May '11 PR Rankings Issue - Odwyerpr.com

WASHINGTON REPORT
Harbour works anti-Gadaffi beat
The Harbour Group is working for the Libyan Transitional
National Council to achieve official U.S. recognition and
control of the assets of Col. Gadaffi's government that
are frozen in American financial institutions, according to the
agreement between the two parties.
The Council wants to form national political and civic institutions
that would lead to free and fair elections. It supports the
“inalienable rights” of people to free expression and rejects
“racism, intolerance, discrimination and terrorism.”
THG will push for U.S. humanitarian assistance to Libya and
other goals of the Council via preparation of speeches, social
media platforms, outreach to think tanks and conferences.
The firm is working on a pro-bono basis.
THG also represents the United Arab Emirates and its U.S-
Emirates Alliance, work that is pegged in the $2 million a-year
range.
Congres pushes to get Fed
publc documents online
Congressman Steve Israel has re-introduced the Public
Online Information Act to require executive branch
agencies to post public documents online and make them
readily searchable.
Noting that 78 percent of American adults access the ’Net for
news and research, the New York Democrat believes the federal
government has to play “catch-up” and make its information
via available via computer and other devices.
A POIA law would establish an advisory committee to hammer
out government-wide publication policies and guidelines.
The Office of Management and Budget’s e-government administrator
and chief information officers at various agencies
would hammer out disclosure rules.
Information that is exempt from Freedom of Information Act
requests, such as topics concerning national security, personal
privacy and trade secrets, also avoids POIA disclosure requirements.
Disclosure becomes mandatory three years after the
date that the bill becomes law.
Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) has introduced a companion
bill.
Homeland security chief to exit
Sean Smith, who heads public affairs for the U.S. Dept. of
Homeland Security, left the agency in late April, according
to multiple reports.
Smith was Sen. Joe Lieberman’s 2006 Campaign Manager and
Spokesman through his primary loss to Ned Lamont and worked
communications for the Obama-Biden presidential bid in
Pennsylvania in 2008.
He led public affiars, internal communications, media relations
and comms. issues for the DHS.
Politico reported April 21 that Smith is returning home to New
Haven, Conn., to likely teach or take an agency job in New York.
Fox News Channel on April 20 reported that Smith was the
subject of an internal complaint from 2009 at DHS after allegedly
sending a threatening email to the DHS’ immigration press
unit over a suspected leak. The complaint was later dismissed.
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MAY 2011 WWW.ODWYERPR.COM
Bush’s top lobbyist to join Citi
Candida “Candi” Wolff joined Citigroup May 2 as Executive
VP for Global Government Affairs. She will report to Ed
Skyler, Executive VP for Public Affairs.
Wolff was President George W. Bush’s
top lobbyist from 2005-07, responsible for
economic, international and national security
issues. She assumes Citi duties of Nick
Calio, who also was Bush’s top lobbyist.
He exited last year to helm the Air
Transport Association.
Earlier in her career, Wolff held posts on
Capitol Hill including Deputy Staff
Director to the Senate Republican Policy
Committee, counsel to the Senate Steering
Committee and counsel to
former Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop.
Most recently, she was a Partner at D.C. law firm Hogan Lovells,
which represents Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Citi CEO Vik Pandit praised Wolff as a “superb advocate who
acts with integrity and offers sound counsel.” She will oversee the
big bank’s relationships with governments in more than 100 countries.
GMA pro joins APCO
APCO Worldwide has recruited Melissa Musiker, former
director of science policy at the Grocery Manufacturers
Association, to bolster its food and nutrition expertise.
The practicing dietitian was GMA’s
spokesperson on regulatory and legislative
matters concerning consumer packaged
goods and counseled on issues such as
labeling, salt reduction, obesity and marketing
to children.
Earlier, Muskier was an economist at the
Dept. of Agriculture’s economic research
arm, working on the national school lunch
and breakfast program. She also was a
pediatric dietitian at Children’s National
Medical Center, where her practice areas
Wolff
Musiker
were adolescent medicine and HIV/AIDS medical nutrition therapy
and support.
At APCO, Musiker is to advise clients on pre-launch mitigation
strategies and post-launch issues management.