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Idaho Power Co. gained more lobbying might from inside government, as another of the governor's former chiefs of staff registered to become a paid lobbyist for the state's biggest utility, reports AP reporter John Miller. Jason Kreizenbeck, who quit as Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter's top aide in October, will lobby the Legislature and his former boss. His predecessor, former chief of staff Jeff Malmen, is also an Idaho Power lobbyist. Unlike more than half of states, Idaho has no revolving door restrictions that force legislators or government employees to undergo a waiting period before lobbying former colleagues; click below for Miller's full report.
Two prominent Idaho lobbying firms are merging: Sullivan & Reberger is merging with Eiguren Public Policy, and the new firm, Sullivan Reberger Eiguren, will represent the clients of both firms. Sullivan & Reberger is Pat Sullivan and Phil Reberger, while Eiguren Public Policy is Roy Eiguren. “We were just at points in our lives which made some sense for us to do it,” said lobbyist Pat Sullivan. “Phil’s looking more toward slowing down a little bit and redirecting.” Eiguren said, “For me, it adds depth and a broader scope to my practice, because I’ve been a sole practitioner for five years.”
Added Eiguren, “It’s a relative comment, but we’ll be the largest lobbying firm in the state.” In addition to the three principals, the new firm likely will bring on another lobbyist, Sullivan said. The firm’s anticipating a busy legislative session. “I’ve got tax issues, environmental law issues, retail grocery issues, bail bond issues, budget issues,” Eiguren said.
Eiguren’s current clients include Amalgamated Sugar, American Ecology Corp., Exergy Development Group, Prison Health Services Inc. and Verizon Wireless, among others. Sullivan’s include AREVA Inc., Associated General Contractors of Idaho, Eli Lilly Corp. and Moneytree Inc., among others.
The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call has come out with a story about lobbying by Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo’s daughter, Lara; she represents numerous health-care-related interests, the paper reported, including several Idaho medical facilities for which the Idaho Republican has sought earmarks, according to federal lobbying disclosure records. Paul Lee, a former Senate aide and founder of the firm Strategic Health Care, where Lara Crapo serves as government relations director, said the office maintains a strict separation between Crapo and her father’s office. You can read the Roll Call report here.
Washington, D.C. lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is touting its newest addition of “top tier talent to its growing government relations group,” namely former Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco. LaRocco, who previously had his own public affairs and lobbying firm, LaRocco & Associates, will be a policy director for the group with a focus on financial services and natural resources. When he represented Idaho’s 1st Congressional District in Congress from 1991 to 1995, LaRocco, a Democrat, served on the financial services and natural resources committees. “Larry’s experience as a member of Congress coupled with his deep relationships and extensive knowledge of Capitol Hill make him a significant addition to our firm,” said Al Mottur, managing partner of the lobbying firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
LaRocco called the move “a natural next step in my career” and said, “I look forward to working with the firm’s experienced team of policy advisors on these constantly evolving and game-changing issues.” The Brownstein firm says it’s “ranked among the fastest growing and top lobbying firms in Washington, D.C.”; it was founded in 1968 and employs a “bipartisan team” of nearly 240 attorneys and legislative consultants that “works to secure the client’s best interest in areas such as energy and environment, telecommunications and financial services.”
Idaho state officials flew on a state plane for a lobbying tour of phosphate mines last month, with a mining industry group footing the bill, the Associated Press reports, though the Idaho Transportation Department doesn’t allow private groups to charter state planes. Lt. Gov. Brad Little said the move will save taxpayers money, but a group that opposes Idaho phosphate mine expansion questioned the arrangement. Click below to read the full story from AP reporter John Miller.
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