Lobbying World

ANIMALS. The newest lobbyist for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a former Republican aide. Michael Lisowski, though RedRock Strategies, is working on an account for the organization. He formerly worked for former Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.), most recently as a senior legislative assistant. Heck, who is also at the firm, lost a race for an open Nevada Senate seat least year. Lisowski will be advocating on the Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training (BEST) Practices Act. That legislation would force the Pentagon to come up with human-based training methods for treating combat wounds, “with the goal of replacing live animal-based training methods.” The contract is PETA’s first outside lobbying firm since 2003.

{mosads}GUN CONTROL. Capitol Counsel is lobbying for Americans for Responsible Solutions, an organization and super PAC founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) focused on gun control issues. Both Republicans and Democrats from the firm will be working on the account, which will be centered on “advocacy for legislation, regulations and appropriations for the reduction of gun violence,” according to forms. Americans for Responsible Solutions has an in-house lobbying team, but Capitol Counsel is the only K Street firm lobbying for the group.

HEALTHCARE. The NFL’s Player Disability and Neurocognitave Benefit Plan, which is a special employment benefit plan for professional football players, hired Groom Law Group to lobby on “disability claims regulation.” The plan is managed by a three-member committee, which includes individuals from the NFL and the NFL Players Association. It has been subject to lawsuits in recent years from former players alleging that they were improperly denied benefits.

VETERANS. VoteVets Action Fund, the lobbying arm of a liberal super PAC dedicated to foreign policy and veterans issues, officially registered its new director of government relations as a lobbyist. This is the first time the organization has listed an in-house lobbyist. Will Fischer, the group’s lobbyist, joined the organization last month and previously worked at the AFL-CIO, most recently as the executive director of the Union Veterans Council. “Our advocacy will focus on national security, economics, environmental, and healthcare policy,” forms say.