Business Bottom Line

TECHNOLOGY. Last year, the Pentagon struck a deal with wireless carriers to give them a coveted band of spectrum for commercial use. In preparation, T-Mobile recently signed up with Jones Group International to “develop, and assist in negotiating a plan with the Department of Defense (DoD) for the relocation of DoD systems in the 1755-1850 MHz band of wireless spectrum.” The lobbyist on the account — John Raidt, a former longtime senior aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the Senate Commerce Committee — is also doing similar work for the industry’s trade group, CTIA-The Wireless Association. 

REGULATION. Johnson & Johnson added another lobbying firm to its roster, healthcare specialty outfit The McManus Group, which will be working on “reimbursement issues related to infectious disease drug development, procurement and regulation.” The firm says on reports, it is doing business as the Antimicrobial Innovation Alliance, and also represents Eli Lilly, Allergan, the Radiation Therapy Alliance, Amgen and the American Medical Association. Its lobbyists include John McManus, former staff director for the House Ways and Means Health subcommittee, and Barrett Thornhill, a former lobbyist for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Johnson & Johnson spent about $5.6 million on lobbying last year.

{mosads} IMMIGRATION. Chief executives are once again wading into the immigration debate, as the CEO Council for Growth hired former Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) — now a lobbyist at Arent Fox — to step up pressure on Congress. The council is comprised of “business, education and civic leaders in greater Philadelphia region,” according to lobbying disclosure forms, and wants to work on high-skilled immigration reform, in addition to obtaining federal funding for transportation and other initiatives.

HEALTHCARE. The Society of American Florists has signed up with an outside lobby firm, its first, to work on issues related to providing healthcare to seasonal employees. The firm, D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services, is working on the ObamaCare provision that requires some employers to offer insurance coverage to temporary workers, on which the industry relies. The trade group has been part of a coalition of industries working with lawmakers to tweak the provision, saying the current definition of seasonal is confusing and makes compliance difficult.