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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 218 D STREET, SE |
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City | WASHINGTON |
State | DC |
Zip Code | 20003 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
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5. Senate ID# 38814-12
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6. House ID# 325310000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2008 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date | |
11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Richard Trilsch |
Date | 04/17/2008 |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BAN
16. Specific lobbying issues
Reform Credit Card Practices. Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform of unfair practices of credit card industry. testified in previous quarters. Bills include S 1395, Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act, S 2753, Credit Card Reform Act, HR 5244, Credit Cardhholders Bill of Rights Act, HR 2146 Universal Default Prohibition Act and HR 5546, Credit Card Fair Fee Act.
2) Reform Mortgage Practices. Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform of mortgage and predatory lending. Bills included S 2452, Home Ownership Preservation and Protection Act and HR 3915. Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Federal Reserve System, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Ed |
Mierzwinski |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BNK
16. Specific lobbying issues
Restructure Mortgages in Bankruptcy: Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform Supported efforts to allow bankruptcy judges to restructure first mortgages. Bills included HR 3609, the Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act and S 2136, Helping Families To Save Their Homes, with an emphasis on Title IV of S 2136.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Ed |
Mierzwinski |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code CSP
16. Specific lobbying issues
Supported efforts to reauthorize Consumer Product Safety Commission, add resources, regulate dangerous and/or toxic products. Provided comments to hill, signed letters, lobbied on all aspects of legislation and proposed regulations pertaining to reform. Testified in previous quarters. Specific bills included HR 4040, Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act and S 2045 and S 2663, the CPSC Reform Act (S 2663 was a successfor floor vehicle), all titles.
Supported various efforts to protect consumers from unfair business or marketplace practices by signing letters, lobbying or commenting on various proposals: 1) Mandatory Arbitration: Support for S 1782/HR 3010, the Arbitration Fairness Act to ban mandatory arbitration in consumer laws. 2) Support for S. 1145/HR 1908, the Patent Reform Act, to encourage generic substitutes for brand name pharmaceuticals. 3) Opposition to HR 1767/HR 1012, the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act, which would legalize unfair practices of predatory rent to own stores. 5) Supported aspects of Federal Aviation Administration reforms pertaining to Airline Passengers Bill of Rights (S 678/HR 1303 and section 401 of HR 1300, the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007. 6) Support efforts against unfair bank fees, including support for HR 946, the Consumer Overdraft Protection Fair Practices Act.
Support efforts to ensure that federal law provides consumers with strong privacy protection, prevents identity theft, and holds companies and government agencies accountable when they lose consumer data. Support includes lobbying, letters, and communications as necessary. We have lobbied or sent letters or communicated on all of the following bills, although our positions on them vary. S 2248, the FISA Modernization Act, only as to its provisions to hold telephone companies that broke the law and shared consumer records with the government liable, as well as S 2168, the Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act, S 1178, the Identity Theft Prevention Act, HR 3316, Identity Theft Protection Act, S 495, the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2007, HR 3046 Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act, and HR 948, the Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Ed |
Mierzwinski |
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Gary |
Kalman |
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Elizabeth |
Hitchcock |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code COM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Supported efforts to protect strong rules preserving the rights of viewers and listeners at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with letters, lobbying and comments on all proposals. Support SJ Res 28 and House J Res 1279 -- Resolutions vetoing FCC media ownership rules approved by in December 2007.
Support HR 5353, Internet Freedom Preservation Act. Support efforts to guarantee digital television transition (DTV) is fair to consumers. Support HR 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act, to preserve a variety of voices on Internet radio. Support HR 3919, the Broadband Census of America Act to improve reporting of broadband Internet buildout to all areas of America.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Ed |
Mierzwinski |
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Amina |
Fazlullah |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code GOV
16. Specific lobbying issues
All of the following bills: HRes895 - ethics enforcement; S436/HR776 - presidential public financing; S1285/HR1644 - congressional public financing; follow up to ethics and lobby reforms - funding of parties at political conventions; general discussions re: election reform/voter access rules. All of HR1986 and HR5602 - closing tax loopholes and stopping tax fraud by government contractors.
S.2519 Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007, all provisions. H.R. 4881 Contracting and Tax Accountability Act, all provisions. H.R. 5602 - Fair Share Act of 2008, all provisions.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gary |
Kalman |
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John |
Krieger |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TRA
16. Specific lobbying issues
Reauthorization of Safetea-LU, the surface transportation spending bill, (no bill number yet), all provisions related to spending for public transportation. The House Amtrak Reautorization (not yet introduced), all provisions of the bill. S. 280, America's Climate Security Act, support for a proposed ammendment to secure revenue for states and local municipalities for initiatives that reduce vehicle miles traveled.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gary |
Kalman |
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John |
Krieger |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code CHM
16. Specific lobbying issues
All of HR5577 - Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008, all titles.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gary |
Kalman |
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Elizabeth |
Hitchcock |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TEC
16. Specific lobbying issues
All of HR3627 and HR2953 -- expansion of rural broadband; general discussions on digital TV transition.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gary |
Kalman |
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Amina |
Fazlullah |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code EDU
16. Specific lobbying issues
HR 4137, College Opportunity and Affordability Act, and S. 1614 related federal student loans, private student loan policies, student grant aid policy, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), policies around textbooks and campus free speech.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Luke |
Swarthout |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BUD
16. Specific lobbying issues
House and Senate Budget Resolutions, funding levels for Education spending.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Luke |
Swarthout |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
Name | Address |
Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
Name | Address |
Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |