The Livingston Group
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The Livingston Group (TLG) is the lobbying firm founded by Bob Livingston in 1999 after he stepped down as Speaker-elect and resigned his seat. The firm describes its services on its official website, saying it provides comprehensive public affairs, government relations and lobbying services on a global basis. Recognized as one of the fastest growing government relations firms in DC, TLG also provides marketing services (including access to venture capital and product tie-in referrals) and public affairs counsel in the areas of coalition building and strategic communications.
The firm has a network of over forty principals, consultants, and international associates, including former Members of Congress of both major parties, former members of political staffs, and corporate executives. The firm's partners are Livingston and three former staff members (J. Allen Martin, Paul Cambon, and Rick Legendre) who worked for him when he was a Congressman. The firm's "senior counselors" are:
- Earl Thomas Coleman, former Representative from Missouri
- Andy Ireland, former Representative from Florida who switched parties in 1984
- Ron P. Klink, former Representative from Pennsylvania
- Anthony J. Moffett, former Representative from Connecticut
- William H. Zeliff, Jr., former Representative from New Hampshire
As of 2005, TLG has over 80 domestic and foreign clients and is based in Washington, D.C. with another office in New Orleans, LA, and then several other associate offices around the U.S. and throughout the world.
According to their website in January of 2006, some of their more prominent clients include the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, George Washington University, Goodyear, Verizon, Tulane University, Rolls Royce, The Republic of Turkey, Oracle, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.
The Republic of Turkey is an important and controversial client. The focus of this lobbying is on US relations as they pertain to international and historical issues affecting the Republic of Turkey, who gave The Livingston Group over 13 million dollars since 2000 to lobby the American government. Critics contend that this lobbying is a form of genocide denial, --Turkey does not recognize the slaughter of up to 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as a genocide, and does not want the American Government to recognize these events as genocide either.[1][2]
In July 2005, Public Citizen published a report entitled "The Journey from Congress to K Street" which included a case study of The Livingston Group. It noted that the group grew into the 12th largest non-law lobbying firm, earning nearly $40 million between 1999 and 2004. During roughly the same time period, Livingston, his wife, and his two political action committees (PACs) contributed over $500,000 to the PACs or campaign funds of various candidates.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Crowley, Michael. "K Street Cashes in on the 1915 Armenian Genocide," The New Republic, January 23, 2007; also available for free here http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=K_Street_Cashes_In_On_The_1915_Armenian_Genocide
- ^ ANCA Video Sets Record Straight On Bob Livingston's Genocide Denial, Armenian National Committee of America
