New Crypto Group Assesses Lawmakers’ Industry-Friendliness – POLITICO
With Daniel Lippman
NEW CRYPTO GROUP, FIRST IN PI: A new 501(c)(4) has launched a nearly six-figure campaign to promote cryptocurrency and urge lawmakers to support pro-crypto policies.
— Crypto Action Network, which declined to provide details about its donors, will launch digital ads on a variety of websites and apps, primarily those in news, politics and technology. The ads have already started running in DC, Tennessee, Minnesota, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
— The group is the latest advocacy organization to emerge to influence lawmakers in Washington as Congress tries to understand and regulate the emerging fintech industry. Meanwhile, the fast-growing field of crypto advocates in DC has given K Street a boon in new business.
— The Crypto Action Network has also launched a report card for lawmakers on cryptocurrency policy. Among those who received the grade “A” were Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Gillibrand and Lummis, who have owned Bitcoin since 2013, announced their two-pronged crypto plan in June.
— Two lawmakers received an F score in Crypto Action Network’s report: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D mass). Warren has become an outspoken critic of the industry, criticizing Russia’s potential to use cryptocurrency to avoid sanctions and the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. The Los Angeles Times called Sherman “Congress’s leading crypto-skeptic.”
Happy Thursday, and welcome to PI. My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I cover money and influence for Politico. I’m filling in for Caitlin today. Follow me on Twitterand send me your tips on [email protected]
ANOTHER HOUSE GOP STAFF GOES TO K STREET: Joe Brazauskas is returning to the private sector to join Bracewellhis lobbying team as principal after more than a decade on the Hill and at the EPA. Brazauskas most recently served as senior counsel to House Oversight Committee Republicans, and prior to that he was the EPA Assistant Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations and an Assistant Deputy Attorney General. He has also served in various other roles for the House Science and Oversight Committees.
— Brazauskas is the latest staffer with ties to House Republicans to leave the Hill, a trend that no doubt points to K Street thinking that Republicans are set to retake at least one chamber of Congress in November’s midterms. As PI has written this week, Kountoupes, Denham, Carr & Reid; Invariant; the Vogel Group; Farragut Partners and OnMessage public strategies have all recently added Republican lobbyists.
SAVE AMERICA PAC FINDS ITSELF IN HOT WATER: “The Department of Justice is looking at Donald Trump’s Save America PACa major fundraising arm for the former president, according to a person familiar with the matter,” my colleague Betsy Woodruff Swan reports.
— “A grand jury has issued subpoenas seeking information about the group,” that person told POLITICO. The subpoenas were first reported by ABC News.”
— “Save America is a leadership PAC created shortly after President Joe Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election. It has raised tens of millions of dollars, including in the wake of Trump’s defeat, where it asked for money to support its efforts to challenge these results.”
TRUCK OPERATORS FLY IN: Members of Truckload Carriers Association, which represents operators of more than 220,000 trucks, will head to Washington next week to lobby lawmakers on the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. Earlier this summer, the House Transportation Committee approved the bill, which would provide funding for truck parking.
— TCA will host the autumn business meeting and meet Washington 12-13. September. Rep. Tom Malinowski (DN.J.) will be the event’s featured speaker.
AG GROUPS WARN ABOUT IRON STRIKES: “More than 30 leading agricultural groups urged lawmakers Thursday to avert a rail strike that would halt the transportation of food and potentially cripple the U.S. economy,” writes The Hill’s. Karl Evers-Hillstrom reports.
— “Around 115,000 railroad workers may strike as soon as September 16 if they cannot reach a contract agreement with the railroad. Many workers are eager to walk out following their displeasure with contract recommendations offered by a White House-appointed panel aimed at ending years of contentious negotiations.”
— “In a letter to top lawmakers on the transportation committees, agriculture groups warned that farmers depend on freight trains to transport their goods, and that any shutdown would likely lead to a loss of food supplies, increase prices and increase the risk of famine across the globe .”
— Eloise Eagan, Kayla Robersonand Molly Akers join Raise government affairs. Eagan, who will focus on transportation and energy efficiency issues, recently interned at Forbes Tate Partners. Roberson recently worked with the Texas House of Representatives, and Akers recently served as a fellow at Monument Advocacy.
— Janelle Jones have joined SEIU as Chief Economist. She was the Ministry of Labour’s chief economist.
— Meghan Dornpreviously of Argo AIjoin TechNet as federal policy manager. Emily Hickmanwho was an intern for TechNet, will serve as assistant for federal policy and government relations.
— Chip Bartlett has joined Financial Services Forum as Vice President for Government Affairs. He was previously vice president for congressional affairs at The Consumer Bank Association and is one Independent Community Bankers of America, French Hill and Treasury alum.
— Susan Reilly is now communications director in The Association for Accessible Medicines. She was previously senior manager of communications and media relations at The Association for Consumer Health Products and is one AHIP and Edelman alum.
— Cheryl Fish-Parcham becomes director of private coverage at Families USA. She previously served as Director of Access Initiatives.
— Natalia Paquin has been appointed managing director of Rockefeller Foundation. She was previously the managing director of Points of lightand she will succeed Steven VanRoekel.
— Avi Sholkoff join ROKK Solutions as a senior accountant. Sholkoff was the last to join DCI Group.
— Francis Creighton will be the next president and CEO of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. He is currently the president and CEO of The Consumer Data Industry Association and was formerly chief of staff for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
NEW COMMON COLLECTIONS
Mid-Atlantic Victory Fund (Lisa Blunt, Chrissy Houlahan, Bob Hollister)
Cassy Victory Fund (Cassandra Garcia, NRCC, Republican Party of Texas, South Texas Strong Leadership PAC)
NEW PACS
We nominate (Hybrid PAC)
South Texas Strong Leadership PAC (Leadership PAC: Cassandra Garcia)
Tomorrow’s Jobs (Hybrid PAC)
NEW LOBBY REGISTRATIONS
KPM Group DC LLC: Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc.
Origin Materials Operating, Inc.: Origin Materials Operating, Inc.
Van Scoyoc Associates: EJ Water Cooperative, Inc.
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, PA: Newell Brands
Holland & Knight LLP: Inupiat Community Of The Arctic Slope
Lisa Mortier (Fka Mrs. Lisa Waltzman): Elizabeth Potter MD PLLC
Penn Hill Group: Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc.
Holland & Knight LLP: The Spaceport Company
Robotic Research Opco, LLC: Robotic Research Opco, LLC
Oculus Strategies, LLC: City Of Ada, OK
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry
T Cap Solutions, LLC: Universal Navigation, Inc. (D/B/A Uniswap Labs)
Grassroots Institute Of Hawaii: Grassroots Institute Of Hawaii
Summit Strategies Government Affairs LLC: Pittsburgh Area Real Estate Redevelopment
NEW LOBBY CONCLUSIONS
Tiber Creek Group: Univision Communications Inc.
