Bottom Line: ActBlue lobbies up on online donation overhaul bill

Elections

The Democratic online fundraising platform ActBlue hired Covington & Burling LLP to lobby on issues related to the Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations Act, a House bill that would bar political campaigns and committees from accepting debit or credit card contributions without the associated card verification value (CVV) and billing address and prohibit contributions via gift card, gift certificate or prepaid credit or debit card.

Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) introduced the bill last month, citing reports that ActBlue does not require a CVV to contribute and has accepted donations using gift and prepaid cards, which he said are more susceptible to illegal “straw donor” schemes.

The lobbyist on the account is Matthew Shapanka, former chief counsel on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.

Health care

After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid terminated an agreement with The Ivy at Great Falls this summer, the nursing home hired Stonington Global. The agency said it was taking the action because The Ivy at Great Falls had “failed to attain substantial compliance with certain Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements,” and the firm disclosed it would lobby for the “facility license.” The lobbyist on the account is Nicolas Muzin, former chief of staff to then-Rep., now-Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and deputy chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

The telehealth company Hims hired Cassidy and Associates over the summer to lobby the House and Senate on compounding and telehealth, according to a recent registration. The firm disclosed receiving $40,000 to lobby on these issues during the third quarter of the year. One of the lobbyists on the account is Julie ​Eddy Rokala, former chief of staff to Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.).

Sports

The Washington, D.C., sports and entertainment giant Monumental Sports, which owns many of the District’s major sports teams, including the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, hired Forbes Tate to lobby on issues related to sports. The lobbyists on the account include Jeff Strunk, former deputy floor director to ex-Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Fuel

​Shell Oil Company hired The Harple Group to lobby on issues related to climate change, oil exploration, drilling rights, oil and natural gas pipelines and “cap and trade” regulations designed to limit emissions. Chuck Harple, former political director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, will work on the account.