Bottom Line: UPenn trustees adds lobbying firepower

Education

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania hired Cassidy & Associates to lobby on issues related to higher education. The Ivy League university and other elite colleges have faced backlash over their handling of protests against the Israeli government. UPenn’s then-president Liz Magill resigned in December following a congressional hearing in which she decline to say whether a call for genocide would violate the university’s rules on hate speech. Kevin Binger, former staff director of the House Government Reform Committee, will work on the account.

Defense

IBM hired the Roosevelt Group to lobby on issues related to contracts with the Navy and Department of Homeland Security and related to quantum computing, which could include congressional engagement and the development of language on appropriations and authorization, according to the filing. Kyle Klein, who was staff director of the House Homeland Security Committee before he departed last August, will work on the account.

Hydrogen

The cruise operator Harbor Breeze hired Ballard Partners to lobby on “hydrogen-powered tourist cruise boats.” Daniel McFaul, former chief of staff to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), will work on the account.

Law Enforcement

The Major County Sheriffs of America also hired Ballard Partners to lobby on legislation related to sheriffs. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a member of then-President Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial, will work on the account.

Technology

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner terminated its lobbying work for Meta after four and a half years. The firm first registered to lobby on privacy and financial services issues for the social media giant in summer 2019, and reported receiving $430,000 in lobbying fees through the end of 2023, according to The Hill’s analysis of federal lobbying disclosures. 

Transportation

The trucking company Yellow parted ways last month with BGR Government Affairs, which originally registered to provide advice and counsel related to trucking industry issues in April 2020, when the pandemic ground supply chains to a halt and ushered in major economic disruptions. The lobbying giant reported receiving more than $1.2 million from Yellow during that time.