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Ex-Joe Manchin aides lobbied his office, Congress on bill

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Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

In the lead up to Senator Joe Manchin’s declaration that he would not support the $1.75 trillion Climate and Social Spending Bill by President Joe Biden, former aides of the senator lobby his office and other members in Congress for several corporate giants.

Three former Manchin aides represented more than a dozen corporations in the October-December quarter who lobbied both the Senate and the House on the legislation. According to CNBC, a review of lobbying disclosures by CNBC found that at least three. Manchin stated in December that he would not support the bill.

Former Manchin aides lobbyed for companies like T-Mobile and Best Buy as well as the oil and gas driller Kinder Morgan and mining company Perpetua Resources.

Unilever International, a multinational conglomerate for food and consumer goods, employs an ex-member of Manchin’s lobbyist staff. It engaged with West Virginia’s lawmaker’s office through a letter that was cosigned by other corporations.

Other companies or lobbyists listed in the story declined to comment, or didn’t respond to requests for comment. Senate rulesEx-staffers cannot lobby former colleagues until they have completed a year of service in a congressional office. If they don’t exceed a salary threshold during their time in Congress they can still lobby for senators.

Manchin announcedHe said on December 19 that he won’t vote against the House-passed legislation. Manchin recently declared that the bill was “dead”.

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Business leaders and special interests have intensified their attempts to influence Manchin, a key vote in Biden’s party’s 50-50 Senate campaign. Many of Biden’s former aides picked up Manchin, who was a crucial vote in his tenure. several lucrative clients.The couple has previously lobby for the cause. industriesSuch as pharmaceuticals and coal.

Manchin has noticed an increase in corporate contributions. throughout the past yearHe has repeatedly resisted and blocked parts of the Biden agenda.

Lobbying at the BBB

Unilever, which owns brands such as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Dove beauty products, co-authored a letter that was shared with Manchin’s staff in October that advocated for climate policies, while partially taking aim at the proposed revenue provisions in the bill, a company representative said Thursday.

It is the letter. reviewedCNBC reported that the letter was signed by several companies including Pepsi and BP America as well as Siemens, Mars Incorporated, and Siemens. It was sent to several other legislators, including Nancy Pelosi, D.Calif., and Chuck Schumer D.N.Y.

Devin Sears is a member the Unilever government relationships team and was previously employed in Manchin’s office as a staff associate almost 10 years back. According to Unilever’s fourth quarter lobbying disclosure, he is one of only two representatives from companies who engaged Congress and the Senate about “climate provisions” in the Build back Better Act.

Multiple reports have revealed that activist investor Nelson Peltz, through Trian Partners has purchased a stake in company. reports. Peltz once supported President Donald Trump. told CNBC in October that he talks to Manchin every weekThe senator was called “the most important man in D.C.”

Peltz contributed recently to Sen. Kyrsten Silena’s campaign in D-Ariz. fourth quarter.Sinema like Manchin is a key centrist vote. Sinema has opposed increasing tax rates as well as other important pieces in her party’s agenda.

The letter from Unilever and other companies states that they support strong climate provisions being included in the Build back Better Act. However, the company also stated that it was open to discussion about revenue provisions as well as possible alternatives. While we recognize the importance of significant investments for progress, it is important that our ability to address climate change, acquire clean and renewable energy and also invest in energy efficiency, technology, our workforce and local communities, allows us to continue being globally competitive.

Build Back Better is now available in its latest version a 15% minimum corporate taxon large companies’ declared income. Manchin stated recently that even though he opposes Build Back Better, he’s in favor of the 15% minimum corporate tax. Manchin has also rejected a proposed tax which would have targeted him billionaires.

Lobbying reports show that Patrick Hayes, a partner at Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid who previously worked as Manchin’s chief of staff, represented at least seven clients that lobbied on Build Back Better in the months proceeding Manchin saying “no” to the bill. Hayes and others on his team represented on that bill include AmerisourceBergen, T-Mobile, Best Buy, Kinder Morgan, America Health Insurance Plans, the Industrial Minerals Association and Exelon.

In 2019, Hayes quit working in Manchin’s office.

According to the forms, Hayes’s colleagues lobbyed in the fourth-quarter for Build Back Better, which was passed by the House, Senate and Executive Office of the President.

Elliot Howard was a senator who served as Manchin’s energy committee representative until the beginning of last year. He lobbied on behalf of four clients for issues related to Build Back better. Gevo and ​Perpetua Resources were among those clients.

Howard and his other lobbyists engaged with the Senate, House, and Biden Administrations.

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