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Caught Our Eye items are posted daily. LegiStorm Pro subscribers have access to all posts a few hours before other users, and are also able to search the full Caught Our Eye archive. Log in as a LegiStorm Pro user or learn more about subscribing.

Ex-House aide now pulls strings for textile industry

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 11, 2016

After six years on the Hill, Doug Nation is rolling up his sleeves as a new textile-industry lobbyist.

This is the Greenville, S.C., native's first federal lobbying registration, although he joined the National Council of Textile Organizations as government affairs manager earlier this year.

Nation had worked as an aide to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), most recently as a legislative assistant.

According to the lobbying disclosure form, Nation's advocacy work includes lobbying the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to "maintain strong textile rules" in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and lobbying Congress on issues related to military-order sourcing and the National Defense Authorization Act.

Nation holds a BA degree in political science from Clemson University.

Ex-Hill aide battling for veterans' rights

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 10, 2016

Former Hill aide Brian Dempsey is now battling for veterans' rights as a lobbyist with the Wounded Warrior Project.

This is a new lobbying registration for Dempsey, who's worked as a staff attorney for the nonprofit since March.

He previously served as a legislative assistant and legislative correspondent for Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) before working as an attorney adviser to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The organization, which employs dozens of veterans in district offices across the country through the Wounded Warrior Program, is reportedly undergoing a restructuring following scrutiny over its spending.

National Governors Association takes a lobbying turn

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 9, 2016

The National Governors Association, with offices almost as close as they come to the Capitol, has always had its share of influence in Washington. But the group representing the nation's governors has finally made its influence official by hiring its first federal lobbyist.

Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough is representing the bipartisan organization on "state/federal issues related to state taxation and the National Guard... before Congress and the Administration," according to the form.

According to the organization's website, the NGA provides to governors "services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices." 

Ex-Senate aide lobbies to break up Iraq, defeat ISIS

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 8, 2016

The Committee to Destroy ISIS, a group headed by a former Senate GOP aide who hopes to break up Iraq, has filed its first federal lobbying disclosure.

The organization is advocating for "policies to counter the so-called Islamic State, including proposals for U.S. recognition of a new, independent state in western Iraq where ISIS currently controls territory."

Sam Patten, who has his own lobbying firm, is executive director of the organization. In 2014, he separately registered as a foreign agent on behalf of the Sunni-led Al Aribiya Bloc, an Iraqi political coalition formed by then-deputy prime minister of Iraq Saleh al-Mutlaq.

Patten previously served as speechwriter to former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), as a professional staff member on the Senate Homeland Security Committee and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

From 2008 to 2009, he worked at the State Department as a a senior adviser and speechwriter to the under secretary for democracy and global affairs. He has worked for numerous Republican election campaigns, including as a campaign coordinator for President George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

Former Sen. Tim Hutchinson among Pokemon lobbyists

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Aug. 5, 2016

"Senator, I choose you!" Former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) is one of three Greenberg Traurig lobbyists advocating for Pokemon's business interests.

This is the first federal lobbying registration of Pokemon Co. International, the subsidiary of the Pokemon Co. that handles the company's work outside of Asia. 

The registration follows last month's release of the wildly popular Pokemon GO app, which reached 100 million downloads earlier this week.

Hutchinson was elected to the Senate in 1996 and lost his re-election bid in 2002.

Rob Mangas, ex-chief of staff to former Sen. Wendell Ford (D-Ky.), and Dian Blagman, ex-chief of staff to former Sen. Bob Carr (D-Mich.), join the senator in lobbying for "congressional outreach and monitoring of administrative and legislative action related to technology and intellectual property," according to the disclosure form.

About Caught Our Eye

We spend a large part of our days looking at data. Documents often come in by the dozens and hundreds. And while most are boring - how interesting can staring at a phone directory or salary records be, for example? - we find daily reasons for interest, amusement or even concern packed in the documents. So we are launching a new running feature that we call "Caught our Eye."

Longer than tweets but shorter than most blog posts, Caught our Eye items will bring back the interest in reviewing documents and researching people. Some items might bring hard, breaking news. Others will raise eyebrows and lead some into further inquiry. Others might be good for a joke or two around the water cooler. All will enlighten about the people or workings of Capitol Hill.

Caught our Eye items will be published each morning for LegiStorm Pro subscribers. Non-Pro site users will be able to receive the news items a few hours later. In addition to having immediate access to the news, LegiStorm Pro users will have a handy way to search and browse all past items.