What can we expect in President Obama's final two years? We asked a man who was enjoying his very first day: as of Tuesday, Rep. Jim Matheson is a new principal at Squire Patton Boggs.
Jim announced in 2013 that he wouldn't run for re-election after seven terms as the lone Democrat from Utah. (And despite speculation that he'll run in 2016 for Senate or for governor of Utah, a position his father held, he tells us he's not planning to run.) Jim points out that since the Republicans hold both houses of Congress for the first time since '06, the party's going to put a premium on showing it can govern and lead; at the same time, the President wants to have a strong final two years. To fulfill those goals and the public's desire for "a path forward," we may see more movement in Washington. Jim joins a lobbying practice headed by former Sens. Trent Lott and John Breaux, and his focus will include energy, healthcare, telecom and cybersecurity.
As a congressman, Jim was a Chief Deputy Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, and on the Energy and Commerce committees. He sees "almost unlimited opportunities" for global public policy. (For instance, in addition to lobbying in Washington on behalf of foreign governments, trying to affect policy in foreign countries and advising companies looking to invest in the US.) When he's not in Washington, Jim tells us he's either mountain biking on a trail a few minutes from his house in Utah or skiing at one of the seven resorts nearby.
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