2008 Press Articles
The Hill
High Tech Industry sees Obama as an Ally
Kevin Bogardus
11/11/08
“By surrounding yourself with people like Julius, you clearly seek advisers who are bullish on using technology to solve national problems,” said Bruce Mehlman, founding partner of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.
Mehlman, a former assistant secretary for technology policy at the Commerce Department in the Bush administration, noted Obama’s support for using technology to lower healthcare costs and clean up the environment in particular.
In addition, Obama has argued that a tax credit for research and development should be permanent, a perennial goal for tech lobbyists, and has also spoken of the need for increased government funding on technology programs.”
Roll Call
Emanuel Has His K Street Ties
Anna Palmer
11/10/08
“As Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) prepares to become President-elect Obama’s chief of staff, he won’t just be taking his Rolodex of Capitol hill contacts.
He will also have number of K Street allies who expect to have a leg up lobbying a White House that has signaled it will keep influence peddlers at arm’s length.
Emanuel has also been known to consult with, … David Castagnetti of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti …Only two aides, Jonathan Hoganson and Robert Getzoff, have turned to lobbying. Hoganson, former legislative director and policy director at the House Democratic Caucus, is now at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.”
CNNMoney.com
McCain’s Tech Agenda to Focus On Free Market, Investment
7-08-2008
“A technology policy agenda that doesn’t include high-skilled immigration is incomplete,” said Bruce Mehlman, a former Bush administration Commerce Department official on technology issues.”
Congress Daily
Outside Influences – In The Pink
Fawn Johnson
2-13-2008
“We’re now in a period where at least everyone is a little bit at risk,” said Dean Rosen, a lobbyist who was health aide for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Rosen, now a partner at the lobby shop Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, said providers generally avoid outright trash-talking about others to head off cuts in their own backyards. “Everyone has got to make their case based on the merits,” he said.”
Politico
50 Politicos to Watch
Jamie Brown - Position: Principal, Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti
2-13-2008
Reason to Watch: Brown was the first in-house lobbyist for Google before she joined Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti. She brings Republican ties and tech savvy to the firm.
The Hill
Courting Clients
Kevin Bogardus
02-04-2008
“As part of the team responsible for shepherding President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees through the confirmation process, Jamie Brown had to know where senators stood on weighty constitutional issues like privacy rights and habeas corpus.
Brown was key element of the White House’s legislative team that helped earn the confirmation for both Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.
Having been tested by Supreme Court nomination process, Brown has taken those skills and contacts to K Street for a variety of clients at her firm.
That crucible proved good training for K Street, Brown believes. She met several times with more than 80 Senators, and earned a degree of trust she can rely on when heading to the Hill. In addition, the strategies associated with passing legislation are not that different than those involved with convincing lawmakers to sign off on a court nominee, Brown said.
“Not everyone in Washington, when you deal with them, is above board and plays it straight,’ said Preet Bharara, Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“She was a huge asset to the administration,” Bharara said. “Charm helps, and she has it.”
“[In] what was at timed an incredibly difficult period, she helped Google put a footprint down here and did it in the right way,” said Bob Boorstin, a former national security speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and current director of policy and communication at Google. “Jamie understands the way Washington works.”
