Lobbying World

• FIREARMS. ShotSpotter Inc., the self-described “world leader in gunshot detection,” has armed itself with a new lobby firm. Becker & Poliakoff will lobby for the Newark, Calif.-based company on “issues related to firearm technology,” according to lobbying disclosure records. Amanda Wood, once legislative director for ex-Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), will be representing the company. Patton Boggs and the Ferguson Group also lobby for ShotSpotter.

• HEALTHCARE. Teva Pharmaceuticals has hired Gephardt Group Government Affairs to lobby on “FDA and healthcare policy; international trade agreements.” Former House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.); Tom O’Donnell, Gephardt’s ex-chief of staff; and another former Gephardt aide, Andrea King, are among the lobbyists on the account.

{mosads}The American Health Care Association has hired Alston & Bird to lobby on “Medicare Part B therapy issues.” Dan Elling, once staff director for the House Ways and Means Health subcommittee, will be representing the trade group.

• HOUSING. American Continental Group has joined a roster of lobby shops working for the National Association of Home Builders. Sheryl Cohen, once chief of staff for former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.); David Urban, former chief of staff to the late Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.); and Stephen Pinkos, ex-policy director and general counsel for House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are among the lobbyists representing the trade group on tax reform, immigration, transportation, flood insurance and other issues. 

• LABOR. The American Hotel & Lodging Association has added a prominent Republican-leaning firm to its K Street team. Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock will lobby on issues related to the hotel industry on behalf of the trade association. Billy Piper, once chief of staff to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); Kate Hull, former staff director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and Kirk Blalock, a former senior aide to President George W. Bush, are among the lobbyists working for the group.

•TELECOMMUNICATIONS. AT&T has hired former Rep. Dave Obey’s (D-Wis.) ex-chief of staff to lobby on “telecommunications.” William Stone of Jefferson Business Consulting is now representing the telecom giant.