Weekly Newsletter

February-only special

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Caught Our Eye

A lobbyist for a major health insurance company has rejoined his old boss on the Hill.

Patrick Velliky started today as legislative director for Rep. James Renacci (R-Ohio). Velliky comes to Renacci's office from Humana Inc., where he worked as manager of federal affairs. At the Louisville, Ky.-based health insurance company, Velliky lobbied to repeal the fee on insurance providers required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, along with other health care-related issues.

Before joining Humana, Velliky spent two years working in Congress. Velliky got his start in Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-Pa.) office and eventually worked his way up to deputy legislative director. During his first stint on the Hill, Velliky also served as a legislative assistant in Renacci's office. Besides overseeing Renacci's entire legislative agenda, Velliky himself will be covering issues related to commerce, the financial sector, housing and taxation.

Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:

Trending Staffers› learn more

Adrienne K. Elrod (former staffer) – So-So
Spotlight still shines, but over Hillary hit list
Lesli Elaine McCollum Gooch (former staffer) – Bravo!
Boss says: "Take my job!"
Morgan P. Shands (former staffer) – Uh oh!
Shands' hands found in charity's cookie jar
Paul C. Grove (current staffer) – Bravo!
Swimming (in)to Cambodia's election fraud charges
Vickie F. Plunkett (current staffer) – Bravo!
Throws brick over BRAC at broke Congress

Hill Hires

Joseph Dallas Millado (Joe), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Military Legislative Assistant
Dan P. Curran, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Deputy Press Secretary
Isaac Sancken, Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Director of Communications

Hill Departures

Haroon Azam Khan, formerly Democratic Deputy Staff Director for Outreach to Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Cory D. Palmer, now Research Associate for FBR Capital Markets, formerly Legislative Assistant to Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN)
Lee Douglass R. Simmons (Dougie), now for National Republican Senatorial Committee, formerly Director of Scheduling to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Hill Moves and Promotions

Adam C. Kamp, now Chief Clerk for Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
(formerly Financial Disclosure Specialist to Senate Select Committee on Ethics)
Sarah Rothschild, now Press Secretary for Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
(formerly Communications Director to Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL))
David R. Natonski (Dave), now Chief of Staff for Rep. Kevin W. Yoder (R-KS)
(formerly Chief of Staff to 19th Congressional District of Florida)

Revolvers

Shannon M. Ross,
Lobbies for: Opportunity Finance Network
Most recent congressional employment: Rep. John Tierney (D-MA), Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
Aaron Cooper,
Lobbies for: Covington and Burling LLP
Most recent congressional employment: Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)

StormFeed press release of the week

Remembering the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII

from Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.)

Top hashtags of the week

#obamacare – (177 mentions)
#teamusa – (139 mentions)
#raisethewage – (137 mentions)
#sochi2014 – (121 mentions)
#tcot – (110 mentions)