Some lobbyists have even more reason than others to be hanging out in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building this week during the markup of the climate change bill. Just 10 lobbying firms have amassed such large client lists that they represent nearly 100 of the business interests seeking to weigh in on the landmark global warming legislation being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
A look at the lobbying teams and their client rosters is a window into the D.C. revolving door at work. The firms are replete with former government officials and Capitol Hill staffers, and represent some of the biggest trade organizations — like Edison Electric Institute and the American Petroleum Institute — as well as companies long active in the climate change debate.
Here are the Center’s top 10 climate change lobbying firms, by number of clients, compiled from Senate lobbying disclosure forms:
Alpine Group
Ogilvy Government Relations
Patton Boggs LLP
Morgan Meguire, LLC
McBee Strategic Consulting
Ryan, MacKinnon, Vasapoli and Berzok, LLP
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Alcalde & Fay
Colling Swift & Hynes
Hunton & Williams LLP
Additionally, the Center’s database of climate lobbyists and their clients is now updated with all of the registrants for the first quarter of 2009. The bottom line: A total of 880 companies and interest groups reported that they lobbied on climate change in the first quarter of 2009, an increase of more than 14 percent over the same period last year.