• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Pandemic lobbying tops K Street agenda, but spending dips thumbnail

Pandemic lobbying tops K Street agenda, but spending dips

July 21, 2020
Here's the late changes Republicans made to Trump's big bill thumbnail

Here’s the late changes Republicans made to Trump’s big bill

May 23, 2025
FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population thumbnail

FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population

May 22, 2025

Rare May nor’easter brings rain and chance of snow to New England before Memorial Day

May 22, 2025
Coinbase says recent data breach impacts 69,461 customers thumbnail

Coinbase says recent data breach impacts 69,461 customers

May 22, 2025
Resentment of ICE, backlash against its agents and mission rise alongside Democrats' condemnations thumbnail

Resentment of ICE, backlash against its agents and mission rise alongside Democrats’ condemnations

May 22, 2025
Humpback whales can give birth while migrating thousands of miles thumbnail

Humpback whales can give birth while migrating thousands of miles

May 22, 2025
New England Patriots offseason grades: Team earns high marks for supporting Drake Maye thumbnail

New England Patriots offseason grades: Team earns high marks for supporting Drake Maye

May 21, 2025
Bill Belichick asked Jordon Hudson to wear a specific outfit when their relationship was still a secret thumbnail

Bill Belichick asked Jordon Hudson to wear a specific outfit when their relationship was still a secret

May 21, 2025
Rob Gronkowski bursts out laughing at joke about Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson thumbnail

Rob Gronkowski bursts out laughing at joke about Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson

May 20, 2025
US charges 12 more suspects linked to $230 million crypto theft thumbnail

US charges 12 more suspects linked to $230 million crypto theft

May 17, 2025
American basketball player in Indonesia could face death penalty over alleged drug smuggling thumbnail

American basketball player in Indonesia could face death penalty over alleged drug smuggling

May 17, 2025
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means thumbnail

What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means

May 16, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Donate
Friday, May 23, 2025
66 °f
Wellfleet
58 ° Tue
63 ° Wed
68 ° Thu
61 ° Fri
  • Login
  • Register
FREE Cape Cod News
DONATE
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • Cape Cod News
  • News
    • News
    • Massachusetts
    • Breaking News
    • Cape Cod Weather
    • Storm Watch
    • Environment
  • Politics
    • democrats
    • republicans
  • Business
    • business
    • cryptocurrency
    • economy
    • money
    • Real Estate
    • Tech
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
    • Orleans
    • Eastham
    • Wellfleet
    • Truro
    • Provincetown
    • Brewster
    • Chatham
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Free Cape Cod News
No Result
View All Result
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • Cape Cod News
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home News Environment

Pandemic lobbying tops K Street agenda, but spending dips

FREE Cape Cod News by FREE Cape Cod News
July 21, 2020
in Environment
Reading Time: 5 mins read
Donate
0
Pandemic lobbying tops K Street agenda, but spending dips thumbnail
635
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook

The coronavirus pandemic triggered a whirl of K Street activity during the first half of the year, but nine of the top 10 biggest spenders reported a decrease in their lobbying tabs during the second quarter, indicating a turbulent business environment in the months ahead.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America posted declines in their federal lobbying spending in the second quarter when compared with both this year’s first quarter and the second quarter of 2019, according to new reports filed with Congress this week. 

The pandemic has disrupted the K Street economy, as it has the rest of the nation’s businesses, thrusting most lobbyists into an all-virtual workspace and creating volatility as the November elections draw closer. 

Facebook, the tech sector’s biggest spender on federal lobbying campaigns, disclosed shelling out less during the second quarter than the first quarter of the year, down to $4.8 million from $5.3 million. Among the 10 biggest lobbying players this year, only Amazon reported an increase, from $4.3 million to $4.4 million, between the first and second quarters.   

Some of the top lobbying firms, including Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, reported an increase in the lobbying revenue they earned from clients during the second quarter, as companies and groups sought help navigating the unprecedented pandemic politics and the upended Washington policy agenda. 

Neil Bradley, the chamber’s executive vice president and chief policy officer, said the decline in lobbying expenses during the second quarter is a reflection of his group’s shift to helping its members tap into federal programs to weather the COVID-19 crisis. Much of that work was not reportable under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. 

“This effort included a dozen guides, which have more than 3.2 million views online, to help employers navigate aid programs, and we hosted or participated in more than 500 calls and webinars with associations, companies, and local and state chambers,” Bradley said in a statement provided by the chamber. “While this advocacy work largely does not show up as lobbying expenses, we are immensely proud of this vital work that helped many American businesses and families avoid bankruptcy.”

The chamber, including its Institute for Legal Reform affiliate, disclosed shelling out about $15 million for federal lobbying campaigns between April 1 and June 30 of this year, down from $21.6 million in the first three months of the year. 

Policy planning

Lobbyists who represent multiple clients said two main things are driving business now: the federal government’s coronavirus response and preparations for the postelection political and policy landscape. 

“Clients are really starting to think about what’s ahead,” said Karishma Page, a partner in the public policy practice at K&L Gates, a lobbying and law firm. “Now I think everyone acknowledges there’s uncertainty. What does that mean in terms of the policy agenda and issues?”

K&L Gates’ lobbying revenue went up in the second quarter to $5.1 million, an increase from $4.7 million in the first three months of the year and from the $4.4 million during last year’s second quarter. The firm’s recent clients include the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, which paid K&L Gates $150,000 for the second quarter, and Pitney Bowes, which paid it $230,000, according to lobbying disclosure filings. 

Page said she’s done a handful of client briefings this month on the possible ramifications of this year’s elections, but she’s also working internally at her firm on the future of lobbying itself. Lobbyists can no longer rely much on in-person interactions with one another or with government officials. 

“The serendipity of running into each other, it’s just not there,” she said. “We are really focusing on innovation and mastering the virtual.”   

Top firm

Brownstein Hyatt also posted an increase in lobbying revenue, making it the top-grossing K Street practice during the second quarter with $12.9 million in disclosed fees under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, long the top firm in town, disclosed about $12.4 million for the same period. 

[Lobbyists bundle donations to Senate Democrats, Trump Victory]

Both firms’ second-quarter numbers reflect increases over the same period last year; Akin Gump’s revenue declined slightly between this year’s first two quarters, while Brownstein was up between the first and second quarters of 2020.  

Marc Lampkin, managing partner of Brownstein’s Washington office, said the coronavirus response, long-term policy planning and various other legislative tidbits such as transportation, appropriations and tax matters have been fueling the firm’s business this year. Recent clients have included the chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, among others.  

“People are already starting to look at what the road map needs to be for the end of this year, into next year,” said Lampkin, a former GOP congressional leadership aide. 

COVID-19 dominates

Even in the health care sector, top spenders American Medical Association and American Hospital Association reported decreases in their federal lobbying in the second quarter when compared with this year’s first three months and the second quarter of 2019. Both disclosed lobbying on numerous coronavirus policy matters.

Like many of its top-spending cohorts, the Consumer Brands Association reported a decline in lobbying spending to about $600,000 in the second quarter, down from $800,000 in the first three months of the year. 

Still, the group’s response to COVID-19 was all encompassing, said its lobbyist Bryan Zumwalt. The group represents companies that sell food and other goods, such as sanitizing products. The Clorox Co., for example, is a member. 

CBA was working on supply chain issues and other matters with regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State Department.  

“Here in this situation, the scope is just unbelievable,” Zumwalt said, “having to work with nearly every federal agency.” 

COVID-19 dominated the recent workload at Holland & Knight, too, partner Rich Gold said. The firm has registered 53 new lobbying clients since mid-March, and revenue was up from $6.4 million in this year’s first quarter to $7.2 million for the second quarter.

In addition to handling pandemic response policy issues, Gold said clients were pushing transportation policies as well as assessing the dynamics heading into the 117th Congress.  

“People are starting to ask questions that they’ve never asked, like “Does the filibuster survive?’” said Gold, referring to the current threshold of 60 votes required for cloture on most Senate legislation. 

The stakes for the coming Congress will be extraordinary, he added: “These may be the most important two years coming up in the history of our republic.”

Tags: environment

FREE Digital Newspaper Subscription!
Sign up for your free digital subscription. The FREE Cape Cod News

Unsubscribe
FREE Cape Cod News

FREE Cape Cod News

Free Cape Cod News is what's happening in the Cape Cod, U.S and World & what people are talking about right now. Local newspaper. Stay in the know. Subscribe to get notified about our latest news.

Related Posts

Risk-factor changes could prevent the majority of sudden cardiac arrests thumbnail
Environment

Risk-factor changes could prevent the majority of sudden cardiac arrests

by FREE Cape Cod News
April 30, 2025
Genetic mutations linked to Marek's disease in chickens identified thumbnail
Environment

Genetic mutations linked to Marek’s disease in chickens identified

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 29, 2025
An arachnid in your orchid? Ornamental plant trade risks spreading invasive species thumbnail
Environment

An arachnid in your orchid? Ornamental plant trade risks spreading invasive species

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 22, 2025
The end of the EPA’s fight to protect overpolluted communities thumbnail
Environment

The end of the EPA’s fight to protect overpolluted communities

by FREE Cape Cod News
March 18, 2025
Load More
Please login to join discussion

Follow Us on Twitter

FREE Cape Cod News - Your source for local Cape Cod news, latest breaking U.S. and World news. Every day, all day. Subscribe for your favorite categories.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Here's the late changes Republicans made to Trump's big bill thumbnail

Here’s the late changes Republicans made to Trump’s big bill

May 23, 2025
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means thumbnail

What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means

May 16, 2025
Republicans Introduce Plan to Tackle Climate Change, Energy Crisis thumbnail

Republicans Introduce Plan to Tackle Climate Change, Energy Crisis

June 4, 2022

Rare May nor’easter brings rain and chance of snow to New England before Memorial Day

0
FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population thumbnail

FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population

0
Here's the late changes Republicans made to Trump's big bill thumbnail

Here’s the late changes Republicans made to Trump’s big bill

0
Here's the late changes Republicans made to Trump's big bill thumbnail

Here’s the late changes Republicans made to Trump’s big bill

May 23, 2025
FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population thumbnail

FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population

May 22, 2025

Rare May nor’easter brings rain and chance of snow to New England before Memorial Day

May 22, 2025

FREE Cape Cod News On Twitter

Today’s News

  • Here’s the late changes Republicans made to Trump’s big bill May 23, 2025
  • FDA won’t approve COVID shot for healthy, non-elderly population May 22, 2025
  • Rare May nor’easter brings rain and chance of snow to New England before Memorial Day May 22, 2025
  • Coinbase says recent data breach impacts 69,461 customers May 22, 2025
  • Resentment of ICE, backlash against its agents and mission rise alongside Democrats’ condemnations May 22, 2025
FREE Cape Cod News

Copyright © 2024 Free Cape Cod News

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • Donate

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • FREE Cape Cod News
  • Cape Cod News
  • News
    • News
    • Massachusetts
    • Breaking News
    • Cape Cod Weather
    • Storm Watch
    • Environment
  • Politics
    • democrats
    • republicans
  • Business
    • business
    • cryptocurrency
    • economy
    • money
    • Real Estate
    • Tech
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Photos
    • Orleans
    • Eastham
    • Wellfleet
    • Truro
    • Provincetown
    • Brewster
    • Chatham
  • Videos
  • Login
  • Sign Up

Copyright © 2024 Free Cape Cod News