ICI Defends Hiring of Democratic Political Affairs Officer

At first glance, it might seem that the Investment Company Institute’s selection of a 30-year Democratic veteran of the Hill was in response to the mid-term elections. But, in fact, the ICI says the members of its government affairs office are bi-partisan: three Democrats and three Republicans, the Washington Post reports.

James R. Hart, most recently chief of staff for Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), is the ICI’s new political affairs officer. He succeeds another Democrat, Vivian Lausevic, who is now working for the American Gas Association.

Still, political forces are sometimes at play between the trade association and members of Congress, like in 2003, when Rep. Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) pressured the ICI to replace Executive Vice President Julie Domenick, a Democrat, with a Republican. While the ICI never bent into those wishes, it did hire a Republican as chief government affairs officer, Daniel F.C. Crowley, at one time general counsel to House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

“My role is not to support the majority, but to be able to put together a majority of support for our issues, and bipartisanship is a requirement,” Crowley said.

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