With Daniel Lippman and Zach Warmbrodt

VENUES STILL WAITING FOR CASH AFTER LOBBYING VICTORY: When the pandemic hit last year, concert and performing arts venues banded together to form the National Independent Venue Association, which spent months lobbying Congress to help them. They succeeded in December: Congress included a grant program for shuttered venues in the Covid relief.

— The Small Business Administration’s website through which venues could apply for the grants crashed within hours of going up on April 8 and hasn’t been fixed yet. The agency is “aiming to reopen the portal by the end of next week,” the SBA said in a statement on Friday. The agency has promised to give venue owners advance notice when they’re getting ready to do so.

— The delay has vexed venue owners across the country, some of whom had told their landlords and lenders that they’d be able to apply for the grants on April 8, POLITICO’s Theodoric Meyer reports. “We’re grateful for this focus and sense of urgency and look forward to seeing the updated user guide and the program back online this week, because we’re hearing from more small businesses that are going to have to call it quits because they cannot hold out any longer, all the while $16 billion is waiting to save them,” Audrey Fix Schaefer, a National Independent Venue Association spokesperson, said in a statement.

— Venue owners said the lack of firm date the application portal would reopen had been one of the hardest parts. One venue owner in Chicago, Jo Webster, couldn’t accompany his husband to a medical appointment in Detroit last week because he wasn’t sure when the portal might go live again.

— “If it’s a week or two that’s fine,” Sean Lynch, an owner of a Billings, Mont., venue called Pub Station Presents, said in an interview on Thursday. “Nobody knows, though. It’s the uncertainty out there that I think is causing the stress.”

Good afternoon and welcome to PI. Send your best K Street tips and musings: [email protected]. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

FIRST IN PI — PORTERFIELD ADDS WATERS AIDE: Jennifer Read, who served as Democratic deputy chief counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, has left her job on the Hill and will join Porterfield, Fettig & Sears as a vice president and counsel. In an interview, she said the decision to leave the Hill came down to professional growth and a desire to use her experience on the panel to serve private sector clients.

— A second Financial Services aide, GOP staff director Steve Cote, is heading downtown as well. Cote has joined the lobbying firm Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas as a principal. Prior to serving as a top aide to ranking member Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Cote was majority staff director on the House Rules Committee and served as the chief congressional liaison for former President George W. Bush’s OMB. He’ll be registering to lobby, though he’ll be banned from lobbying the Financial Services Committee for a year due to ethics rules.

FORMER HOUSE CLERK JOINS HBS: Joe Novotny, whose calming voice and trademark beard will be familiar to anyone else with a mild C-SPAN addiction, will be a principal in Husch Blackwell Strategies’ federal practice group. Novotny served as the House reading clerk — Roll Call last year called him the “voice of Congress” — for more than a decade before stepping away from the mic last month.

— Novotny isn’t sure yet whether he’ll register to lobby. But his extensive knowledge of Congress’ procedural ticks, as well as his relationships on both sides of the aisle — which gave him a vocal standing ovation following a farewell speech from Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the floor last week — and with parliamentarians in both the House and Senate “will hopefully be something that clients will find useful and helpful to them,” he told PI.

UNIONS, PROGRESSIVE GROUPS LAUNCH $1M PUSH ON DEM ELECTIONS, ETHICS BILL: A coalition of national progressive groups and unions today announced a seven-figure campaign to ramp up support for the For the People Act, the House-passed package of voter access and government ethics reforms that has run into opposition from Republicans and their allies.

— The campaign from the American Federation of Teachers, Center for Popular Democracy, Demos Action, Latino Victory Fund, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, NAACP, National Education Association, NextGen America, SEIU, Sierra Club, Supermajority, UFCW, UNITE HERE, and the Working Families Party will target Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and D.C., featuring stories of voters from the three states, and includes ad placements in national media outlets.

AMERICAN CLEAN POWER ASSOCIATION OUSTS TOP LOBBYIST: “The American Clean Power Association, the top renewable energy trade group in Washington, has fired its head of government relations amid complaints about her management style and high turnover on her team,” POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman reports. “Amy Farrell, ACP’s senior vice president of government and public affairs, was removed two weeks ago by Heather Zichal, the former climate adviser to President Barack Obama who is now CEO of the trade association.”

— “Farrell was a ‘divisive character’ who ran good people out of the organization,” according to a person familiar with the matter. She “was hired as the ‘token Republican in the Trump years’ back in June 2017 when the organization was called the American Wind Energy Association. But since taking the helm of the rebranded lobby group in December, Zichal found her as someone who wasn’t helpful in the organizational culture, according to the person.”

DAVIS REGISTERS TO REPRESENT FIRTASH AGAIN: Lanny Davis the former special counsel to President Bill Clinton who also represented former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, “has registered as a foreign agent to represent Dmytro Firtash, the Ukrainian billionaire who played a key role in Trump’s first impeachment saga and is facing federal bribery charges in Chicago,” Playbook reports.

— “Davis, a partner at Davis Goldberg & Galper, was previously part of Firtash’s legal team in 2019, but he was dropped in favor of Joseph Digenova and Victoria Toensing, the Trump-aligned conservative lawyers who reportedly met with Bill Barr about the Firtash case. With Trump gone, Davis is back — at $50,000 per month, according to his FARA registration, which was submitted to the Department of Justice last night.”

RECREATING THE CASE AGAINST BROIDY: The Wire China’s David Barboza is out with the first of two deep dives into the case of GOP fundraiser Elliot Broidy, who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump of charges for failing to register as a foreign agent.

— “In Broidy and the two other Americans, China had found its mark. The three agreed to the scheme, but none of them chose to register under FARA — even though, back in the U.S., the American public was growing increasingly familiar with the phrase ‘malign foreign influence,’ thanks to the F.B.I.’s investigation into Russia and election meddling. As U.S. authorities were looking into whether members of the Trump campaign had contact with senior Russian intelligence officials, Broidy himself was meeting with a senior Chinese security and intelligence official.”

NICKELS LEAVES HOSPITALS LOBBY AT A CRITICAL TIME: “Tom Nickels helped build the American Hospital Association into one of the biggest lobbying forces in Washington,” STAT News’ Rachel Cohrs reports. “He was the industry’s dealmaker on every big health policy battle of the last 25 years, from the fight over the Affordable Care Act to the creation of Medicare’s drug benefit to the deficit reduction frenzy of the 1990s. And now — as the hospital industry stares down a newly empowered Democratic Party eyeing a litany of unprecedented health reforms — Nickels is retiring at 68.”

HOW CRYPTOCURRENCIES PLAN TO ADVANCE THEIR PRIORITIES: The New York Times’ Ephrat Livni has a great overview of the expanding cryptocurrency lobbying space at an inflection point in Washington for the industry: “Succeeding or failing to persuade officials now will determine whether regulation allows the digital gold rush to accelerate or slows it to a sputter,” Livni writes.

— “Crypto companies often boast about their ability to disrupt the status quo. but Washington is different. Lobbyists follow an established playbook. Indeed, one way Coinbase has been able to grow to its current grandeur is by recognizing that even currency renegades had to play nice with officials to help create a hospitable regulatory environment that enabled its executives to become billionaires.”

— The company, which went public last week and launched a new trade group, Crypto Council for Innovation, the week before, “has spent more than $700,000 on government lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.”

Jobs Report

— Brennan Georgianni has joined the American Cleaning Institute as director of state government affairs. Georgianni was most recently manager of state government affairs at the Plastics Industry Association.

The Healthcare Distribution Alliance has hired Elyse Petroni as vice president of communications and marketing. She most recently served as associate vice president of public affairs for the Advanced Medical Technology Association.

— Andrea Hechavarria is joining the digital health company Butterfly Network as vice president of government affairs. She was most recently on 3M’s federal affairs and public policy team.

— J. Scott Goldstein, a major general in the Air Force Reserve and most recently vice president of engineering, integration and logistics at SAIC’s Solutions and Technology Group, is joining Anduril as head of advanced projects, per Morning Defense.

— Kelsey Donohue has joined Snap Inc.’s comms team in D.C., focused on public policy, social impact, platform safety and integrity issues, Morning Tech reports. She previously worked in Michelle Obama’s White House press office.

— Kaitlyn Vitez has joined the American Association of University Professors as government relations officer, Morning Education reports. She was previously the higher education campaigns director at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

New Joint Fundraisers

Biggs Victory Committee (Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Building Innovative Good Government Solutions PAC, NRCC)

New PACs

Action Can’t Wait PAC (PAC)
Be Progressive or Else PAC (PAC)
BUCKEYES FOR A STRONG OHIO (Super PAC)
College Republican National Leadership Committee (Super PAC)
Future Expert Innovative Safety Technology Fund (PAC)
Leadership North Carolina (Super PAC)
Our Freedom PAC (PAC)
Powerful Progressives PAC (Hybrid PAC)
Urban Reimagine Educate Deploy PAC (PAC)
VoterPAC (PAC)

New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

Adams And Reese, LLP: Watch Systems
Alvarez & Associates: Airline Service Providers Association
Arent Fox LLP: M3 Consulting Group LLC
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Mark Hastings
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Move Humanity Forward
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: North American Interpipe, Inc.
Ballard Partners: Naomi Campbell
Berni Consulting, LLC: Audubon Nature Institute
Best Best & Krieger LLP: City Of Palm Desert
Bockorny Group, Inc.: Newsmax Media, Inc.
Boundary Stone Partners: Paper Recycling Coalition
Boundary Stone Partners: Zincfive, Inc.
Brendan Neal Strategies, LLC: Epplin Strategies Planning On Behalf Of The Trevor Project
Brendan Neal Strategies, LLC: Golden Years Home Care Services
Capitol Decisions, Inc.: Pathfinder Solutions Pbc
Capitol Ventures Government Relations, LLC: Oklahoma State University Center For Health Sciences
Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: American Urological Association
Cgcn Group, LLC (Formerly Known As Clark Geduldig Cranford & Nielsen, LLC): Wells Fargo
Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC: Five Forks
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Initiative For Health Care Affordability
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Lake Tindall, LLP Obo Board Of Mississippi Levee Commissioners
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Servicenow, Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Telecommunications Systems, Inc.
Covington & Burling LLP: Pci-Media Impact, Inc.
Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: Bristow Group, Inc.
Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: Major League Baseball Players Association
Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: The Village Of Oswego
Elevate Government Affairs, LLC: Zeroavia
Epplin Strategic Planning: Allegiance Strategies, LLC On Behalf Of The Trevor Project, Inc.
Forbes-Tate: Activehours Inc., D/B/A Earnin
Gray Global Advisors, LLC: Evergreen
Grayrobinson Pa: Benefytt Technologies
Green Mountain Strategies LLC: Partnership Project Action Fund
Highland Strategies, LLC: Self Check Corp.
Holland & Knight LLP: Career Education Colleges And Universities
Holland & Knight LLP: Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Covax Data
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Morsecorp, Inc.
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Rct Systems
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: San Bernardino International Airport Authority
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Xerox Corporation
J.A. Green And Company (Formerly LLC): Elbit Systems Of America
J.A. Green And Company (Formerly LLC): Gkn Aerospace
J.A. Green And Company (Formerly LLC): Klas Government, Inc.
Jefferson Business Consulting, LLC: Leiters
Jmh Group, Formerly Jamian Mcelroy & Hamlin, LLC: Fairwinds Technologies
K&L Gates LLP: Riot Games, Inc.
Lobbyit.Com: Primary Marking Systems, Inc.
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Amneal Pharmaceutical
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Caneel Purpose Group
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Chisholm Broadband
Michael Best Strategies LLC: Powertap
Peck Madigan Jones: U.S. Chamber Of Commerce - C_Tec And Ccmc
Phoenix Global Organization Incorporated: Flex Money Payment Services LLC.
Phoenix Global Organization Incorporated: Scgi Credit Union LLC
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Bedrock Systems, Inc.
Pricewaterhousecoopers: Save The Da Coalition
Primacy Strategy Group: Center For Secure And Modern Elections
Ridge Policy Group: Association Of People Supporting Employment First (Apse)
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Nalas Engineering
Thomas Kahn: Cormac Group On Behalf Of Lir Media
Thompson Coburn LLP: Metropolitan Transit Authority Of Harris County
Thorn Run Partners: Health Level Seven International (Hl7)
Venable LLP: Bank Policy Institute

New Lobbying Terminations

Adams And Reese, LLP: Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District
Arent Fox LLP: Cp Kelco
Arent Fox LLP: National Parking Association
Arent Fox LLP: Rh Energytrans, LLC
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association
Baker & Hostetler LLP: Dcor, LLC
Baker & Hostetler LLP: Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting O.B.O. Medical Transportation Access Coalition
Bousum Consulting LLC: Beaverfit
Bridge Public Affairs, LLC: Tennesseans For Quality Early Education
Bridge Public Affairs, LLC: Viz.Ai
Bridgeway Advocacy: Summit Public Affairs (For Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
Buckley LLP (Formerly Buckley Sandler LLP): National Homebuyers Fund, Inc.
Capitol Counsel, LLC: Civatech Oncology, Inc.
Capitol Counsel, LLC: Virginia Tourism Corporation
Capitol Strategies, LLC: Maricopa Association Of Governments
Cohnreznick LLP: Cohnreznick LLP
Covington & Burling LLP: Advanced Technology International
Covington & Burling LLP: Cultural Care, Inc., D/B/A Cultural Care Au Pair
Covington & Burling LLP: Elbit Systems Of America, LLC
Covington & Burling LLP: Institute Of Internal Auditors
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Douglas County Public Utility District
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Lake Tindall, LLP On Behalf Of Mississippi Levee Board
Duane Morris Government Strategies: Americans For Transparency And Accountability
Efb Advocacy, LLC: 501(C) Services
Efb Advocacy, LLC: First Nonprofit
Efb Advocacy, LLC: Ohio Indemnity Company
Efb Advocacy, LLC: The Nonprofit Trust
Efb Advocacy, LLC: Unemployment Services Trust
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: Becton Dickinson And Company
Forza Dc Strategies, LLC: Patriotic Millionaires
Gibbons P.C.: Consorzio Per La Tutela Del Formaggio Pecorino Romano
Gibbons P.C.: Le Creuset Of America, Inc.
Grayrobinson Pa: 98Point6 Inc.
Grayrobinson Pa: Community Financial Services Association Of America
Grayrobinson Pa: Kasasa Ltd.
Grayrobinson Pa: Stellar Development Foundation
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Association Of Community Cancer Centers
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Ge Aviation
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Hologic, Inc.
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Niagara Bottling, LLC
Holland & Knight LLP: Florida Hospital Association
Holland & Knight LLP: Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Holland & Knight LLP: Swissport USa, Inc.
Jeffery L Cardwell: Sextons Creek (On Behalf Of G2 Strategies)
Jeffery L Cardwell: Sextons Creek (On Behalf Of Nuo Therapeutics Inc.)
Jtr Strategies LLC: Thorn Run Partners O/B/O Alliance For Drone Innovation
K&L Gates LLP: American Commercial Space Innovators
K&L Gates LLP: Community Capital Management, LLC D/B/A Crafund Advisory, Inc.
K&L Gates LLP: Dji Technology, Inc.
K&L Gates LLP: Fincom Ltd.
K&L Gates LLP: R.T. G. Furniture Corp. D/B/A Rooms To Go
K&L Gates LLP: Seastreak LLC
K&L Gates LLP: The World Dog Alliance Limited
K&L Gates LLP: Tradebe Treatment And Recycling, LLC
Mccaulley&Company: City Of Brooklyn
Mccaulley&Company: Lorain County Health & Dentistry
Murphy Strategic Consulting: Cribs For Kids
Ogilvy Government Relations: Direct Energy
Peck Madigan Jones: Avenue Solutions
Peck Madigan Jones: Sb Energy Devco (US)
Plurus Strategies, LLC: Smartpower
Raffaniello & Associates: Custodia Financial, LLC
Rich Feuer Anderson: Mbi, Inc.
Sidley Austin LLP: Hyundai Power Transformers USa, Inc.
Sidley Austin LLP: Longi Solar Technology (U.S.) Inc.
Steptoe & Johnson LLP: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Steptoe & Johnson LLP: Smith And Wesson Brands Inc.
Tawshunsky Law Firm, Pllc: International Brotherhood Of Teamsters
The Ross Group, LLC: Advault, Inc.
The Smith-Free Group, LLC: Bank Policy Institute
Tiber Creek: Cigna Corporation
Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC: American Federation For Children
Van Scoyoc Associates: Virginia Port Authority
Whitmer & Worrall, LLC: Association Of Equipment Manufacturers
Wynne Health Group: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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