Wheat Government Relations

Wheat Government Relations is a Washington-based lobbying firm established in 1988 by Congressman Alan Wheat.

Services

Their advertised 'practice areas' include...

• Appropriations
• Business Development – the firm claim to 'help businesses access the federal government to develop new markets for products and services. Educating key policymakers and agency officials about a company’s product creates advantages that wouldn’t be realized otherwise. Wheat Government Relations opens doors into the federal contract business market'.

• Corporate Responsibility
• Education - the firm boasts of 'long-term established relationships with leading legislators on education matters'.
• Environment - The firm's website states that 'Issues surrounding environment, natural resources and public works require delicate and focused attention in order to get results on Capitol Hill. Congressman Wheat and his team have excellent working relationships with the legislators with jurisdiction over these issues'.
• Financial Services - The firm's website states that their 'expertise in this area has allowed our clients to help shape Government Sponsored Enterprises reform legislation, predatory lending policy, credit union policy and housing rights. We work closely with the committees of jurisdiction to make sure our client’s voices are heard'.
• Health Care - This is described as being a 'major focus' of Wheat Government Relations.
• Homeland Security - The firm supports business to reap the benefits from the fear of insecurity and threats. As they state in their website, 'As our nation develops new policies and processes to deal with threats, communities will have new demands placed upon them and companies will have new opportunities to provide products and services to federal, state and local governments'.
• Native American Issues
• Nursing
• Pandemic Flu
• Public Health
• Seniors Issues
• Tax Issues - As described in their website, through the 'process of drafting minor and major reform legislation, garnering bipartisan support, and ensuring passage of tax reforms', Wheat Government Relations 'have made our clients a powerful voice on Capitol Hill'.
• Transportation

People

• Alan Wheat - Wheat was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 (where he worked until 1992) and his biography describes how he was appointed to the Rules Committee where every major piece of legislation must go through before it can go to the House floor. In this role, Wheat was able to influence all major bills considered by the House and his time there has 'allowed him to develop an extensive and bipartisan network of contacts in Washington'. Wheat also served Clinton as deputy campaign manager and director of public liaison (in 1996) and served as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations with CARE (global relief and development organization) where he is still involved (in 2008) as a member of its Board.

• Julie Shroyer - Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Shroyer joined Wheat Government relations in 2001. Prior to this she was Vice-President of Capitol Associates (1998-2001), Deputy Director of Congressional Affairs at the American Psychiatric Association (1992-1998) and was a professional staff member for the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, where she worked closely with Chairpersons Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder (D-CO) between 1990 to 1992.

• Julie Pawleczyk - Senior Consultant. Pawleczyk previous involvements include serving as a staff assistant for Illinois Congressman Jack Davis and working at Princeton University office of Government Affairs. Her biography describes her as having worked 'in the government relations practices within two Washington DC law firms, before moving on to serve respectively as an Associate and Vice President and two separate lobbying firms' (no further details divulged). It also reports that she 'has represented a variety of public and private colleges and universities, elementary education research laboratories, academic medical centers, hospitals, historical societies, performing arts centers and a metropolitan zoo' (again no further details divulged).

• Millicent Hodge - Senior Consultant. Hodge previously served Clinton as Deputy Campaign Manager for the Clinton Gore Presidential Campaign (in 1996) and as Director of the New Markets Initiative in the U.S. Small Business Administration. She has also served on the White House Office for One America Task Force, the White House Working Group on the Mississippi Delta and the White House New Markets Working Group. Hodge has also worked for Arnall Golden and Gregory, was Associate Commissioner for Governmental Affairs (serving as liaison to the City Council, State Legislature and U.S. Congress) and worked with the Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights.

• David Horne - Senior Consultant. Horne previously served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel for Representative Rick Lazio's (R-NY) Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, practiced law with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (1990-1995), was the political director for the National PAC (described as the largest 'independent' bi-partisan political action committee in the country) and worked for the Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and Representative Cleve Benedict (R-WV).

• Angela Gerald - Senior Consultant. Gerald also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Business PAC’s (NABPAC), and is a member of Women in Government Relations (WGR) and the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG). Her biography describes how she 'has extensive government affairs experience with several major NYSE-listed companies in the areas of Political Action Committee (PAC operations), Grassroots activities and project management' (further details not divulged). It goes on to add that she has a 'strong background in event management including arranging facility tours for legislators and staff, and organizing corporate Fly-ins or Legislative Days in Washington'.

• James H Bilbray - Principal. Bilbray also serves on the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC). In 1987 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Prior to this he was a Nevada State Senator (where he chaired the Taxation Committee and was a member of the Judiciary Committee). His biography describes how during Bilbray's '4 terms in the United States Congress, he was Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Taxation, Tourism and Procurement, and was a member of the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Intelligence Committees'. His previous involvements also include serving on the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada, the Board of Visitors of the United States Air Force Academy, the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Advisory Board of the U.S. National Security Policy board. He was also director of the Lady Luck Gaming Corporation and on the advisory board of the SRD Corporation.

Clients

For the year 2007, The Centre for Resonsive Ethics list clients (and funding received) of Wheat Government Relations (as reported to the Senate Office of Public Records) as follows ...

• American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• American Health Care Association - $80,000
• Apollo Group - $140,000
• ASTAR Air Cargo - $80,000
• Bay Mills Indian Community - $100,000
• Blue Water Resorts - $140,000
• Century Council - $140,000
• Chlopak, Leonard et al - $20,000
• Digital Media Association - $80,000
• Gateway Casino Resorts - $140,000
• General Electric (for subsidiary Genworth Financial) - $180,000
• GlaxoSmithKline - $100,000
• HBK Capital Management - $40,000
• Kessler & Associates (for subsidiary Kessler & Associates Business Services) - $20,000
• Koch Equipment - $20,000
• National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association - $60,000
• Oklahoma Heart Hospital - $40,000
• Oklahoma Surgical Hospital - $40,000
• Sanofi-Aventis - $40,000
• US Strategies - $60,000

Contacts

http://www.wheatgr.com