Decision Management
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This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation. |
Decision Management Inc. (DMI) is a low-profile Virginia-based public relations company that specializes in 'grasstops' lobbying - the mobilization of people with a close personal connection to the lobbying target.
According to Decision Management's Brian A. Lunde, DMI creates "the impression that more than just the vested interests are in favor of your position. Even close advisors and friends are supportive." [1]
While Decision Management doesn't seek a profile, little of its activities has surfaced. In 1997, according to returns filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), it earned US$10,000 from the Romanian-American Foundation for Mutual Cooperation. "The registrant agreed to meet with the Administration and certain members of Congress on behalf of the foreign principal to enhance and strengthen the U.S.-Romanian political relationship. However, the contract was never completed/finalized", its filing states for the six month period to September 30, 1997.
A lobbyist declaration filed with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State listed George Burger as a representative in 1997-98 for Powerhouse Technologies and the pharmaceutical giant SmithKline Beecham. [2]
According to an internal 1998 R.J. Reynolds (RJR) document, under the heading "grasstops", the tobacco company revealed it hired Decision Management "in early May to contact important political supporters of 29 influential Democratic Reps and 10 Democratic Senators. Supporters called and wrote their leaders, expressing opposition to various legislation including S.1415". [3]
S.1415 was Senate legislation—the National Tobacco Policy and Youth Smoking Reduction Act—to give effect to a negotiated settlement between the government and the tobacco industry. After initially supporting a preliminary negotiated version, the tobacco industry later changed its view when amendments were made.
On March 2, 1999, John Heffernan filed a complaint on behalf of Montana Common Cause with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices alleging that the Montana Chamber of Commerce violated Montana’s campaign finance reporting and disclosure laws during the 1996 elections regarding two initiatives regarding an increase in the minimum wage and campaign finance reform. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) "retained Brian Lunde and George Burger of Decision Management, Inc...to provide general political consulting and advice, state assessments (including opposition research and intelligence gathering), campaign planning, campaign budgeting, vendor recommendations and state oversight and evaluation. Decision Management was paid a minimum management fee of $10,000 per month to provide political consulting services to the NRA, the Montana Coalition Committee and political committees in other states on minimum wage increase issues...beginning on March 25, 1996 and ending in November of 1996. [4]
Contact Information
The listing from the Virginia phone book is the same as the earlier FARA listings:
Decision Management Inc.
2010 Corporate Ridge 7th Floor
McLean, VA 22102
Phone (703) 749-0585
Decision Management doesn't have a website; however Lunde is also listed as the Chairman of the American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Foundation, which lists an extensive biography. [5]
External links
- Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber, "Keeping America safe from democracy", PR Watch, volume 5 number 3, third quarter 1998.
- R.J. Reynolds, "RJR programs", August 5, 1998.
- Linda L. Vaughey, Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, June 2000 Findings in the Matter of the Complaint Against the Montana Chamber of Commerce Regarding Its Activities In Opposition to I-121 and I-125"
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