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A new analysis by the Center for Western Priorities finds that in the 31 months since David Bernhardt was nominated to become the Deputy Interior Secretary, his former lobbying firm has been paid nearly $12 million to influence the Interior Department, boosted by at least 19 new lobbying clients. The revenue marks a 310 percent increase from the same period before Bernhardt’s nomination. In return, at least two-thirds of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s (BHFS) lobbying clients with business before Interior have seen their projects or policies advanced in some way by the department.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is one of the country's top lobbying firms and touts that their "political connections deliver results." Bernhardt was a repeat player for the firm before his nomination.
The new analysis includes several egregious cases where BHFS clients saw results from Interior after Bernhardt’s arrival, including: Trilogy Metals' quest to build a mining road through Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, the expansion of a Rocky Mountain Resources mine that threatens a Colorado tourist town, and removing endangered species protections to assist Westlands Water District (arguably Bernhardt's largest client while with BHFS).
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With a direct line to the political appointees who set America’s energy and wildlife policies, Brownstein Hyatt has cashed in... it’s clear that under Secretary Bernhardt, corporations have a roadmap to get their projects approved—just hire a high-powered lobbyist, preferably at his old firm.”
