Chrysler–part owned by the government–hired a new lobbying firm last month, a filing received today shows. It’s Timmons & Company with lobbyists including Bill Timmons. The contract started June 11, a week after GM announced it was cancelling all of its outside lobbying contracts.
So, you, the taxpayer, now have your own lobbyist–or something.
[UPDATE: I should mention that yesterday, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner followed up on his push for an investigation into Chrysler’s and GM’s continued membership in the lobbying group, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. I guess this lobbying filing from June answers Sensenbrenner’s question on whether Chrysler is lobbying with taxpayer money.]
[UPDATE 2: I just called Timmons & Co., and a lobbyist on the account told me that this is not a new registration, but that Timmons has long represented the company. June 11, the date of the registration, is the date Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy. Because it was a new corporate entity, a new registration was needed. The termination of the old account is not yet up online, as of 5 pm. Timmons & Co. directed me to Chrysler’s spokesman, who seems to be gone for the weekend.]
[UPDATE 3: A Chrysler spokeswoman got back to me with an emailed statement. Here it is, in its entirety:
Chrysler continues to devote Company resources to educate policymakers
about the Company and the future of the automotive industry. There
continues to be significant demand for education and information regarding
Chrysler from legislators and government officials. These include
responding to government requests for plant visits, explaining significant
company decisions and preparing for various Congressional hearings. All of
this is lobbying under the law.
In addition, the company continues to focus on a number of local, state and
federal government activities and on a wide range of issues including
energy policy, development of electric and fuel-efficient vehicles,
taxation, health care, trade and international affairs, safety and
government support, among others.]
Other parting notes from here on K Street:
PhRMA has hired a former Evan Bayh staffer to lobby on health-care reform.
Harrah’s has hired big-time firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to work on online gambling, which the brick-and-mortar giant wants to enter.
