» John Cline
» Tom Crawford
» Hunter Bates
» Nelson Litterst
» Jeff Murray
» Michael Hanson
» Patrick Robertson
» Lesley Elliott
» Becky Halkias
» Raul Tapia
John Cline
John Cline is a founding partner of the c2 group. John directs the transportation practice for the firm. Over his nearly twenty-five years of experience in the transportation field, he has developed an expertise in federal transportation programs, legislative policy and strategy, having played an active role in the passage of federal authorizing legislation for surface transportation programs - TEA-21 and SAFETEA-LU. John focuses mainly on serving clients in the transportation, as well as financial services and energy.
Prior to forming the firm, John worked as a Consultant serving clients in the transportation field. John directed the public transportation practice in the Transportation Group at Mercer Management Consulting Inc, an international management-consulting firm. He later served as the Director of Commuter Rail at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) where he was responsible for the daily operations of the commuter rail service for the Boston metropolitan area.
Before joining Mercer, John served in the White House as a Special Assistant for Intergovernmental Affairs under President George H.W. Bush, where he was the President's liaison with Governors and all statewide elected officials working closely on matters concerning defense restructuring, welfare and health care reform and transportation.
Prior to his service in the White House, he was Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs for the US Department of Transportation (DOT), where he played a key role in enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and completion of the National Transportation Policy. John entered public service in 1989 upon his selection by President Bush as Associate Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration at DOT.
Before entering government service, John was Vice-President of National Transit Services Inc. (NTS) in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in business, with an emphasis in labor relations, at Northern Illinois University.
Tom Crawford
Tom Crawford is a founding partner of the c2 group. and directs the firm's practice in Corporate Tax and Health. Tom has a large corporate practice in the area of taxation, representing several Fortune 100 companies. His representation of these interests includes coverage of the House and Senate Leadership and tax-writing committees. During his 15 years of experience in tax-related matters, Tom has worked on every tax measure and budget reconciliation package considered by Congress.
Prior to forming the firm, Tom served as the Managing Partner of Murray Sheer Montgomery and O'Donnell, where he worked on tax and transportation matters. Previously, Tom served as Legislative Director in the Michigan legislature handling tax, finance and economic development issues for the Senate Floor Leader and as a professional campaign staff through four election cycles for both statewide and federal Congressional races.
Tom graduated with honors from Michigan State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Economics.
Hunter Bates
Hunter Bates is a Partner in the firm and serves as its General Counsel. In 2003, he launched the Bates Capitol Group and represented several global companies and trade associations including UPS, Amgen, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. In 2007, he merged Bates Capitol Group with c2 group.
Hunter has a unique knowledge of the players and the process in the U.S. Senate and helps direct the legislative strategies of a variety of clients in many industries (auto manufacturing, technology, health care, financial services, consumer products). He has been actively involved in several recent major legislative efforts on behalf of clients, including: the Energy bill; the economic stimulus package; the consumer product safety commission reauthorization; FAA reauthorization; pension reform; class action litigation reform; patent reform and telecommunications and broadband deployment.
Hunter has been involved in public policy and advocacy for many years and served as legal counsel and chief of staff to the current Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. From 1997 through 2002, Hunter served as chief legal counsel and then chief of staff to Senator McConnell. He worked with McConnell and other members of the Senate and House on a wide range of issues from appropriations to election law to healthcare to labor law to civil justice reform. As chief counsel of the Senate Rules Committee from 1999-2000, Hunter also advised McConnell and the Committee on ethics and campaign finance issues.
In addition to serving as McConnell's top adviser and speechwriter, Hunter helped draft legislation and served as McConnell's point person for weekly Senate leadership meetings. Hunter also drafted op-ed articles with Senator McConnell that were published in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA today, Washington Times, Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader, among others.
He has played a key role in two statewide McConnell senate campaigns, most recently in 2002, where he served as campaign manager helping McConnell win with a record 65% of the vote. In December of 2003, then-Congressman Ernie Fletcher selected Hunter to be his lieutenant governor running mate for the 2003 gubernatorial race. however a state court judge ruled that Hunter's service to Kentucky in Washington effectively disqualified him from serving as lieutenant governor until the 2011 election.
In 2004, he served as statewide grassroots chairman for the Bush-Cheney Campaign in Kentucky and was a Delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention. Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher appointed Bates to the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, where he serves as chairman.
He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and of Eastern Kentucky University where he graduated magna cum laude.
Nelson Litterst
Nelson Litterst is a Partner in the firm and specializes in coordinating clients' interests with the White House and in the House. Nelson represents a variety of clients in many industries (bio-energy, technology, financial services, consumer products) and helps direct their legislative and political strategies in Congress. Nelson has been actively involved in several recent major legislative efforts on behalf of clients, including: the immigration bill; the Energy bill, and; the stimulus bill.
Prior to joining c2 group, Nelson served as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. In this role Nelson lobbied Congress on behalf of the President of the United States. He focused on pension, environment, labor, interior and small business issues. Specifically Nelson developed the legislative strategy for passage of HR 3672, the Administration's pension reform and retirement security legislation and for passage of HR 4, the Administration's energy bill. In addition, Nelson worked with Congress to pass historic Brownfield legislation that was signed into law by the President in 2001. He was part of an Administration team that helped develop the President's pension reform proposal, forest management initiative and Yucca Mountain nuclear storage approval. Nelson also served as House legislative liaison for the Bush-Cheney Transition team and for the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.
Prior to his service in the White House, Nelson was Director of Federal Government Relations at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's largest small-business advocacy group. In 2000, NFIB was ranked by Fortune Magazine as the number two Lobbying organization in the country. As Director, Nelson managed and developed grassroots and lobbying strategies and participated in the organization's PAC disbursements.
Nelson began his career in Washington working for House Republican Leader Robert H. Michel (R-IL). He also served as a senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Gary A. Franks (R-CT), the nation's highest-ranking African-American Republican at the time.
Jeff Murray
Jeff Murray is a Partner in the firm and specializes in coordinating clients' interests in the Blue Dog Coalition of the House. Jeff represents a variety of clients in many industries (energy, technology, financial services, consumer products) and helps direct their legislative and political strategies in Congress. Jeff has been actively involved in several major legislative efforts on behalf of clients, including: the recently-enacted Energy bill and the Appropriations bills from FY 2003 through FY 2008.
Prior to joining c2 group, Jeff served in several key positions in Congress, most recently as Chief of Staff for Congressman Bud Cramer (D-AL). a member on the Appropriations Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence. Congressman Cramer was a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition where Jeff served as executive staff for the Blue Dog Coalition* during Congressman Cramer's Chairmanship during the 106th Congress. Jeff also directed the Blue Dog political operations during the 107th Congress.
Before joining Congressman Cramer's team, Jeff served for six years as Government Relations Director for the American Gas Association (AGA) and Executive Director of the American Gas Foundation. AGA is the trade association representing the natural gas distribution industry in the USA. In this position Jeff helped lead the political and federal lobbying efforts on behalf of the Association. Major legislative initiatives included reauthorization of pipeline safety legislation and securing necessary on-going funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP").
Jeff also has extensive experience working on political campaigns. Prior to his work with AGA, Jeff served first as campaign manager and then as Legislative Director for Congressman Bill Brewster (D-OK). Congressman Brewster served on the Transportation Committee and later on the Ways and Means Committee. Jeff also worked on other campaigns, including, for Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM).
* The Blue Dog Coalition is a group of Conservative and Moderate Democratic members of the United States House. They serve as a key voting block in the House.
Michael Hanson
Michael Hanson is a Partner in the firm and represents clients in a variety of industries (automobile manufacturing and health,) and focuses mainly in the areas of tax, energy and healthcare. Michael has been actively involved in developing strategies during the progress of several recent successful legislative efforts including the energy bill and recent tax bills.
Prior to joining c2 group, Michael served ten years for Congressman Sam Johnson (TX), the last four years as his Chief of Staff. Congressman Johnson serves on the Committee on Ways and Means (Health, Social Security and Oversight Committees) and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations. Johnson was one of the founding members of the Conservative Action Team (CAT's), now called the Republican Study Committee (RSC). Michael served as the Congressman's staff member for the RSC from its inception in 1995 to 1998. During that same time Michael served as the Congressman's Legislative Director with direct oversight over all the Ways and Means tax, Social Security and welfare legislation. Michael was also the point of contact between the Congressman and his duties as part of Tom DeLay's Whip and Deputy Whip teams. Michael served as the liaison between the Smithsonian Institute (SI) and the Congressman, who was appointed to the SI Board of Regents.
Patrick Robertson
Patrick is a Partner in the firm whose legislative experience includes energy, communications, transportation, and tax. Prior to joining the c2 group, Patrick served on the staff of Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV) for nine years, the last five as Deputy to the Chief of Staff. He also served as Campaign Manager for Senator Rockefeller’s most recent re-election campaign.
During his time in Senator Rockefeller’s office, Patrick helped the Senator to distill and attack problems and shaped solutions on a wide spectrum of issues from economic development to the complexities of the tax code on the Senate Finance Committee. In addition, he tackled telecommunications and transportation issues on the Senate Commerce Committee. Patrick also worked with the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Finally, he worked closely with state officials across West Virginia on large-scale projects and development, such as the West Virginia Summit on Homeland Security and on trade missions both overseas and here in the US.
He is a graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law and the University of Pittsburgh.
Lesley Elliott
Lesley Elliott serves as Director of Federal Affairs for the firm and specializes in coordinating clients' interests in both the House and Senate. Lesley represents a variety of clients in many industries (energy, health care and transportation) and helps direct their legislative and political strategies in Congress. Lesley has been actively involved in several major legislative efforts on behalf of clients, including: the recently-enacted Energy bill; Appropriations bills and telecommunications and broadband deployment.
Lesley is a Lexington, KY native with five years of Capitol Hill experience. Lesley spent three years as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and two years as Legislative Aide in the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell handling Education, Health and Social Security issues.
Lesley is active in the community; her main charitable activity centers on her role as a key organizer for Taste of the South where she served on the Kentucky Committee for five years and was then elected to serve on the Executive Board. This 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising money for deserving charities boasts a Congressional Host Committee comprised of the members of the congressional delegations for 13 southern states. Additionally, she is active in the Kentucky Society of Washington.
Lesley graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Becky Halkias
Becky Halkias specializes in federal and state legislative strategies, with expertise in tax, health, defense and appropriations. Becky has developed specific legislative proposals and political strategies for a wide range of clients and issues. She has particular expertise melding federal issues with state level programs and policies.
Becky has been shaping public policy in Washington for the last twenty-five years where she has worked with many clients in a variety of industries, as well as holding several high level positions in the Executive Branch, Congress, and at the state level. She most recently served as the Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs in the Office of Homeland Security. She was responsible for managing the Legislative Affairs office of Homeland Security in the White House, as well as serving as Governor Ridge's liaison to the members in the House and Senate.
Prior to her service in the White House, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Governor Ridge's Washington DC office where she directed his federal government affairs and served as the Commonwealth's chief lobbyist for the federal government.
Prior to her service to Governor Ridge, Becky was a partner in the government relations firm of Murray, Scheer and Montgomery where her practice was focused in the areas of health, tax, appropriations and economic development. She was responsible for forming a coalition of public health groups representing over 150,000 members during the Congressional consideration of healthcare reform. Other health issues included Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement including, dual eligibility, disproportionate share adjustments, indirect and direct medical education and Medicaid pooling and wavers.
Becky also served as Associate Counsel for the law firm of Burson Marsteller, where a majority of her time was spent working on the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the first major overhaul of the tax code since 1949. Her areas of concentration centered on the alternative minimum tax, depreciation, passive loss provisions, tax-exempt bonds, and the deductibility of state and local taxes.
Prior to this, Becky served as a Congressional Staff member in the House of Representatives for a member of the Committee on the Ways and Means as well as the Committee on Education and Labor.
Becky received her JD from Georgetown Law Center in 1983, and her BA from Yale in 1977. She was admitted to the Bar in both the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania.
Raul Tapia
Prior to joining c2 group, Raul was a partner in the law firm of Tapia & Buffington. Previously, he served on the White House staff as Deputy Assistant to President Jimmy Carter. Active in a number of community activities, Raul serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California, and has also served as a member of the board of governors of the Cal State Philanthropic Foundation.
In addition to his legislative practice, Raul has been involved with various business projects for his own account. These endeavors include being the founder and former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Republic Communications Corporation. Republic owned and operated as the licensee of KRRT-TV, channel 35, a then Fox Network affiliated television station serving San Antonio, Texas. He was also a founder, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMO Broadcasting Company, which owned and operated as the licensee of KIVA-FM, Santa Fe/Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Raul has served as one of nine members of the Board of Directors of Denny’s Corporation and served as a member of the company’s Audit and Finance Committee. Denny’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol “DENN”. Fortune magazine in its annual review of the top 1200 companies in the United States has repeatedly selected Denny’s among its “America’s 50 Best Companies for Minorities” survey.
An attorney, Raul is admitted to practice before the bars of the District of Columbia, the State of California, Supreme Court of the United States and various subsidiary federal courts. His legal career also includes association from 1977 to 1979 with the law firm of Doub, Purcell, Muntzing & Hansen where he specialized in corporate, legislative and administrative law matters. Previously, from 1976 to 1977 he served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Edmund W. Burke, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Alaska.
Mr. Tapia received his Juris Doctoris degree from the Harvard Law School in 1975. Additionally, he earned a Master in Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 1976 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1972 from California State University at Fullerton.
