The Livingston Group
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
- 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 2006, some of their more prominent clients included 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. Since then, they obtained a Free Trade Agreement for Morocco, and represented Azerbaijan, formerly part of the Soviet Union.
In 2008, the firm represented the Libya government of Muammar al-Gaddafi, and normalized relations between the United States and Libya following delivery of Libya's nuclear weaponry to the United States. The Livingston Group subsequently terminated their relationship with Libya in September 2009. It currently joins with Former Democratic Congressman Toby Moffett and DC Lobbyist Tony Podesta to Represent the Republic of Egypt, which as of February 2011, is the only foreign government represented by the firm.
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.
In August 2009, The Livingston Group was mentioned in the bribery trial of Mose Jefferson, as one of TLG's clients, JRL Enterprises, was the supplier of education software which Mose Jefferson sold on commission under a separate contract.
In 2010, the 911 Health Bill, or the Zadroga Bill, for First Responders was the last Bill passed by both US House and Senate in the last Congress. Representing the major contractors involved in the clean-up of the 911 disaster site, The Livingston Group, was the only non-union lobbyist promoting the Bill.