Bottom Line

• APPROPRIATIONS. Boyagian Consulting is lobbying for the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. The group hired Levon Boyagian, a former staff director on a House Transportation subcommittee, to lobby to “reverse the effects of recent federally mandated rescissions on planning funds.”

{mosads}• ENERGY. Hunton & Williams is lobbying for the Community Power Alliance, a group of utility companies. Mark Menezes, former Republican chief counsel on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sean Cunningham, also a former counsel to the committee, are lobbying for the alliance on issues relating to federal regulations, taxes, climate change and renewable portfolio standards.

• FINANCIAL SERVICES. Paulson & Company, a money management firm, hired the American Continental Group to lobby on issues relating to capital markets, housing and other financial services issues, federal lobbying records show.

The Managed Funds Association hired Cypress Advocacy to lobby on efforts to reform the financial services regulatory system. Ben Dupuy; Alexander Sternhell, a former deputy staff director on the Senate Banking Committee; and J. Patrice Cave, a former acting assistant secretary at the Treasury Department, are lobbying for the association.

Pension Financial Services hired Williams & Jensen to lobby on a proposed Securities and Exchange Commission rule regarding penny stock and over-the-counter trading.

Westwood Capital, a financial services firm, hired Turner Government and Public Affairs to lobby on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

• HOUSING. Mercedes Homes, a homebuilder based in Florida, hired Arent Fox to lobby on housing issues relating to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Dan Renberg, a former deputy chief of staff to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), and Joe Keeley, a former Republican counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, are lobbying on behalf of Mercedes Homes.

Chesapeake Enterprises is lobbying for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage on issues relating to the Housing and Urban Development Department. Scott Reed, a Republican strategist and lobbyist, is lobbying for the home mortgage company.

Home Buyers Warranty hired DLA Piper to lobby on “matters relating to federal requirements for insurance-backed warranties on newly constructed and existing homes,” according to federal lobbying records.

• TAXES. Capitol Counsel is lobbying for the Coalition for Tax Fairness. James Gould, a former staff director to the Senate Finance Committee; David Jones; Shannon Finley; Denise Henry; and John D. Raffaelli are lobbying on behalf of the coalition, which seeks to change the way stock options are applied to the Alternative Minimum Tax.