Poker Players Lose a Round on Capitol Hill

FAA Spokesman Returns to GM

Greg Martin spun through the revolving door a couple of weeks ago, leaving the federal government and returning to General Motors Corp.'s Washington office as director of public policy and Washington communications.

A presidential appointee, Martin was the chief spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Previously, he was director of communications for the National Transportation Safety Board. And before that, Martin, worked in GM's Washington office. He says he's "a proud owner of a 2001 Saturn wagon," one of GM's products.

"It was a terrific opportunity to return to an American icon," Martin said.

Martin succeeds Chris Preuss , who moved to GM headquarters in Detroit.

Here and There

In other moves about town . . . lobbyist and former Hill aide Michael R. Wessel and former union official Mark A. Anderson have joined forces at the newly formed Wessel Group , a lobbying, strategic advice and communications shop.

Most recently, Wessel was at the Downey McGrath Group (of former New York congressmen, Democrat Thomas Downey and Republican Ray McGrath ) and served as a commissioner on the U.S. Trade Deficit Review Commission. Wessel was also general counsel to then-House Democratic leader Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.).

Anderson worked for the AFL-CIO for more than 20 years. He held elected leadership posts at the AFL-CIO's Food and Allied Service Trades Department. Most recently, he was a consultant to FAST's leadership.

Sean Cassidy , a former senior official at the Federal Housing Administration, has joined the National Association of Realtors as a senior policy representative for federal housing issues. Cassidy was a federal policy consultant with B&D Consulting .