarthy-allied CGCN Group earlier this year, making the addition of the former speaker a key step in building out its presence in Washington. TIM'S TEST: "Few politicians know how to win over a billionaire like Tim Scott does. An event Wednesday in Washington will test whether he can leverage that clout to become Donald Trump’s running mate,"
Bloomberg's Ben Steverman and Amanda Gordon write. — "The policy summit-cum-fundraiser on the Juneteenth holiday will include some of the world’s wealthiest people: Citadel’s Ken Griffin, Apollo’s Marc Rowan, Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen are all featured speakers on topics ranging from tax policy to crypto." — "Sponsored by Scott’s political advocacy group, Great Opportunity Policy Inc., and seeking donations of up to $250,000, the gathering shows the powerful network the former presidential candidate has built — and the money he can potentially attract. ... It also comes at a pivotal time for the South Carolina senator, who is the closest he’s ever been to realizing a dream 30 years in the making: becoming vice president. As the veepstakes heats up, his best shot at winning Trump’s approval may come from his ability to charm billionaires who’ve been hesitant to endorse the controversial former president." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: “A former oil CEO at the center of a price-fixing scandal has turned to one of the most prominent lobby shops on K Street,” per Tim and E&E News’ Kevin Bogardus. “Scott Sheffield, who was the founding chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources, has hired Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to advocate on his behalf, according to recently posted disclosure records.” — “Last month, the Federal Trade Commission claimed Sheffield coordinated with OPEC officials via text messages and private discussions to keep oil production low. The agency approved the sale of Pioneer to Exxon Mobil but barred him from serving on its board. Sheffield has denied the allegations. His lawyers have said he has been ‘unjustly smeared’ by the FTC and have pushed the agency to withdraw its complaint.” — Brownstein began working for Sheffield on May 29 on “issues related to the FTC,” and the team working on the account includes firm founder and Chair Norm Brownstein; former McCarthy aide Will Dunham; Marc Lampkin; former House Oversight aide Bill McGrath; and former DOJ official Will Moschella.
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