Bottom Line

• EDUCATION. Texas A&M System has hired the Ben Barnes Group to “assist the TX A&M System in pursuit of various research projects, general government relations,” according to lobbying disclosure records. Former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes (D) is lobbying for the school system.

• ENERGY. The Stanton Park Group has been hired by the Western Fuels Association to lobby on “captive shipper issues; coal issues; clean air and emissions,” according to lobbying disclosure records. James “J.D.” Derderian, a former chief of staff to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is lobbying for the association. 

{mosads}• HEALTHCARE. Shockey Scofield Solutions has been hired by Xcaliber International, a Pryor, Okla., tobacco manufacturer, to lobby on “P.L. 111-31 Implementation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act,” according to lobbying disclosure records. John Scofield, a former communications director for the House Appropriations Committee, and Jeff Shockey, once staff director for the same committee, are lobbying for the company.

  The Personal Care Products Council has hired Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc. to lobby on “FDA regulation of cosmetics including Good Manufacturing Practices, import safety, fragrance ingredients,” according to lobbying disclosure records. Bruce Mehlman, a former assistant Commerce Department secretary in the George W. Bush administration, and David Castagnetti, once chief of staff to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), are lobbying for the trade group.

• TECHNOLOGY. Holland & Knight has been hired by Systematic Development Group, a Deerfield Beach, Fla., computer storage device manufacturer, to lobby on “procurement issues relating to flash drive device manufactured by Systematic Development Group LLC,” according to lobbying disclosure records. Former Rep. Jim Davis (D-Fla.) and Shawna Francis Watley, a former legislative aide to ex-Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), are lobbying for the company.

• TAX. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has been hired by Sazerac Co., a New Orleans distilling company, to lobby on “modification of Secton 263A of the Internal Revenue Code and its application to bourbon production H.R.1883-Rum Cover Over S.986-Rum Cover Over H.R.1986-Bourbon Interest Deduction,” according to lobbying disclosure records. Judy Black, a former senior aide to President Reagan, and Michael Levy, once a senior adviser to ex-Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, are lobbying for the company.