ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
Dick Armey
Senior Policy Advisor, DLA Piper; Chairman, FreedomWorks
A hand in: The fiery former economics professor and House minority leader now lobbies for clients with homeland security concerns, while helping to direct FreedomWorks, a conservative grassroots group.
Jeremy Ben-Ami
President and Founder, J Street Project
Up-and-Comer: Ben-Ami’s newly-formed, liberal, pro-Israeli lobby provides a counterweight to AIPAC by demanding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem, rather than embrace AIPAC’s “Israel: right or wrong” approach. New Money: Named after the only letter missing from the Washington street sequence, J Street PAC has raised more than $400,000 in this election cycle.
Thomas Hale Boggs Jr.
Partner, Patton Boggs, LLP
K Street King: Despite keeping a lower profile in past years, this legendary lobbyist is still the biggest fish from Farragut Square to Chinatown, representing more than fifty corporations, trade associations and state and foreign governments.
Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President and CEO, American Gaming Association
Inside Straight: A former chairman of the GOP, Fahrenkopf now holds a strange combination of jobs – heading the gambling industry’s association and co-chairing the Commission on Presidential Debates. Big If: Whether the Obama administration will support the unionization of casino employees, which the gaming industry has resisted for years.
Howard Friedman
President, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee
United Front: A Baltimore philanthropist, Friedman leads the powerful pro-Israel lobby founded in the 1950s. Up Next: This “leviathan among lobbies” only has about 100,000 members, but its impact on the Hill is equal to or greater than that of much bigger organizations.
Newt Gingrich
Founder, American Solutions
Big Thinker: After 10 terms in Congress and a few years in the political wilderness, the former Speaker has emerged as one of the most influential thought leaders in the GOP. Ticket to 2012: Speculation abounds on a possible presidential run.
Karen Ignagni
President and CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans
Healthy Backing: The outspoken head of the nation’s largest health insurance lobby represents 1,300 member companies, which provide insurance for 200 million Americans. Round 1: Expect Ignagni to play a major role in complex healthcare negotiations.
Wayne LaPierre
CEO, National Rifle Association
Good Shot: Under LaPierre’s leadership, NRA membership has grown to nearly four million, with an annual budget of $120 million. Next Battle: The NRA hopes to block the Obama administration’s expected efforts to reinstate a ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004.
Tony Podesta
President, Podesta Group
Growing: Head of one of the most successful bi-partisan shops in town, with the changing economy, Podesta has taken on more financial service, energy and health care clients than ever before. Art and Politics: Tony and wife Heather, the ultimate K Street power couple, bought Shepard Fairey’s iconic HOPE portrait of Barack Obama and donated it to the National Portrait Gallery.
Robert Raben
Owner and Founder, Raben Group
Niche: A political appointee under Atty. General Janet Reno, today Raben’s boutique lobbying shop is one of the most successful in the city. Salon: Raben is perhaps best known for hosting salon discussions at his house in Logan Circle with well known journalists and politicos.
H. Alexander Robinson
Executive Director/CEO, National Black Justice Coalition
Band Plays On: In a city with the nation’s highest rate of HIV, Robinson helps raise awareness of the epidemic, and the need for greater activism. Building Bridges: In January, Robinson and NBJC sponsored the first-ever summit between black church and black gay leaders.
Hilary Rosen
Managing Director, The Brunswick Group
Hit Song: The former head of the Recording Industry Association of America knows everyone in the business of media, making her highly sought-after on Wilshire Boulevard and K Street. Labor of Love: When not representing clients or talking politics on CNN, the openly gay Rosen raises big money for LGBT causes.
Karl Rove
Political operative and commentator
Still Swinging: The famously secretive former Bush advisor has flooded the airwaves this spring with outspoken criticism of the Obama administration. Outside the Ring: Aside from media gigs and paid appearances, Rove is penning a memoir for a reported $1.5 million.
Gary Shapiro
President, Consumer Electronics Association
Power Surge: Shapiro is the leading advocate for the more than 2,200 electronics companies that make iPhones, Bluetooth, Wii, and HDTV to the tune of $172 billion a year. Up Next: Supervising the final switch over of U.S. TV stations to digital signals.
Andy Stern and Anna Berger
President and National Political Director, Service Employees International Union (respectively)
Big Job: Stern leads the second-largest union in the U.S. and Canada, representing over 2 million members. Workers Unite!: Berger also chairs Change to Win, a newly formed federation of seven labor unions, including SEIU, the Teamsters, and the United Farm Workers of America.
John Warner
Partner, Hogan & Hartson
Non-Conformist: The former Republican senator supports key Democratic goals, notably bringing troops home from Iraq and greater U.S. alignment with the Kyoto Protocol. Sir Warner: In 2008, Warner was named an honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
Brian Wolff
Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Edison Electric Institute
Surprise Move: The former executive director of the DCCC stunned colleagues in April by joining the electric utility industry lobby, traditionally a Republican ally. Well-Connected: The relationships Wolff developed as the longtime political director for Speaker Pelosi will be valuable assets to EEI in the battle over energy legislation.
Vin Weber
Partner, Clark & Weinstock
Act II: This former Minnesota Republican congressman has been immensely successful on K Street, where he is known for his intellect, political moderation, and strong work ethic. Making Headlines: Weber has been outspoken in his desire to keep Al Franken from being seated as the senator from Minnesota, granting Democrats the magic 60-seat majority.
Randi Weingarten
President, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and President, United Federation of Teachers
Tough Lessons: The former Brooklyn public school teacher has been at the helm of the UFT since 1998, fighting for higher salaries and leading opposition against standardized testing and government funding for charter schools. Hillary’s List: The ardent Clinton supporter and super-delegate held on to the very end.
Anne Wexler
Founder, Wexler & Walker
Rolling Stone: This former associate publisher for Rolling Stone, began her political career ringing doorbells for Stevenson in 1952. As soon as Reagan was elected she founded her eponymous lobbying shop with Republican Robert Walker. Today: The firm lobbies on transportation, health care, energy and trade for clients like the State of Illinois and General Motors.
Edward Yingling
President, the American Bankers Association
Bank Roll: As head of the ABA, which represents over 95 percent of the industry’s $13.6 trillion in assets, Yingling was instrumental in the recent defeat of the Durbin amendment to help limit foreclosures. Steamroller: Following the vote Sen. Durbin acknowledged, “Banks — hard to believe when we’re facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created — are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill, and they still own the place.”
