LegiStorm

Jason Miller, chief spokesperson to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and subsequent presidential transition, has registered as a first-time lobbyist.

Miller is representing Jenkin Hills Consulting on the Paycheck Protection Program, and Real Estate Exchange Inc. on "housing regulations and working to expand affordable housing," according to a pair of recent filings. Jenkin Hills is a D.C. government-consulting firm, and REE is an online real-estate company based in California.

Miller worked as chief spokesperson to the Trump campaign and presidential transition and was slated to serve as White House communications director until reports surfaced that he'd had an affair with a Trump campaign adviser. Last summer, he parted ways with Teneo, a consulting firm, for tweeting profanities about House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.).

Facebook hired a Senate Judiciary attorney to its public-policy team, just as the social-media giant has stirred new regulatory concerns.

Aparna Patrie served as committee counsel under Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and has previously worked for ex-Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) and ex-Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), as well as for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

She joined Facebook earlier this month as a public-policy manager. At a time when many big tech companies are facing increased anti-trust scrutiny, Facebook sparked new concerns just days ago when it acquired image platform Giphy for a reported $400 million.

Last year, Facebook disclosed that it dropped more than $16.7 million on federal lobbying, making it the tenth biggest lobbying spender of 2019, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

After a three-year lobbying stint, an aide has returned to Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) with a big promotion.

Tony Eberhard comes from the International Dairy Foods Association, where he was vice president for legislative affairs. The trade group spent $1.1 million last year to lobby the federal government on trade and agriculture, among other legislative issues. He is now Hoeven's chief of staff.

Before joining IDFA, Eberhard served as the senator's legislative director. He's also worked for former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and former Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) and as a lobbyist for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

For former Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), lobbying is a growing family business.

Ron Gladney, the congresswoman's husband since 2000, registered as a first-time federal lobbyist through his Gladney Law Group. He and his son, Sam Gladney, are lobbying on behalf of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. The labor union hired the Gladneys to work on Employee Retirement Income Security Act reform issues, according to a recent disclosure.

Before her election to Congress, Emerson herself worked as a lobbyist for the insurance and restaurant industries. And Rep. Bill Emerson (R-Mo.), the congresswoman's husband who died in office in 1996, also spent time as a lobbyist. The pair had two daughters, who are also both current lobbyists - Tori Barnes for the U.S. Travel Association, and Kat Emerson for Bayer.

The pandemic has made a federal lobbyist out of retired Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.).

LoBiondo recently registered on behalf of Rock-It Cargo, a logistics company that focuses on freight forwarding and logistics for concerts and other live events. LoBiondo is representing the group on issues related to the government's coronavirus response, "including logistical support for repatriation of Americans abroad and transport of PPE," according to recent filings.

He's working through LoBo Strategies, a consulting firm that he founded shortly after retiring from Congress at the end of last term. His Rock-It Cargo contract, which began in March, has so far brought in $40,000. This is LoBiondo's first federal lobbying registration.