BofA hires Lanza amid Trump threat
BofA BRINGS ON LANZA: As the White House weighs an executive order targeting Wall Street heavyweights over perceived discrimination against conservative causes and the crypto industry, Bank of America has enlisted Mercury Public Affairs' Bryan Lanza to lobby for the lender, according to a newly filed disclosure.
— Lanza, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, began working for Bank of America on July 1 on 'legislation and advocacy related to financial institutions,' the disclosure shows. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Trump could sign an order as soon as this week that would threaten fines against banks deemed to have dropped customers for political reasons.
— The paper previously teased the move in June, which came after Trump torched top Wall Street CEOs for alleged 'debanking' practices in January. Banks have denied political discrimination.
— A draft of the order 'directs bank regulators to investigate whether any financial institutions might have violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, antitrust laws or consumer financial-protection laws,' per WSJ.
— While it doesn't name any specific banks, it 'appears to refer to an instance where Bank of America was accused of shutting down the accounts of a Christian organization operating in Uganda based on the organization's religious beliefs. The bank has said it closed the accounts because it doesn't serve small businesses operating outside the U.S.'
— Trump reaffirmed his animosity toward Bank of America and other major lenders in an interview on CNBC today, accusing BoA, JPMorgan and others of refusing to accept his deposits, POLITICO's Michael Stratford reports. BoA spokesperson Bill Halldin told Michael the bank was supportive of the 'Trump administration's efforts to provide regulatory clarity to banks.'
— Bank of America has a relatively miniscule lobbying footprint compared to its Wall Street peers, with only two other outside firms on retainer: Tiber Creek Group and Empire Consulting Group.
Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. Send tips, questions, complaints: Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@politico.com, and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko.
BIG SPENDERS AT THE NEW MAGA HANGOUT: Butterworth's, the French bistro that opened last year on Capitol Hill, has become the MAGA hotspot of the second Trump administration. The restaurant counts Trumpworld celebrities like Steve Bannon among its regulars and played host to top administration officials as well as celebrations for everything from Trump's inauguration to the confirmation of new U.S. Circuit Judge Emil Bove.
— So it should be no surprise that the restaurant, which recently earned a spot on The Washington Post's list of the city's top 20 newcomers, has also become a destination for GOP campaigns and political groups. They have disclosed almost $45,000 in spending at Butterworth's since last year, according to campaign finance reports.
— The restaurant's top campaign patron so far is the governance-focused Tuesday Group. The group's PAC shelled out $21,000 across three different occasions for event venue and food and beverage, according to FEC filings. The leadership PAC for first-term Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) reported $12,000 in disbursements for event rental and catering at Butterworth's in December and January, filings show.
— Also among the top spenders was a joint fundraising committee for Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), which reported spending $6,300 for 'event catering' for fundraising purposes on Jan. 3, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, whose campaign committee reported spending $4,500 on catering and facility rental and food and beverage on three separate occasions in March and May.
— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Reps. Harriett Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) have also reported campaign expenses at Butterworth's in the first half of this year, along with the RNC.
TELEHEALTH GROUP LOBBIES UP: The American Telemedicine Association has retained Bluebird Strategies, the second new outside firm for the telehealth industry group in the past year. Bluebird's Kevin Brennan, a veteran health care lobbyist who once served as chief of staff to the top House Democratic appropriator Rosa DeLauro, began working for ATA Action last week on legislation, according to a disclosure filing.
— Brennan is lobbying on issues related to coverage and reimbursement for digital therapeutics — software, apps or devices to help treat chronic pain, addiction, insomnia or other mental health conditions — including a bipartisan bill that would allow Medicare to cover such treatments.
— ATA now has three lobbying firms on retainer, including McGuireWoods Consulting, which the trade group hired last October, and Advanced Policy Consulting. The hire comes on the heels of a major win for the telehealth industry in the GOP megabill signed into law last month. It made permanent a pandemic-era rule that allowed high-deductible health insurance plans to cover telehealth visits prior to hitting the plan's deductible.
ON DEFENSE: The defense industry is putting together a new coalition to fend off proposed restrictions to a prized Pentagon grant program for small businesses. Defense-heavy lobbying firm SMI is behind the DefendSBIR effort, which will press lawmakers to reauthorize the expiring Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs ahead of their expiration in September — while bucking proposed caps on funding for awardees with multiple grants.
— Lawmakers like Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) have pitched the reforms for inclusion in the NDAA later this year. But defense groups have argued that limitations on the program, which works to foster breakthroughs in advanced defense technology — particularly among small or emerging firms — could stifle innovation in the sector. The industry coalition is planning a fly-in next month, as well as a digital ad campaign, to take its case directly to the Hill.
START YOUR DRONES: 'The Trump administration on Tuesday took a significant step toward enabling Amazon's dream of drone-delivered packages,' POLITICO's Sam Ogozalek reports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rolled out a proposal that would smooth the process for allowing people and companies to operate drones out of their line of sight.
— 'Tuesday's announcement is a particular boon to Amazon, which has invested heavily in drone deliveries,' but the proposed rule has been long awaited for a number of industries, including agriculture and law enforcement, which will now work to shape the final version.
— 'The proposal is key to the development and future use of air taxis, too, which the industry wants to see enabled in time for the 2028 Olympic games being held in Los Angeles,' Sam notes. 'Though this rule will further that goal, many other regulatory hurdles remain.'
OOPSIES: 'A public document filed by a company that just hired President Donald Trump's two oldest sons as advisers included a sentence early Monday that said it hoped to benefit from grants and other incentives from the federal government, which their father happens to lead. But when The Associated Press asked the Trump family business about the apparent conflict of interest, the document was revised and the line taken out,' The AP's Bernard Condon writes.
— 'Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are getting 'founder shares' worth millions of dollars in New America Acquisition 1 Corp., a company with no operating business that hopes to fill that hole by purchasing an American company that can play 'a meaningful role in revitalizing domestic manufacturing,' according to the filing.
— 'The original version of the securities filing said the target company should be 'well positioned' to tap federal or state government incentives. That reference was taken out of the revised version.'
Jobs report
— Democratic Data Exchange has named Amanda Coulombe as its CEO. She was previously a consultant for Movement Infrastructure Group and served as president of NGP VAN, the leading technology provider for Democratic campaigns.
— Pat Flood has joined Cornerstone Government Affairs as a principal on its national security team. He was most recently deputy chief of staff and senior national security adviser to Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.).
— Jackie Koo has joined Mastercard as director of government affairs and policy. She most recently served as chief of staff and senior manager for global public policy at Boeing.
— Ayesha Khan is joining Democracy Forward as senior legal adviser. She most recently was a partner at Potomac Law Group.
— Christopher Dauer is now president and CEO of State Policy Network. He previously was COO and chief program advancement officer at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
— Lauren Gillis is now senior director of U.S. government relations at Albemarle. She previously was special assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and is a State and USUN alum.
— Andrew Nehring is now a principal at Vogel Group. He was previously a director at the firm.
— K&L Gates has added George Stark to its public policy group in Pennsylvania.
New Joint Fundraisers
None.
New PACs
Atropos Group Inc. PAC (PAC)
The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. Federal PAC (PAC)
Commonwealth Responsibility PAC (Super PAC)
LGBT POLITICAL SUPPORT COMMITTEE (PAC)
MI Democrats 4th Congressional District PAC (PAC)
Ocean State Anchor PAC (Super PAC)
Trust Brigade (Super PAC)
Wild Sheep Foundation PAC (PAC)
New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS
Brian Glackin & Associates LLC: Hance Scarborough (Obo Energy Solutions)
Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Global Uranium And Enrichment Ltd
Forward Global: Calpine Corporation
Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Liberty Maritime
Lowry Strategies: Lunar Landing Day Project
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Mercedes-Benz North America Corporation
Mountain View Partners Dc, LLC: Pg&E
Skincure Oncology: Skincure Oncology
New Lobbying Terminations
Asia-Pacific Interrelations And Trade Foundation: Asia-Pacific Interrelations And Trade Foundation
Bayr And Associates LLC: Federation Of Electric Company Of Japan
Capitol Counsel LLC: Procore Technologies, Inc.
Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc.
Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: Northeastern University
Ct Group Fka Ctf Global LLC: University Of Pittsburgh
Hurst International Consulting LLC: Visualogyx
Ms. Anna Hansen: Sullivan Strategies Obo Skysafe
Sanborn Analytics Inc: Sanborn Analytics Inc
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