Bottom Line: Former Illinois congresswoman lobbies for grants for Prairie State city

State watch

The ​City of East Moline, Ill., hired former Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos (D) at Mercury Public Affairs to lobby for grants. Bustos, a former member of the House Appropriations Committee, joined the firm after she left Congress in early 2023.

The ​City of Duvall, Wash., hired CFM Strategic Communications to lobby for federal funding for municipal projects including infrastructure, public safety and economic development. Two of the lobbyists on the account are David Hodges and Page Strickler, who are former Southwest Washington directors for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Food

The delivery service GoBrands, which does business as GoPuff, hired FGS Global to lobby on issues related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). One of the lobbyists on the account is Jacqlyn Schneider, a Senate Agriculture Committee alum.

Finance and banking

Acumen Strategies registered to lobby on student loans and industrial banking issues for Nelnet, a student loan servicer for the Department of Education and financial services provider. The lobbyist on the account is Travis Norton, whose resume includes stints as tax and banking counsel to Senate Banking Committee ranking member Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and general counsel to the House Financial Services Committee. 

The ​American Bankers Association hired Rich Feuer Anderson to lobby on issues impacting the banking industry. Jennifer Rust, former senior counsel on the House Financial Services Committee, is one of the lobbyists on the account.

Tobacco

The tobacco company Altria hired The Harple Group to lobby on tobacco production rights and new tobacco-based products. The lobbyist on the account is Chuck Harple, former political director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, according to his LinkedIn.