Lobbying | GM Authority

Report: The General Is Waiting In The Lobby
by Erik Bentley
Posted February 23rd, 2010 at 10:59 pm

Lee Godown on Twitter

As if GM’s corporate image wasn’t bad enough already, they go and do something that is sure to stir up a political rip-tide. If you recall, GM disposed (in a humane way of course) most, if not all of their lobbyists following the Fed’s bailout. Now it seems as though they’re settling comfortably right back into their old ways. How so?

GM hired yet another lobbyist which the American taxpayer will have to financially absorb. His name you ask? Why, it’s none other than Lee Godown from Public Strategies, Inc.

When asked what exactly he planned to lobby for, his response was the following

Issues relating to restructuring; funding for technology, science and energy initiatives; taxation relating to employee benefits, alternative minimum tax and alternative simplified credit; and border trade, competitiveness and market access.

If my memory serves me correctly, back in 2000 Lee Godown was Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s Chief of Staff until he left the position in 2007 to pursue other ventures. We will see how he does under GM’s thumb, along with GM’s other newly-hired lobbyists from ATT.

[Source: Washington Examiner]

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GM Lures More ATT Execs
by Manoli Katakis
Posted December 31st, 2009 at 9:14 pm

Call it a two-for-one deal: GM is replacing Ken Cole, 62, its chief lobbyist, with two former AT&T employees – John Montford and Bob Ferguson. The development is the latest example of Ed Whitacre’s executive recruitment from outside the company. Both Montford and Ferguson worked under Whitacre at the telecommunications giant.

Ferguson, 50, headed up AT&T’s state regulatory affairs and made a stop working at Public Strategies Inc. (a business consulting firm that helps companies with their corporate reputation) before coming on board as GM’s vice president of government relations. Montford, 66, will take the position as Whitacre’s senior adviser and will oversee all of GM’s government affairs. He held a similar position at AT&T as senior vice president of state legislative affairs and also spent 14 years in the Texas Senate. Together, Montford and Ferguson will be responsible for GM’s lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.

While many do not see lobbying as a vital part (or any part at all) of the auto trade, it is in fact just as important as other activities like R&D. Lobbying is part of that knitting that makes the world go round while helping Washington realize what our favorite automaker needs (such as bio-fuel and plug-in stations) or what is realistically possible (like CAFE MPG numbers).

The GM Authority Take

I see this as a good move for The General. The power of two heads working together (rather than one) should make these lobbyists’ work that much more effective. Add to that the combined experience and successful careers of Montford and Ferguson at AT&T with Big Ed and you begin to get the idea of why I see this move as a plus. GM has all the more talent because of them.

But they better hit the ground running – as this year is sure to be intense and GM has no room for mistakes!

We have GM’s full presser after the break, in case you’re interested. (more…)

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The GM Authority Take