Bottom Line

•FOREIGN AGENT. Former Rep. Ron Klink (D-Pa.), through Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, recently signed a contract to represent the government of the Republic of Malawi. The firm will be introducing the country’s president, Peter Mutharika, to members of Congress and “work to create a positive image for Malawi with the United States Government from both the Legislative and Executive branch,” according to forms filed with the Justice Department. “President Mutharika will eradicate corruption from the government and seek to bring the donor community, and U.S. financial assistance back to Malawi. Nelson Mullins understands that getting the donor dollars flowing to Malawi is of the utmost importance to the success of the new government.” The firm will also work on other economic issues for the country and facilitate meetings with top 2016 presidential contenders, the contract says. 

Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-N.D.) recently made a splash by filing his first lobbying registration for the country of Taiwan via the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. He has now registered to represent Japan as well. The move comes as Japan is in the midst of high-level negotiations with U.S. officials about a bilateral trade deal, in addition to a much larger pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

{mosads}•EDUCATION. The Safe Campus Coalition, an informal group of sororities and fraternities, registered with Squire Patton Boggs to work on “campus safety and higher education” issues in front of Congress, according to disclosure forms. Lawmakers are working on the Higher Education Act reauthorization and recently introduced legislation about campus housing.

•TECHNOLOGY. Hewlett-Packard signed up with its ninth lobbying operation, adding solo advocate Daniel Kostenbauder, who formerly served as general tax counsel for the company. Although forms are dated November 2014, they recently popped up in a disclosure database run by the Senate. According to those forms, Kostenbauder will be working on issues related to “international taxation, tax reform, research and development tax credit, “ and general business tax issues. In December, Congress passed legislation to extend some 50 expired tax credits retroactively through 2014. The research and development credit was among the most coveted tax breaks among corporations.