Bottom Line

by The Hill Staff - 04/25/06 12:00 AM ET

• AMERICAN INDIANS. Daniel French, a lobbyist for Green & Seifter, has signed on to lobby for the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York. French is a former aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.). The lobbying issue relates to land trusts.

• DEFENSE. Jim Turner, a former House Democrat from Texas, is lobbying for Camel Manufacturing Co. on matters related to defense contracts, according to lobbying registrations. Other clients include Cytogenix and Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals.

• FINANCIAL SERVICES. Thelen Reid Priest alums Walter Raheb and Rick Roberts have joined with Geoffrey Gradler, formerly of Capital Ideas, to start a new shop, RR&G. The firm has 19 clients, according to Raheb, who worked with former Rep. Bill Archer (R-Texas) on the House Ways and Means Committee before becoming a lobbyist. The firm’s clients include NYSE Group, Ernst & Young and Goldman Sachs & Co., according to lobbying registrations recently posted online.

Goldman Sachs has also signed with another new firm: the Baptista Group, founded by Samuel Baptista. His firm is also working on behalf of Fannie Mae and the Optimal Group.

• HIGH-TECH. Google continues to expand its Washington operation. The search-engine giant hired Gage through a preexisting contract with Public Policy Partners, according to lobbying registration. Gage lobbyist Mike Rawson, a former staff member to Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), a key member of the Senate Commerce Committee, is working with Google on issues relating to “spyware, privacy, online pharmacies, Net neutrality, telecom reform [and] data security,” according to the registration.

Fidelis Government Relations, meanwhile, is lobbying for another high-tech giant, Microsoft. Terry Allen of Fidelis is tracking tax and trade bills for the company.

• HIGHER EDUCATION. Tom Coleman Associates is lobbying on behalf of William Jewell College, based in Missouri. The school is seeking federal appropriations.

Also, the University of Mississippi has hired the Prewitt Group to lobby on its behalf. The lobbying firm is based in Mississippi. It is leading a campaign for federal financial help for a new law school building, according to the registration.