LegiStorm

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." 

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.

"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.

The Republic of Turkey has had a rough month. After an attempted coup and the subsequent state-sponsored crackdown on everything from teachers to the media, the country is badly in need of some good PR.

Enter longtime Hill aide Dan Scandling, now senior director of public affairs for APCO Worldwide, whom Turkey has retained for communication services. As former chief of staff to two members of Congress, Scalding is accustomed to difficult, high-pressure jobs.

The Turkish government is looking for APCO to provide "media relations, crisis communications, third party outreach and social media strategy and development within the United States all in furtherance of promoting positive relations between the Republic of Turkey and the United States," according to a recent disclosure form. APCO's services will cost Turkey $74,200 for just two weeks of services from Aug. 1 to 15.

The firm previously worked with Turkey to promote positive relations beginning in 2000 but that contract lapsed in 2007.

Scandling held several high-powered positions on the Hill, including serving as chief of staff to former Rep. Herb Bateman (R-Va.) from 1990 until 2000 and, most recently, as chief of staff to former Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) from 2009 until Wolf's retirement in January 2015.

A former Senate aide is now lobbying to stop the country's next Martin Shkreli.

Amanda Smith recently filed her first lobbying disclosure for 340B Health, which represents hospitals and other health systems that participate in the federal 340B Drug Discount Program. The program was formed, 340B Health's website explains, "to increase the affordability and accessibility of pharmaceutical and clinical care for the nation's poor and underserved populations."

That would make Shkreli, former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, the bane of the group's existence. Shkreli gained notoriety last year after raising the price of a prescription drug by more than 5,500 percent overnight. 

Smith's first federal lobbying comes three years after she joined the group as its grassroots advocacy manager. She previously served as a Democratic law clerk for the Senate Finance Committee.

Smith is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Law and the University of Virginia.