First Street™ Research Group - The Lobbying Activity of Solyndra Inc.
Published: September 9, 2011
Some insiders allege Solyndra, Inc. got special treatment from the Obama administration in the form of unusually low interest rates on loans. On September 8th, the FBI and the Energy Department’s inspector general raided Solyndra’s headquarters. And a report out today claims Department of Energy officials sat in on meetings with Solyndra.
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As the investigation into Solyndra continues, the First Street Research Group takes a detailed look at Solyndra’s lobbying activities since 2008. Since 2008, Solyndra:
Spent $1.3 million on lobbying activities, including paying 5 different firms over $800,000 to lobby on its behalf.
Relied heavily on The Revolving Door - 17 lobbyists who have worked on its behalf are connected to over 30 different offices or Members of Congress.
Lobbied on 18 bills, ranging from the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 to the Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008.
Lobbied on issues focused on Budget/Appropriations, Defense, Energy/Nuclear, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, and in particular:
“Issues related to Department of Energy loan program.”
“Lobbied on obtaining language expressing interest in how DoD funds were being spent on solar PV related to country of origin of solar cells and modules.”
Solyndra’s In-House Lobbyists:
Victoria Sanville
Most Recently: Registered Lobbyist - Solyndra, Inc.
Formerly:
Deputy Chief of Staff; Legis. Director - Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)
Deputy Chief of Staff - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Legislative Director - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Legislative Director - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Legislative Assistant - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Scheduler - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
Staff Assistant - Rep. George W. Gekas (R-PA)
Joseph Pasetti
Currently: Registered Lobbyist - Sharp Electronics Corporation
Formerly:
Registered Lobbyist - Solyndra, Inc.
Registered Lobbyist - Applied Materials, Inc
Registered Lobbyist - Information Technology Industry Council
Professional Staff Member - Joint Economic Committee
Staff Assistant - Joint Economic Committee
Lobbyists Representing Solyndra
2011
Chris Fish (McAllister & Quinn LLC)
Formerly:
Chief of Staff - Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
District Director - Rep. Sue W. Kelly (R-NY)
Executive Assistant - Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-NY)
Jan Fowler (The Washington Tax Group LLC)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant - Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-OH)
Legislative Assistant (Tax, Social Security, Banking/Finance, Budget, Insurance, Pensions, Labor, Small Business, Education) - Rep. James O McCrery, III (R-LA)
Stephen Ham (McAllister & Quinn LLC)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant (Defense and Military Construction Appropriations, Arts, Humanities, Animal Rights) - Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Noushin Jahanian (Intel Corporation; The Washington Tax Group LLC)
Formerly:
Policy Director - Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gregory Nickerson (The Washington Tax Group LLC; Van Heuvelen Strategies LLC)
Formerly:
Staff Director - House Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures
Tax Counsel - House Ways and Means Committee
Kyle Winslow (McAllister & Quinn LLC)
2008-2010
Angela Becker- Dippmann (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Professional Staff Member - Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Policy Director - Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Andrew Davis (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Minority (Democratic) Communications Director - Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Communications Director - Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Communications Director - Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC)
Deputy Director - Senate Democratic Technology and Communications Center
Gabriel Horwitz (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Director - Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Legislative Assistant (Agriculture, Trade, EPA, Resources, Conservation, Wildlife, Environment, Steel, Defense, Energy) - Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR)
Legislative Assistant (Homeland Security, Coastal Waterways, Environment, Immigration, Agriculture, Appropriations, Homeland Security, Telecommunication, Transportation, Corps of Engineers Projects) - Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)
David Harry Mann (Holland & Knight LLP)
Jeff Markey (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Director Nuclear Cleanup Caucus - Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA)
Legislative Director - Rep. Jack Metcalf (R-WA)
Steve McBee (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
Legislative Assistant, Defense, National Security, Appropriations - Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA)
Legislative Assistant, Foreign Affairs - Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Legislative Assistant, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Labor, Transportation - Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA)
Deana Perlmutter (Holland & Knight LLP)
Michael W Sheehy (McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.)
Formerly:
National Security Advisor - Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Democratic (Minority) Staff Director; Chief Counsel - House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Beth A Viola (Holland & Knight LLP)
Formerly:
Associate Director for Public Liaison - Council on Environmental Quality (Executive Office of the President)
Legislation that Solyndra or a Firm Representing the Company Has Lobbied On:
110th HR 6049: Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008
110th S 3335: Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008
110th S 3478: Energy Independence and Investment Act of 2008
111th HR 1 IH: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
111th HR 2454 RH: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
111th HR 2847 RS: Department of Commerce Appropriations Act, 2010
111th HR 2998 IH: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
111th HR 3136 IH: To extend the program to provide grants for specified energy property in lieu of tax credits.
111th HR 4085 IH: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an investment credit for property used to fabricate solar energy property, and for other purposes.
111th HR 4599 IH: Renewable Energy Expansion Act of 2010
111th HR 5252 IH: Renewable Energy Tax Incentives Extension Act
111th S 1733 RS: Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
111th S 2755 IS: Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act
111th S 2899 IS: Renewable Energy Incentive Act
112th HR 1540 RH: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
112th HR 2055 RS: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012
112th HR 2219 RH: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012
112th S 981 IS: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
Issues that Solyndra or a Firm Representing the Company Most Recently Lobbied On:
Budget/Appropriations
“Defense appropriations, Financial Services appropriations, DOD, S 3454 National Defense Authorization Act, Renewable energy”
Defense
“DOD, S 3454 National Defense Authorization Act”
Energy/Nuclear
“H.R. 2219 (no official bill in the Senate yet), the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 This bill funds the Department of Defense for FY12. Lobbied on obtaining language expressing interest in how DoD funds were being spent on solar PV related to country of origin of solar cells and modules.” & “Renewable energy” & “Issues related to Department of Energy loan program.”
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
“Issues related to tax code section 48C and solar manufacturing equipment tax credit.”
First Street Coalition Builder snapshot of Solyndra’s activity in 2011:
http://firststreet.cqpress.com/content/Solyndra.aspx
Solyndra’s Total Lobbying Activity
Lobbying Activity
Total
In-House
Outside Firm
2011
$480,000
$327,500.00
$152,500.00
2010
$550,000
$165,000.00
$385,000.00
2009
$160,000
$160,000.00
2008
$160,000
$160,000.00
Total
$1,350,000
$492,500.00
$857,500.00
Lobbying Firms Hired by Solyndra
Name
Filing Quarter
Amount
McAllister & Quinn LLC
2011 2Q
$ 37,500
The Washington Tax Group LLC
2011 2Q
$ 20,000
McAllister & Quinn LLC
2011 1Q
$ 45,000
The Washington Tax Group LLC
2011 1Q
$ 30,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2011 1Q
$ 20,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 4Q
$ 50,000
McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 4Q
$ 45,000
The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 4Q
$ 30,000
McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 3Q
$ 45,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 3Q
$ 50,000
The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 3Q
$ 30,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 2Q
$ 50,000
The Washington Tax Group LLC
2010 2Q
$ 20,000
McAllister & Quinn LLC
2010 2Q
$ 15,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2010 1Q
$ 50,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 4Q
$ 50,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 3Q
$ 50,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 2Q
$ 40,000
McBee Strategic Consulting, LLC.
2009 1Q
$ 20,000
Holland & Knight LLP
2008 4Q
$ 50,000
Holland & Knight LLP
2008 3Q
$ 50,000
Dutko Worldwide, LLC
2008 2Q
$ 20,000
Holland & Knight LLP
2008 2Q
$ 10,000
Dutko Worldwide, LLC
2008 1Q
$ 30,000
http://firststreet.cqpress.com/content/Solyndra.aspx