Hewlett Packard rebrands

With Daniel Lippman, Cate Martel and Jesse Rifkin

HEWLETT-PACKARD REBRANDS IN WASHINGTON: Hewlett-Packard made the announcement last year that it was planning on splitting the company into HP Inc., which would focus on its printing operation, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company, which would focus on the next generation of technology infrastructure. Now, it’s official on K Street — the company recently registered its internal K Street operation in that name and many of its consultants have also followed suit. The company spent nearly $1.5 million on lobbying during the first half of 2015, according to Senate lobbying disclosure filings. Several of its outside consultants, including American Continental Group, Daniel Kostenbauder, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, Inc., Rock Creek Counsel and the Sternhell Group have all recently filed lobbying registrations with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company. A spokeswoman for HP did not immediately comment on the changes.

FORBES-TATE NABS BIO GOP-ER: Derrick White, a lead Republican lobbyist at the Biotechnology Industry Organization, is joining Forbes-Tate as a senior vice president. The former Senate Judiciary Committee staffer for Sen. Orrin Hatch covered health care and trade issues and served as deputy communications director for the Utah Republican. White also worked for eight years at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

GOOD TUESDAY AFTERNOON! And welcome to your daily dose of K Street hires, fires and intrigue. I’m back as your temporary host — feel free to email me at apalmer@politico.com with any tips, gossip and all the rest. Follow me on Twitter at @apalmerdc.

And now back to the show.

TIME TO GET YOUR ROLODEX’S OUT FOR VOLKSWAGEN CONTACTS: It's only a matter of time before K Streeters start to try to cash in on Volkswagen’s emissions scandal. Congress is sure to look into how the company’s software was used to get around U.S. emissions laws. The company spent $530,000 on lobbying during the first half of 2015, according to Senate lobbying disclosures. And it has only one — yes that’s right — one outside lobbying firm. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld billed $140,000 on lobbying during the first six months of 2015.

MARTINEZ EXITS SENATE FOR AGA: Eloy Martinez is joining the American Gaming Association as senior director of government relations. He comes on board after serving as a senior adviser for Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.). A Texas native, Martinez will lead the group’s Democratic advocacy efforts and also work on diversity, community and social responsibility.

RH STRATEGIC EXPANDS IN DC: Jen Bemisderfer has been named the firm’s managing director for RH Strategic’s D.C. office. She is also the accreditation co-chairwoman for the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Sarah Horowitz, former deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, has joined the firm as a senior account executive. Kevin Eike, formerly with Ketchum, has joined RH Strategic as account executive.” A brand new website: www.rhstrategic.com.

BYZMEK JOINS MWWPR: Erin Bzymek is joining MWWPR as an account supervisor. She joins after serving as senior press secretary for the BlueGreen Alliance. She has worked on Capitol Hill as deputy press secretary for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and on the House Energy and Commerce Committee during then-Chairman John Dingell’s (D-Mich.) tenure. She also worked as deputy press secretary for North Carolina on President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, and for the Minnesota DFL in 2006.

** A message from the American Bankers Association: If we mandated cellphone technology, we’d still have brick style phones. If Congress mandates a static payments technology, security safeguards will be out of date tomorrow. Let’s Innovate. Not Mandate. Learn more at letsinnovatenotmandate.com **

ELSEWHERE IN THE INFLUENCE WORLD:

INSURERS USE LOBBYING TO PUSH MERGER: The CEOs of Aetna and Anthem are using lobbying muscle and campaign cash to push mergers, reports Wendell Potter of The Center for Public Integrity. http://bit.ly/1YznuKz

WHAT HAPPENS TO SUPER PAC MONDAY: What happens to all the super PAC money when a candidate drops out, from NPR’s Peter Overby. http://n.pr/1MGLFmt

SCOTUS DECISION FORESHADOW: The Huffington Post’s Paul Blumenthal writes how the warnings about the Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling are now coming true. http://huff.to/1NJVJtM

NEW JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES
None

NEW PAC REGISTRATIONS (Type of PAC)
Deport Republicans Elect Grayson
Devin Gray Presidential Fund (Type: P – Presidential)
Amara For Congress (Type: H – House)
Misfits Of Absence Kognitive Creations (Type: P – Presidential)
Wicklund For Congress (Type: H – House)
Bern2016 (Type: I – Independent Expenditure – Person or Group)
New York Caucus For Political Action (NYCPAC) (Type: X – Non-Qualified Party)

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS (Firm: Client)
American Continental Group: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
Flywheel Government Solutions: Johnson Controls, Inc.
Hecht Latham Spencer & Associates, Inc.: LKQ Corporation
Loper Consulting LLC: SNP Alliance
McGuireWoods Consulting: Distilled Spirits Council
Mr. William Zavarello: Promontory Interfinancial Network
National Domestic Violence Hotline: National Domestic Violence Hotline
Rialtas Public Strategies LLC: Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation
Sayle Consulting LLC: Berry Plastics
Williams and Jensen, PLLC: American Central European Business Association

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS: (Firm: Client (Type of Termination))
None

** A message from the American Bankers Association: High-profile data breaches underscore the need for stronger and more innovative security solutions that protect consumers. Banks and payment networks continue to invest heavily in the development and implementation of promising new technologies that protect consumers everywhere purchases are made. Some people want Congress to mandate a static payments technology. That would be a mistake, as security safeguards would be quickly out of date. Mandates hinder the ability to adapt and react to evolving threats. Let’s Innovate. Not Mandate. Learn more at letsinnovatenotmandate.com **

Anna Palmer is a senior Washington correspondent for POLITICO. She covers the world of Washington influence — a nexus of politics, money and corporate interests.

Her stories take readers behind the scenes for the biggest fights in town, most recently on everything from immigration to guns.

She is co-author of the daily newsletter, POLITICO Influence, considered a must-read on K Street.

Anna previously covered House leadership and lobbying as a staff writer for Roll Call. She got her start in Washington journalism as a lobbying business reporter for the industry newsletter Influence. She has also worked at Legal Times, where she covered the intersection of money and politics for the legal and lobbying industry, first as a staff writer and then as an editor.

A native of North Dakota, Anna is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she was executive editor of the weekly campus newspaper, the Manitou Messenger. She lives in Washington, D.C.