Today’s mood: Following last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Congress is racing to reach a consensus on how to respond to Syrian refugees coming to the United States. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday called for a “pause” and “a more comprehensive assessment on how to guarantee members of ISIS are not infiltrating themselves among the refugee population.”
President Obama has pledged to accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is leading a newly formed task force that is working to make legislative recommendations to address Syrian migrants.
Industry groups are already working to influence those discussions, including advocates for the travel industry who are worried that proposals aimed at restricting visas are too sweeping and could inadvertently impede business and tourist travel.
Headlines
CrossFit led lobbying push to quash new rules for fitness trainers: The District of Columbia appeared close to imposing new rules that would require fitness trainers to have a professional license, but CrossFit led a lobbying push to stop the process. Now, D.C. council members are vowing to scrap the idea, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Tribal lobbying booming after Abramoff scandal: The Abramoff lobbying scandal, which led to an overhaul of federal lobbying laws, did little to curb the lucrative business of representing Native American tribes, Kate Ackley writes in Roll Call. From the story: “Instead of abandoning K Street 10 years ago, tribes increasingly have turned to lobbyists to help move the federal government their way.”
Myanmar’s lobbyists could face chopping block after election: A $840,000-a-year lobbying contract between the government of Myanmar and lobby firm Podesta may be in jeopardy following last week’s historic election in Myanmar, writes Megan Wilson in The Hill. The party of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a majority in the country’s parliament, and Suu Kyi has criticized the use of lobbyists.
The Hill profiles defense lobbyist Michael Herson: “Michael Herson may be one of Washington’s top defense lobbyists today, but in the past he’s worked at drive-ins, warehouses and kitchens. He’s even worn a chicken suit.”
New lobbying contracts
International Council of Shopping Centers has hired Elmendorf Strategies to lobby on issues surrounding the collection of state and local sales taxes on Internet sales.
LightSquared has hired Ogilvy Government Relations to lobby on issues related to spectrum.
Archer Daniels Midland has hired Playmaker Strategies to lobby on the biodiesel tax credit.
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. has hired K&L Gates to oppose the Federal Communication Commission’s declaratory ruling and order on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Tesla Motors has hired Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell to lobby on automotive industry issues, including fuel economy credits.
MillerCoors has hired Bloom Strategic Counsel to lobby on the merger between AB InBev and SABMiller, and related competition issues.
Walgreen Co. has hired WilmerHale to lobby on antitrust and merger issues.
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) has hired Forbes-Tate to lobby on issues related to the Labor Department’s fiduciary standard and derivatives.
