Lobbying

"Sounds like lobbying to us." - TBD Blog

I was feeling pretty down after losing in 2006. But hey, I always knew there would be a few special interest buddies that could take care of me.

Jesse Helms’ old Chief of Staff hooked me up with this Womble Carlyle outfit. Heck, they’ve got big tobacco, Blackwater,they’re even plugged in helping foreign companies take American jobs… My kind of place. I bring them a slots client or a state contractor here or there, they pay me a bunch of money, and I get to keep campaigning. Pretty sweet deal.

In February 2007, Ehrlich and six former aides launched the Maryland office of the North Carolina-based law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. Officials of the firm said then that Ehrlich and his team would work on economic development, government contracting and lobbying. (The News & Observer, “Womble Carlyle Hires Ehrlich,” February 22, 2007)
Womble Carlyle was already taking in millions of dollars in lobbying fees, but Ehrlich – who calls “government affairs” his only “area of proficiency” at the firm – was brought in to increase that total even more, according to Womble Carlyle officials. (The News & Observer, “Womble Carlyle Hires Ehrlich,” February 22, 2007)
Womble promotes Ehrlich as a lobbyist, stating on its website, “Led by Governor Ehrlich, our Maryland team has the access to ensure that our clients’ interests are represented in legislative debates at the state, local and federal levels” (www.wcsr.com/locations/Baltimore)

Neither Ehrlich nor Womble Carlyle will say just who Ehrlich’s been working for while at the firm. Asked in April 2007 by Laura Vozzella, “Just what is Ehrlich doing to earn his paycheck?” a Womble spokeswoman replied that Ehrlich was “counseling clients." Under pressure, Ehrlich’s staff identified a handful of clients, including big tobacco, big banks, and other special interests, but Ehrlich still refuses to disclose his full client list. (The Baltimore Sun, “What's In It For Ehrlich's New Boss?” April 27, 2007)

Ehrlich has described himself as a “rainmaker” for Womble Carlyle whose role as a former governor helps to bring in clients for the firm. (The Maryland Gazette, “ ‘Unfinished Business’ for Ehrlich,” December 5, 2007)

Ehrlich’s Womble Carlyle office represented the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a lawsuit filed by the State of Maryland over the company’s marketing to minors. (Maryland v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Baltimore City Circuit Court Case #24C08005834)

Ehrlich’s office also represented an oil company sued by the state for spilling 80,000 gallons of heating oil in Baltimore. (Maryland v. Center Point Terminal Baltimore LLC, Baltimore City Circuit Court Case #24C08001846)

Ehrlich and his team at Womble Carlyle have represented the Cordish Cos. in its bid to build a slots parlor at Arundel Mills Mall, according to documentation obtained by the news media. (The Washington Post, “Top Ehrlich Aide Helps Slots Effort in Anne Arundel,” April 2, 2009)

Ehrlich promoted the Cordish Cos.’ slots bid on a television news program without disclosing that it was his client, an apparent violation of federal ethics rules that has spawned an FCC inquiry. Ehrlich promoted the bid last year during a commentary on Fox 45, without providing the required on-air disclosure that Cordish was a client of his team at Womble. Faced with an FCC complaint over the incident, Ehrlich has yet to provide a denial or an explanation. Ehrlich’s spokesman said Ehrlich had disclosed the relationship to the station, but wasn’t certain whether that occurred prior to the broadcast, and none of the online versions of Ehrlich’s broadcasts have included such a disclosure, prior to or after the broadcast in question. (The Gazette, “Dems accuse Ehrlich of FCC violation,” 2/5/10; WBFF-TV, “Political Pulse”)
Ehrlich used his radio show to repeatedly highlight and criticize an obscure provision in the federal health care reform legislation imposing a tax on medical device makers. Ehrlich failed to disclose during those broadcasts that his special interest clients include a number of medical device companies. This sleight of hand constitutes another apparent violation of FCC rules.

Ehrlich is a leader of Womble Carlyle’s China Initiative, which represents Chinese companies seeking to do business in the United States, seeking on their behalf tax benefits, government economic incentives, and other benefits. Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice China Practice Brochure (pdf)
Ehrlich’s initiative promises its foreign clients – which have included companies partially controlled by the Chinese government: “We can assist your company with securing federal, state and local appropriations, assessing the impact of legislation on your business and representing your interests before regulatory agencies and legislative bodies.” Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice China Practice Brochure (pdf)
Womble Carlyle represents Venezuelan government-controlled CITGO – and boasts on its website that it got a wrongful death case against CITGO dismissed.

Ehrlich has been accused of using his firm’s law office as a campaign headquarters, without disclosing the use of those resources as an in-kind donation, an apparent violation of campaign finance law. (The Daily Record, “Womble Womble, O’Malley Fall Down?” March 18, 2010)
Ehrlich’s staff at Womble Carlyle includes three members of his gubernatorial communications team, including spokesman Henry Fawell. Fawell has continued to serve as Ehrlich’s political spokesman while being paid by Womble Carlyle, not Ehrlich’s campaign committee. (The Baltimore Sun, “Dems: Ehrlich wrongly using law firm employees for campaign,” March 18, 2010)