By Kevin McCauley
Washington Post Co. has added Ogilvy Government Relations to its roster in an effort to fend off increased regulation of its crown jewel, Kaplan Inc.
The U.S. Department of Education's proposed "gainful employment rule" ranks high on Ogilvy's agenda. The measure would establish a debt-to-earnings ratio and cap student loan payments on a percentage of income.
OGR's team includes Republican heavyweights such as CEO Drew Maloney, former aide to Tom DeLay, interviewer of Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton impeachment manager; chairman Wayne Berman, advisor to every GOP presidential campaign since Reagan/Bush; Justin Daly, ex-aide to Alabama GOP Sen. Richard Shelby, and Chris Giblin, former staffer to Texas Republican Congressman John Carter.
WPC in October hired the well-connected Democratic firm Elmendorf Strategies to lobby for Kaplan, which accounted for 63 percent of its overall $3.5B in nine-month revenues.
Kaplan’s revenues were up 14 percent during that period. Operating profit soared 131 percent to $266M.
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