How Pelosi’s K Street Gang Profited Off Coronavirus
As Washington lawmakers debated a historic relief package in response to Covid-19, lobbyists scrambled to secure major stimulus cash and favorable regulations for their clients. For K Streeters with previous experience on Nancy Pelosi’s staff, this was a gold rush.
In a profile released in March, Pelosi explained how power and influence works in Washington: “Power is not influence. Power is when you have the ability to make change. Influence is important in making change. But power is where you have the tools and the capacity and the opportunity to do so. Being speaker of the House, that’s real power.”
When Pelosi regained the speaker’s gavel after the 2018 midterm elections, The Hill newspaper declared her former staffers were “in demand” on K Street. Lobbying disclosures from 2018 through 2020 prove that to be true. Federal disclosure records reveal what former key Pelosi aides were able to secure — and how they were financially compensated.
PHARMACEUTICAL
On March 5, 2020, Congress passed, “The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act 2020.” President Trump signed it into law the next day.
Politico made it known that the drug industry “got its way” with that legislation and “successfully blocked attempts this week to include language in the $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus spending bill that would have threatened intellectual property rights for any vaccines and treatments the government decides are priced unfairly.” Journalist Sarah Karlin-Smith notes that they “not only killed” the undesired provision, but they actually had favorable language added.
Disclosures records from 2018-2020 show that the following Pelosi staffers had recently lobbied on behalf of pharmaceutical interests. The dollars received for activities listed is from their own disclosure forms, which reveal “good faith” estimates of their firm’s income related to the client dating back to the beginning of Pelosi’s current term as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Nadeam Elshami, former Pelosi chief of staff.
▪ Lobbied for Walgreen Co. on Drug Pricing Issues, including on “H.R. 748 CARES Act – Issues related to COVID-19 relief” in 2020 Q1. ($680,000)
▪ Represented Wilmer Hale on behalf of Purdue Pharma by “monitoring legislative and regulatory activities impacting the pharmaceutical industry.” ($350,000)
▪ Represented AbbVie on “issues related to pharmaceutical manufacturing” and “patent reform,” including on “H.R. 748 CARES Act – Issues related to COVID-19 relief in 2020 Q1. ($260,000)
▪ Lobbied for Johnson & Johnson on prescription pricing; HR 748 CARES Act, Issues related to COVID-19 treatment in 2020 Q1. ($420,000)
▪ Lobbied for Amgen on prescription price issues. ($350,000)
▪ Lobbied for Lilly USA, LCC on pharmaceutical industry issues, including on “H.R. 748 CARES Act – Issues related to COVID-19 relief” in 2020 Q1. ($80,000)
▪ Lobbied for Novartis on pharmaceutical pricing, including on “H.R. 748 CARES Act – Issues related to COVID-19 relief” in 2020 Q1. ($220,000)
Dean Aguillen, former Pelosi senior advisor.
▪ Lobbied for PhRMA on “general prescription drug affordability and access.” ($230,000)
▪ Lobbied for Pfizer on “issues related to drug pricing” and “general issues related to the pharmaceutical industry.” ($720,000)
Anne MacMillan, former Pelosi senior policy advisor
▪ Lobbied for GlaxoSmithKline to “monitor and educate policymakers” on pharmaceutical industry issues, including “educat[ing] Members on efforts to develop a potential vaccine for COVID-19 in 2020 Q1. ($360,000)
MEDICAID, SNAP
On March 18, 2020, Congress passed “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act.” President Trump signed it into law the same day.
Speaker Pelosi highlighted the bill’s “increase[d] funding for Medicaid” and “strengthen[ed] nutrition initiatives including SNAP [The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program].”
Disclosure forms from 2018-2020 show that the following Pelosi staffers had recently lobbied on SNAP issues or aspects of Medicaid and Medicare. The dollars received for activities listed is from their own disclosure forms, which reveal “good faith” estimates of their firm’s income related to the client dating back to the beginning of Pelosi’s current term as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Dean Aguillen, former Pelosi senior advisor.
▪ Lobbied on behalf of H-E-B on issues related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). ($540,000)
Shanti Stanton, former Pelosi special assistant.
▪ Lobbied for Federation of American Hospitals on “federal health care policy, including Medicare and Medicaid payment for hospital care.” ($540,000)
▪ Lobbied for Pfizer on “general health issues.” ($80,000)
▪ Lobbied for UnitedHealth Group on “issues related to health insurance tax and health reform,” including on “Issues related to the Coronavirus; H.R. 6201 (Families First Coronavirus Response Act) and H.R. 748 (CARES Act).” ($810,000)
Arshi Siddiqui, former Pelosi senior policy advisor.
▪ Lobbied for US Physician Partners on “issues related to the billing of medical procedures.” ($510,000)
AIRLINES
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (CARES) Act.” President Trump signed it into law the same day.
The Hill newspaper reported that “the frenzy on K Street over the coronavirus stimulus bill is sparking a new backlash” as watchdog groups criticized major corporations and industries that were flexing the lobbying muscle to win favor in the legislation.
Disclosure forms from 2018-2020 show that the following Pelosi staffers had recently lobbied on behalf of airline interests. The dollars received for activities listed is from their own disclosure forms, which reveal “good faith” estimates of their firm’s income related to the client dating back to the beginning of Pelosi’s current term as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Shanti Stanton, former Pelosi special assistant.
▪ Lobbied for Delta Air Lines on “issues related to the airline industry,” including those “related to the Coronavirus and H.R. 748 (CARES Act).” ($450,000)
Nadeam Elshami, former Pelosi chief of staff.
▪ Lobbied for Sun Country Airlines on “[i]ssues related to COVID-19 relief packages.” ($30,000)
RESTAURANTS
Disclosure forms from 2018-2020 show that the following Pelosi staffers had recently lobbied on behalf of restaurant interests. The dollars received for activities listed is from their own disclosure forms, which reveal “good faith” estimates of their firm’s income related to the client dating back to the beginning of Pelosi’s current term as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Arshi Siddiqui, former Pelosi senior policy advisor.
▪ Leads Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld’s team for Restaurant Brand International Inc (RBI)providing “strategic and policy advice” on several issues, including “policy advice related to small business and the Paycheck Protection Program (CARES Act H.R.748).” ($670,000)
