Ride-hailing app Lyft Inc. has hired Washington, D.C. Democratic lobbying giant Glover Park Group for help with transportation legislation as it relates to ride-sharing companies.
Lyft, which was founded in 2012 by John Zimmer and Logan Green, now operates in more than 200 U.S. cities. The company is currently valued at $5.5 billion, and has raised more than $2 billion in investment from Alibaba, General Motors, Janus Capital Management, Fortress, K9 Ventures and Carl Icahn, among others.
The ride-sharing network has ramped up its lobbying efforts in the last year: Lyft in June 2015 retained public affairs powerhouse Podesta Group to represent the company on tax and trade issues, as well as to communicate the benefits of ride-sharing. The company in 2014 also hired Gephardt Group Government Affairs and Jochum Shore & Trossevin for the purpose of advocating ride sharing.
The company in 2015 reported a total of $130,000 in lobbying expenditures and spent $20,000 during this year's first quarter.
Competing transportation network company Uber, meanwhile, has been engaged in an increasingly spirited lobbying salvo, previously signing pacts with The Doerrer Group and Franklin Square Group. That ride-sharing service spent $170,000 in lobbying in 2014 and $470,000 in 2015. Lobbying fees for 2016 have so far totaled $320,000.
Uber in May hired Capitol Tax Partners for help with Federal tax issues that impact transportation costs.
The Lyft account will be managed by Gregg Rothschild, former legislative assistant to Senator John Kerry (R-MA) and ex-deputy chief of staff to the Energy and Commerce Committee; and Catharine Ransom, former climate and environment advisor to Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and senior policy advisor to Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL).
WPP owns Glover Park.
Carlsbad, a north San Diego County city of 115K people, is looking for a firm to provide government relations and Sacramento lobbying services.
Gordon Sondland, who was US ambassador to the European Union under Donald Trump, has registered as a representative of Ukraine’s cabinet and ministers.
The Daschle Group is representing Santa Monica-based Stand with Hong Kong Action, an advocacy group that fights to end Chinese repression in Hong Kong.
McKinsey & Co. has reached out to Republican shop Harbinger Strategies to educate policymakers about the activities of the embattled management consultancy.
Scotland’s SaxaVord Spaceport, which is the UK’s only facility for vertical rocket launches, has hired Alexandria’s Brian Glackin & Assocs. for Washington representation on aerospace and defense matters.
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