LegiStorm

With more than five years of experience on the Hill, Zach Weber is returning to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, as federal relations director.

Weber was most recently deputy director of federal affairs to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). Prior to joining Whitmer's office, Weber was legislative director to former Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.).

Weber graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014 with a bachelor's in international studies and Spanish.

The university lobbies on a range of issues, including health, veterans and budget/appropriations issues.

Clarification: Monday's Caught Our Eye reported that Steve Dwyer, senior director of innovation for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, was invited to Microsoft's Spring Congressional Staff Delegation Trip. A representative for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer informed LegiStorm that Dwyer did not attend this event. 

Following the U.S. House's institution of a ban on staffers' use of Microsoft Copilot, as reported by Axios, various congressional staffers were invited to Microsoft's Spring Congressional Staff Delegation Trip, which included a demonstration of Copilot.

Members of Democratic and Republican congressional offices were invited by Microsoft Corp. to this privately financed trip from April 24-26. A notable invitee was Steve Dwyer, senior director of innovation for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, according to a disclosed invitee list. A representative for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer informed LegiStorm that Dwyer did not attend this event. 

The Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine Szpindor, provided direction to House offices on the Copilot ban. The office also said that it will evaluate a government version of Copilot when it is released and determine if it will face the same ban as the commercial version, according to Axios' report.

The trip also included a briefing on "Responsible AI" that explained "Microsoft's vision for a responsible generative AI ecosystem," per a travel disclosure.

Before this event, Microsoft had not hosted a congressional staff delegation since October 2022, according to LegiStorm congressional travel data.

Although it is unclear if Microsoft won over any congressional offices during its spring delegation, with the House Committee on Homeland Security requesting via a letter sent May 9, 2024, that the president of Microsoft, Brad Smith, testify on the company's cybersecurity "shortcomings," it appears that the company is still facing an uphill battle with Congress.

After four years at Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid LLC, Meredith Rogers is now press secretary to Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.).

Rogers interned for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) before joining Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, where her most recent position was communications and development manager. She did not register to lobby while there.

She is one of several Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid revolvers, with former and current Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid employees having worked in various congressional offices, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid has represented several big-name clients, such as Best Buy Co. Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Intel Corp. The lobbying powerhouse received more than $11 million for federal lobbying in 2023.

The fastest growing issue amongst lobbyist spending for 2024 Q1 is natural resources, which has seen a 170% increase from 2023 Q1 spending.

Nearly $6 million has been spent on lobbying for natural resources this quarter, ranking it among the top 10 issues for spending. Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning firms have both prioritized this issue, spending approximately $1.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Water conservation is a leading issue for top registrants, with Natural Resource Results LLC lobbying for stronger water source protections in the Farm Bill and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP lobbying for water infrastructure improvements for the Nation Act and improved drought legislation.

Health, agriculture and energy are also among the top 10 issues with the highest reported spending. 

A Republican House staffer has climbed his way to a position at public affairs and strategic communications firm HillEast Group LLC.

Tyler Gutchess is now vice president of HillEast. Gutchess was most recently legislative assistant to Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.). He previously held various positions with Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.).

Under Rep. Molinaro, Gutchess covered issues such as environmental protection, public lands and natural resources and foreign trade and international finance.

HillEast Group spent nearly $2 million on federal lobbying in 2023, naming Airports Council International - North America, U.S. Travel Association and Global Digital Asset and Cryptocurrency Association among their many clients.