Ed Pagano Quoted in The Hill on Impact of White House Spending Proposals on Lobbying Industry

The Hill has quoted Akin Gump public law and policy partner Ed Pagano in the article “Lobbyists see Biden’s infrastructure package as windfall.” The article reports on how a large White House spending proposal on infrastructure and other domestic priorities could lead to an increase in lobbying work, especially as members of Congress embrace a return to earmarks.

According to The Hill, the Biden-Harris administration’s plan would be divided into separate bills. One would focus on infrastructure, and would likely include spending on manufacturing, climate change, broadband, 5G, and roads and bridges. The other, the article says, is expected to focus on pre-K programs, free community college tuition, child tax credits and health care subsidies.

“It really covers the [gamut]. It feels like almost every client is going to have some interest in the legislation,” said Pagano. “This is really the beginning of the process. A lot of client interest, expanding the spectrum among different industries because of the broad definition of infrastructure so far proposed by the administration.”

Following the recent enactment of the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, Pagano added, “Democrats want to build on the momentum of the American Rescue Plan, and how Americans are receiving that, so they want to move quickly.”

Meanwhile, the article says, managing client expectations on such a large bill will be a challenge. Sixty votes would be needed in the Senate to overcome the legislative filibuster unless Democrats use the budget procedure known as reconciliation.

“The administration is going big and bold and that they really have, in their view, learned the lesson from the Obama administration that you have to seize the moment,” noted Pagano. “I think they’re going to go and try to do it with Democratic support and reconciliation. $3T is not a bipartisan number but it’s big and bold and you really try to move the needle here.”