The Shreveport Times December 10, 2008
Bossier City, parish hire major lobbyist
City, parish governments seek to enhance their cyber-related efforts.
By Drew Pierson
Bossier Parish and Bossier City have hired a heavyweight Washington lobbying firm whose co-founder is chief of President-elect Obama's transition team.
The Bossier governments did so to further their cyber-related efforts, both military and civilian.
"Where we are today is, from a perspective of what's going on in the country, we felt it was necessary to get very qualified support at the federal level because of the change in administration," said Patrick Jackson, Bossier Parish attorney. "When that change in administration occurs, it flows through the entire U.S. government.
"And cyber is such an important part of our economic future, we wanted to make sure we got the best information and that we provided the best information at all levels of government."
In October, the parish and city hired The Podesta Group, a D.C.-based lobbying firm founded in 1988 by John and Tony Podesta. John Podesta, who was White House chief of staff under President Clinton, is the man Obama has chosen to head his transition team.
Although John Podesta no longer runs The Podesta Group, his brother Tony does. Among the clients The Podesta Group lists on its Web site are Wal-Mart, National Public Radio and Egypt.
The parish is paying $5,000 of The Podesta Group's $15,000-a-month bill, with Bossier City paying the remaining $10,000.
The parish also still retains the services of its previous federal lobbyist, Susie Morgan, of the law firm Phelps Dunbar in New Orleans. Bossier Parish is paying her $60,000 a year for regular federal duties, and starting in October, one-third of an extra $5,000 given to Morgan for cyber-related duties. Bossier City pays the remaining two-thirds.
The Air Force previously indicated it wants to locate parts of its Cyber Command, a cyber warfare division, at Barksdale Air Force Base, and already has cyber-related activities at the base.
To help convince military personnel to make those cyber warfare operations permanent, Bossier City and Bossier Parish put in more than $50 million to build the Cyber Innovation Center, a civilian research park geared toward luring cyber professionals to the area. Louisiana chipped in $57 million for the park.
But Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, who came on board in October, suspended plans to move forward making Barksdale a more permanent home for cyber warfare, and military observers said the chances looked slim of that process being revived.
"If they think hiring a hotshot lobbyist reanimates the thing, well, maybe they can. ... But the first thing they (the Air Force) have to do is explain why they need to do it (create a Cyber Command) at all," said John Pike, founder of GlobalSecurity.org. "They just weren't able to do it."
Jackson said the parish and city are looking at more than just the Air Force's cyber activities and has expanded their goal to lure cyber warfare programs from other agencies, as well as civilian organizations like defense contractors.
"We not only want to assist the Air Force and its position but provide assistance for all forms of government because what we're building (the Cyber Innovation Center) is in such a limited supply."
Bossier Parish previously had put off the move to hire a full-time cyber lobbyist, in part, because of concern the move could lead to local governments in other areas hiring big-time lobbyists of their own. Calls left with the cities of Belleville, Ill., and San Antonio, which have vied for Cyber Command, were not returned as of press time. Omaha, Neb., next to Offutt Air Force Base, does not have a federal lobbyist for cyber matter, said Karla Ewert, vice president of communications for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
The Podesta Group staff referred calls to comment to Morgan.
"Bossier chose The Podesta Group because of the excellent reputation of the firm and its ability to work with both Republicans and Democrats. ... They have knowledge of defense appropriations issues that will be very important to the success of the Cyber Innovation Center," Morgan wrote.
Bossier City Mayor Lorenz "Lo" Walker called The Podesta Group's services "invaluable" with establishing cyber-related activities in the area. Craig Spohn, executive director of the Cyber Innovation Center, was unavailable for comment as of press time.
Jackson said there is no timetable for how long the city and parish might use The Podesta Group's services, but Bossier Parish Administrator Bill Altimus said he is looking forward to their services.
"A lot of people we're hoping to attract here are actually not only military people, but defense contractors. ... We not only want the companies here, but we also want help in obtaining funding for the different activities and research these contractors can do," he said.
"We feel with the background and the past history of The Podesta Group, they can help bring this about."
© Copyright 2008, The Shreveport Times
