Top Lobbyists: Associations

Paul Bailey, The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. Bailey’s impressive mix of trade group, corporate and government experience will be an asset as coal battles green groups on one flank and the rise of natural gas on the other.

Richard Baker, Managed Funds Association. Baker, a former Republican congressman from Louisiana, is a top Washington proxy for hedge funds, which have bounced back from the financial crisis to manage expanding portfolios.

{mosads}Mitch Bainwol, Auto Alliance. Bainwol is new to the auto industry, but his sharp understanding of business models and Capitol politics made the transition a cinch. 

Steve Bartlett and Scott Talbott, Financial Services Roundtable. The roundtable represents 100 top financial services companies and is among the elite lobbying teams in the capital.

Ken Bentsen and Tim Ryan, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Both former Wall Street hands, Bentsen and Ryan have kept themselves occupied with the implementation of the Volcker Rule and other Dodd-Frank regulations.

Dan Berger and Brad Thaler, National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Berger and Thaler, now free of the swipe-fee fight, will be ready for action if the supercommittee puts the tax exemption for credit unions on the chopping block.

Marion Blakey, Aerospace Industries Association. The former head of the Federal Aviation Administration represents airplane manufacturers that are eager to see a long-term FAA-reauthorization bill on the president’s desk.

Tom Buis, Growth Energy. Buis, a former aide to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), steers the group as it promotes ethanol and takes on critics of the corn-based fuel.

Nicholas Calio, Air Transport Association. A former Citigroup lobbyist who worked in both Bush administrations, Calio assumed control of the largest and oldest airline association at the beginning of this year.

John Castellani, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. After battling the healthcare law at the helm of the powerful Business Roundtable, Castellani is trying to protect PhRMA members from drug reforms that could affect their bottom lines.

Bill Cheney, Credit Union National Association. Cheney’s first year as president and CEO of the association was jam-packed with work on Dodd-Frank implementation and patent reform.

Dan Danner, National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB secured repeal of the 1099 tax-reporting requirement in the healthcare law and is onboard with a legal challenge to healthcare reform that could reach the Supreme Court.

Scott DeFife, National Restaurant Association. DeFife’s political acumen was honed as a senior policy adviser to then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Rich Deem, American Medical Association. The 25-year AMA veteran directs state, federal and private advocacy efforts for the nation’s largest physicians’ lobby and its roughly 200,000 members.

Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association. Amid unrest in oil-producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Dinneen is trumpeting ethanol as a domestic fuel source.

Chris Dodd, Motion Picture Association of America. The former Senate Banking Committee chairman and Connecticut Democrat took the helm of Hollywood’s lobby shop in March; fighting digital piracy will be job No. 1.

Tom Donohue and Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, led by Donohue and lobbied for by Josten, is a force to be reckoned with.

Cal Dooley, American Chemistry Council. Former Rep. Dooley (D-Calif.) has a central part to play as Congress debates the role of federal regulations.

Charles Drevna, National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. Having spent decades in the energy industry, Drevna has the ear of many Capitol Hill staffers.

Martin Edwards, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. With natural-gas pipeline safety on the energy agenda, Edwards continues as a trusted source for many in Congress.

John Engler, Business Roundtable. The former Michigan governor left the National Association of Manufacturers to take the reins at the Roundtable, which hopes to put a business-friendly imprint on tax reform.

Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The longtime CEO of NRECA and former Oklahoma congressman will be fighting for small utilities fearful of a one-size-fits-all clean-energy standard. 

Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., American Gaming Association. Casinos might have a winning hand in their long campaign for Internet gambling regulations, as the crackdown on poker sites has brought the issue front and center.

Camden Fine, Independent Community Bankers of America. Community banks were on the front lines in the skirmish over debit-card fees, and with a slew of Dodd-Frank rules on the horizon, Fine’s work is only beginning.

Alex Flint, Nuclear Energy Institute. Flint has been a constant presence on Capitol Hill in the aftermath of Japan’s reactor crisis as lawmakers mull how nuclear power fits into the nation’s energy portfolio.

David French, National Retail Federation. French, a former legislative assistant to then-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), is pushing for a closer look at the Internet sales tax as brick-and-mortar retailers try to level the playing field with their online competitors.

Craig Fuller, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Fuller, a veteran of the Reagan administration, is looking to secure a budget increase for the FAA’s NextGen air traffic system despite the belt tightening in Washington.

Lee Fuller, Independent Petroleum Association of America. More than a year after the BP oil spill, Fuller is trying to ensure that small producers can continue to work in the Gulf.

Jack Gerard, American Petroleum Institute. The oil industry is frequently a political target, especially when prices rise, and Gerard has been effective at making the case that oil producers are a vital cog in the economy.

Jerry Giovaniello, National Association of Realtors. Realtors were active during the 2010 elections, directing millions in campaign cash to incumbents who had supported them.

Rich Glick, Iberdrola Renewables. Glick works closely with Democrats to ensure that renewable energy sources don’t lose out in the Washington energy debate.

Robert Gramlich and Denise Bode, American Wind Energy Association. The industry has a big stake in clean-energy-standard legislation, which could be a godsend for such low-carbon electricity sources as wind.

James Greenwood, Biotechnology Industry Organization. A former congressman from Pennsylvania, Greenwood advocates for biotech companies in the healthcare, agriculture and environmental sectors.

Edward Hamberger, Association of American Railroads. The freight and passenger rail group will be a powerful presence as lawmakers get down to brass tacks on the transportation authorization bill.

Ralph Hellmann, Information Technology Industry Council. Once the policy director for then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Hellman led net-neutrality talks at the height of the open-Internet debate last year after negotiations broke down at the FCC.

Jerry Howard, National Association of Home Builders. As the housing market continues to tread water, builders are manning the ramparts for the mortgage interest deduction and weighing in on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Richard Hunt, Consumer Bankers Association. The Louisianan helped the banking industry battle cuts to debit-card fees, and will continue fighting for retail banks as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mulls new regulations.

Karen Ignagni, America’s Health Insurance Plans. The former union official leads an accomplished team of lobbyists who are working to blunt healthcare reform’s impact on insurance providers.

Chip Kahn, Federation of American Hospitals. The mastermind of the “Harry and Louise” ads that helped defeat then-President Clinton’s healthcare reform push is now fighting to keep Obama’s version from putting the pinch on hospitals.

Frank Keating and Floyd Stoner, American Bankers Association. Keating, a former Oklahoma governor, joined up with Stoner and the ABA — and their attempts to influence Dodd-Frank implementation — at the beginning of the year.

Dirk Kempthorne and Kim Dorgan, American Council of Life Insurers. ACLI President Kempthorne, a former Interior secretary, and public policy VP Dorgan are in the mix on issues including financial services reform, free trade and taxes.

Tom Kuhn and Brian Wolff, Edison Electric Institute. Kuhn and Wolff are the top dogs at the influential organization, which ably represents investor-owned utilities.

Steve Largent, CTIA-The Wireless Association. The former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, GOP Oklahoma congressman and People’s “Most Beautiful” notable has the wind at his back after the White House endorsed pro-wireless policies.

Linda Lipsen, American Association for Justice. Now the CEO of AAJ, Lipsen is the top advocate for trial lawyers who are on high alert now that tort reform is being touted as a policy solution for cutting the deficit.

Walter McCormick Jr., USTelecom. With his membership spanning such telecom nemeses as Sprint and AT&T, McCormick finds common ground in the phone industry and translates it into effective advocacy.

Dave McCurdy and Rick Shelby, American Gas Association. McCurdy and Shelby have been busy this year dealing with lawmakers’ concerns about natural-gas drilling safety while promoting the fuel source as an alternative to coal.

Ben McKay, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Insurers were relieved in April when their products were exempted from derivatives regulations, thanks in no small part to the advocacy of McKay and his colleagues.

Nancy McLernon, Organization for International Investment. McLernon, heading up an association of American subsidiaries of foreign-based corporations, is among the business leaders onboard for a corporate tax reform push.

Mark Merritt, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Merritt’s defense of prescription-drug-benefit administrators often aligns him with budget-strapped governments against the drug and pharmacy lobbies.

Rob Nichols, Financial Services Forum. A former congressional aide and assistant Treasury secretary, Nichols’s shop tends to a select group of CEOs, including those from Morgan Stanley and AIG.

Rick Pollack and Rich Umbdenstock, American Hospital Association. This power duo is making sure hospitals don’t get left behind as the U.S. healthcare system shifts to emphasizing quality over quantity.

Michael Powell, National Cable & Telecommunications Association. The former Republican FCC chairman brings experience and prestige to his new private-sector gig after leading a heavyweight coalition of broadband providers.

Leigh Ann Pusey, American Insurance Association. The savvy chief of the leading property-casualty insurance trade group is skilled at building coalitions on Capitol Hill.

Bob Rusbuldt, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Rusbuldt and “Big I” members flooded the Capitol in the spring to discuss their priorities, including making sure healthcare reform regulations don’t hammer their commissions.

Norb Ryan Jr., Military Officers Association of America. The retired vice admiral will be a bridge between uniformed officers and lawmakers as Congress inches closer to reforming military pay, healthcare and benefits.

Stephen Sandherr, The Associated General Contractors of America. Next year will be another rough one for the general contracting industry, which was hit hard by the recession, but Sandherr is optimistic that better days are ahead.

Gary Shapiro, Consumer Electronics Association. Representing the nation’s hottest tech companies, Shapiro is leading the fight to free up more airwaves and is never afraid to be frank with lawmakers.

Gordon Smith, National Association of Broadcasters. Faced with an administration dead-set on policies that promote wireless over broadcasting, the former Republican senator plays the loyal opposition without losing friends in Congress.

Gigi Sohn, Public Knowledge. Straddling the dual role of grassroots leader and D.C. operative, Sohn is respected on Capitol Hill and in industry, even as she voices staunch opposition to the regulatory agendas of top phone and cable companies.

Mike Stanton, Association of Global Automakers. Stanton has lobbied for carmakers in Washington for three decades and has knowledge of the industry that few can match.

Mary Kay Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation. Thatcher is keeping a close eye on proposed cuts in agriculture funding, including various subsidies, as lawmakers begin drafting the 2012 farm bill.

Jay Timmons, National Association of Manufacturers. A one-time aide to former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), Timmons was promoted to the top spot at the manufacturers’ lobby after the departure of John Engler.

Steve Ubl, Advanced Medical Technology Association. Ubl is keeping up pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to streamline the approval process for low-risk devices as part of an advocacy campaigned centered on U.S. competitiveness.

Dirk Van Dongen, National Association of Wholesale Distributors. The versatile Van Dongen will be multitasking this fall, lobbying on everything from worker protection to energy taxes.