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Caught Our Eye

Hungary hires former SSA commissioner as advocate

Posted by Jenna Ebersole on Nov. 18, 2014

A former Social Security Administration commissioner and onetime congressional staffer has registered as a foreign agent to promote Hungary's government.

Jo Anne B. Barnhart has worked in politics since the 1970s when she started as Sen. Bill Roth's (R-Del.) legislative assistant shortly after graduating from college. The job with Roth, followed by four years with the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee in the late 1980s, kicked off decades of work in the executive and legislative branches for Barnhart.

Barnhart, who listed her occupation as a government relations consultant with the SLI Group LLC, registered under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. The organization will provide "public relations assistance and networking" for Hungary by disseminating information and making contacts with lawmakers and business leaders.

The part-time work earns Barnhart $10,000 per month, according to the FARA filing.

Barnhart also served as political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 1990s, and was commissioner of Social Security between 2001 and 2007.