Radio Royalties: Reprising Ol' Blue Eyes' Battle

Simson foresees a long and difficult fight. "We're committed to a multiyear campaign," he said. "We know this won't be easy."

Labor Movements: Get a Scorecard

The building trades unions have retained a veteran duo to run their lobbying operation. Hired for the year at least were Christopher D. Heinz, until recently the top lobbyist for the carpenters union, and Michael L. Tiner, formerly with the food and commercial workers.

Rod Bennett, who had been the top lobbyist for the building trades, has moved to the Laborers' International Union. He will report to Bevin Albertani, who will take over both legislation and politics from her soon-to-retire boss, Donald J. Kaniewski. Got it?

Update for the Record

So you say not much has passed in Congress this year. Well, that's not completely true.

One event presaged in this column has crossed the finish line. In late March, President Bush signed into law a measure that renamed the headquarters building of the Department of Education after President Lyndon B. Johnson. The legislation was championed by a group of lobbyists including Lyndon K. Boozer, an AT&T lobbyist and son of Johnson's late secretary, Yolanda Garza Boozer. Boozer is named for the late president, just as the building now is.

Hires of the Week

Donna A. Harman is the new president of the American Forest & Paper Association -- for keeps. She had been interim chief executive.

Linda Denny, interim president of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, an advocate for women's businesses, was named the permanent president.

Steven C. Anderson continues to put his stamp on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Chrissy Shott, who was media director at Anderson's old stomping ground, the National Restaurant Association, will handle media at the drugstore group, which Anderson now leads. Her boss, Chris Krese, was also a former Anderson employee.

David L. Thompson, a former Senate aide, joined Independent Sector, the lobby for nonprofit groups, as director of legislative affairs.

Phil Blando and John Murray, late of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, and Christopher Assenmacher, who had been with Automatic Data Processing, have joined forces as AB+M Partners, a health-care consultancy.

Sean Richardson, former chief of staff to Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), joined Johnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland & Stewart. And K. Conwell Smith, a former aide to Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), was hired by the Federation of American Hospitals.

Peter A. Leon, a former aide to Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), will be joining Lent Scrivner & Roth.

Please send e-mail to kstreet@washpost.com