hollywood billionaire

Chapter 230

"So, what price did he offer?"

"What did you say?"

Han Yi, who was engrossed in waiting for the traffic signal at the exit ramp at the intersection of the I-10 Expressway and Vermont Avenue, did not hear clearly Jordan Bromley's inquiry coming from the car stereo.

"I said, Rubinstein. He wants to help you get Bob Goodlatte. What's the price in exchange?"

"Ah..." Han Yi opened his mouth but stopped talking.

"Don't forget the privilege of attorney-client confidentiality, boss." Hearing Han Yi's hesitation, Jordan Bromley laughed twice, "If there is one person you can trust in this world, it is you every day. I spend tens of thousands of dollars a month to hire a legal consultant. Contractual constraints and legal protection, I’m here to help you solve your troubles.”

"I know, Jordan." Han Yi cleared his throat and said, "I was just thinking about how to tell you about this... Because Rubinstein didn't ask for anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Rubinstein just told me that he would help me make an appointment with Goodlath. When I go to New York on the 28th, I would meet with him and reach a series of agreements in advance before the congressman retires."

"Are you going to New York again?"

"Yeah, VMAs, did you forget?"

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot about this... Please continue, Yi, what agreement does Goodlath want to reach?"

"First, I need to sign a 'special consultant' agreement with Bob's son, Robert."

"His son is called Robert, and his father is also called Robert. His own...name is still Robert." Jordan Bromley teased. Bob was originally the abbreviation of Robert. "This family can't think of anything else in 100 years." name."

"Haha, yes, I think this is the family legacy." Han Yi turned half of the steering wheel to the left and followed the car in front to turn onto Vermont Avenue. "Before Bob officially retires, Robert will serve as his father's replacement every year. Received a salary of US$53 from Han Music.”

"Sounds okay."

Starting in 2009, members of the House and Senate have a fixed annual salary of US$17.4.Judging from this data, Bob Goodlatte was not too ruthless and did not ask for much, just three times his official income.

This revolving door of retired politicians leaving Capitol Hill for K Street firms or large corporations has a long history.Although the act of "lobbying" is considered a specific expression of freedom of speech and is protected by the Constitution and Constitutional Amendments, for a long time, no established lobbying group was born on Capitol Hill.

In the nineteenth century, most lobbying activity took place within state legislatures, because the federal government, although it had large jurisdiction, did not often deal with matters related to the economy, and it did not legislate as much as the state governments. .At that time, lobbying was often conducted in an "extremely discreet manner" with little or no disclosure to the public.

From 1869 to 1877, during the administration of President Ulysses Grant, on the eve of the so-called "Gilded Age", lobbying activities began to gradually become more intense.Influential groups tried to persuade the government to provide higher railway subsidies and impose heavy taxes on wool products to protect the interests of domestic producers.At the same time, in the southern states that were busy rebuilding after the Civil War, the lobbying industry was increasingly prosperous. All walks of life hoped that state legislatures would allocate reconstruction funds to areas related to them, or open up some areas that were not in line with traditional Dixie. values ​​​​business to boost the economy.

For example, in Louisiana, Charles Howard actively lobbied state legislators and the governor on behalf of the lottery company in order to obtain a lucrative license to sell lottery tickets within the state.

Beginning in the 1880s and ending before the Great Depression, American society entered the 40-year "Progressive Era", during which widespread social movements and political reforms began in various places, focusing on corruption, monopoly, waste and inefficiency.At that time, enterprising reformers began to criticize the corrupting role of lobbyists on members of Congress and state legislators, and publicly called for greater regulation and transparency of lobbying activities. In 1928, the U.S. Customs Union's secret operation of funneling money to Hoover through the Republican National Committee became a sensational scandal.The Customs Union does not disclose their political spending to the public and cannot explain why they went to great lengths to pay two lobbyists as "Washington reporters."

In 1953, the United States v. Rumely case was fought. The specific facts of the case were extremely complicated, but basically it was that Congress established a special committee to investigate suspicious behind-the-scenes lobbying activities, and one of the lobbyists, Edward Rumely, was unwilling to disclose the transaction. and the specifics of lobbying.At that time, the famous liberal Justice Earl Warren was serving as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.The Supreme Court he led, known as the "Warren Court" in history, is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Supreme Courts in American history.

The Warren Court expanded civil rights, civil liberties, judicial power, and federal jurisdiction extremely broadly and powerfully.Through a series of rulings, the Warren Court brought a series of major changes to the United States such as "one person, one vote", the Miranda Act, the end of racial segregation, and recognition of the Civil Rights Act.According to the Vanderbilt Law Review, what the Warren Court created was a constitutional revolution that was crucial to American history.

But even with such a left-leaning Supreme Court, there has been no strong restriction on lobbying activities.They ruled that the congressional investigation of Edward Rumelli was unconstitutional and contrary to the principle of free speech.This ruling officially marks the beginning of the formalization, openness, and expansion of the political lobbying industry.

Lobbying activities proliferated in the second half of the twentieth century under the influence of the new political climate.It is estimated that the amount of money spent on lobbying has increased from tens of millions to billions of dollars per year. In 1975, the combined income of all lobbyists in Washington was less than $1 million. By 2006, this figure had exceeded $25 billion.The proportion of politicians who participate in lobbying activities after retirement has also skyrocketed from less than 1970% in the 5s to 50% in the Senate and 33% in the House of Representatives.

Entering the 2010s, the revolving door has become the obvious choice for politicians on Capitol Hill. In the 2014th House of Representatives elected in the 113 midterm elections, 75 members were defeated or retired from politics. As of 2016, 39 members had found new jobs.Among them, 50% joined K Street lobbying firms, 20% became independent lobbying consultants, 17.5% were employed as private-sector government relations consultants, 2.5% worked for political action committees, and only 10% stayed in various agencies of the federal and state governments. middle.

In other words, 90% of retired American politicians have joined the upper and lower reaches of the lobbying industry.

You can still live in Washington, still have free access to Capitol Hill, and... you can make as much money in one year as you would in ten years of working in the Legislature.

Yes, according to the financial reports disclosed by various K Street companies and registered lobbyists, the average annual income of U.S. congressmen who transform themselves into lobbyists can increase by 1452%.

17.4 times $14.5.

Billy Tauzin, a retired congressman from Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District, earned $2006 as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical companies in four years from 2010 to 19359927.

Retired NFL star and retired Oklahoma 1st Congressional District Congressman Steve Largent received $8815741 from AT&T, Motorola, and HTC.

James Greenwood, Pennsylvania 8th Congressional District, Biotechnology, $6679935.

Glenn English, $9294207.

Steve Bartlett, $9192761…

The list goes on and on.

Compared with the seven- or eight-figure salary, Bob Goodlatte really doesn’t want much.

"However, the US$53 is just a secret benefit that we channeled to Goodlath through his son before he retired. After he retires and can register a lobbying company openly, Goodlath hopes that we will become his third A group of customers must earn at least US$100 million per year and have a contract term of at least three years.”

"That's a total of $406 million in exchange for our place in the Music Modernization Act."

"Yes, the exchange conditions I offered him through Rubinstein - first, Goodlatte must accept the donation I provided him through Manat Entertainment, so that anyone can see, Jordan Bu Romley and Han Music are active behind the scenes. Secondly, he must ensure that the music modernization bill is introduced into the House of Representatives first, and he will decide how to distribute the interests of the three members. Thirdly, in the Senate, he needs to find someone to follow He submitted the bill at the same time. Fourth... we will not affect the substantive content of the bill, but we will slightly modify some wording and data."

"$100 million per condition."

"you can say it this way."

"However, it seems... it's just an ongoing negotiation between you and Goodlath through Rubinstein." Jordan Bromley asked, "Then what does Rubinstein want?"

"That's the weirdest thing, Jordan. I hinted at him implicitly, but he didn't say anything."

"Voluntary help?" Jordan Bromley sneered, "Not really."

"I don't think so." Han Yi responded, "Even if I have assets under custody on his side, it's impossible to help me to this extent for free."

"What do you think his true intentions are?"

"I'm not sure." Han Yi replied sincerely, "But it should be something much bigger than this single transaction."

"Much louder, let me...ah, I seem to have the answer." The sound of Jordan Bromley tapping the keyboard came from the stereo, and soon he raised the tone a few points.

"What did you find?"

"Bob Goodlatte, NAB has been a top five donor in the past five elections."

"This is known, then what?"

"As an industry association and lobbying group, NAB absorbs activity funds from major companies in the radio and television industry. One of the big donors is called Nielsen, the same Nielsen that produces radio listening indexes and TV ratings...Listen , and here’s the exciting part—in January 2006, Carlyle Group, along with Blackstone Group, Herman Friedman, KKR and THL Funds, acquired the company for $1 billion.”

"So, David Rubinstein has already sent political donations to Bob Goodlatte through a two-tier corporate structure, and this has lasted for ten years." Han Yi frowned, "It doesn't seem like much. Related, but Bob Goodlatte, without a doubt, is one of the voices of Wall Street, and Rubinstein in particular, on Capitol Hill."

"And he asked me to hire Bob Goodlatte as a consultant because he wanted to... increase his influence on me and Han Music?"

"The entity that injects capital into Han Music, Han Publishing and Renyu Management is CEP-III. Although the Carlyle Group is only the manager, Rubinstein does have reasons for doing so." Jordan Bromley responded in the affirmative , "You have money, vision, strategic layout, and abundant resources. You have just topped the Billboard charts and have been at the top of the charts for three weeks... David Rubinstein is not a fool. Knowing he's sleeping next to a gold mine. Now he's the mine's night watchman, but you and I both know he won't be content with that."

"So he wanted to start with the aspect that I am least good at, to ensure that he can control at least one aspect of Han Music, and use this as an entry point to gradually increase the possibility of entering the game or even forming a game." Han Yi's analysis said To Jordan, but also to myself, "He is the only one I have to rely on in Washington, and he doesn't want me to find anyone else to rely on besides him. So..."

Speaking of this, Han Yi took a breath of cold air.

"Don't you think..."

"You promised that Darrell Issa could join David Rubinstein. This step was not wrong. But after hearing your request, why did Rubinstein let you take Issa to participate? charity dinner and told you that he would introduce you to Jerry Nadler at the banquet?"

"He planned all this." Han Yi murmured, "From the moment I called him and told him that Darrell Issa wanted to see him, he knew my intention. He deliberately "Bringing three congressmen together and forming a synergy made it impossible for me to accept the conditions they offered together, so I had to turn to his candidate, Bob Goodlatte."

"Rubinstein knows that it is difficult for him to use normal capital methods to deal with you, because unlike ordinary entrepreneurs, you do not need to rely on external financing to grow in the initial stage. Therefore, if you want to get more, He must use methods other than wealth."

"The guardian you chose is very possessive." Very strong indeed.

When talking on Mido Trail that day, Han Yi promised to share the wine bought at the convenience store with David Rubinstein.

Unexpectedly, David Rubinstein's idea was to monopolize this business so that Han Yi could only buy wine through him in the future.

There are obviously so many big children in the convenience store.

Blocking Han Yi's path to Capitol Hill requires him to rely on David Rubinstein as a middleman to build all his political networks in the United States. When the relationship is still good, Rubinstein can help Han Yi a lot for free and intervene in music. The modernization bill is just a small effort.

What about when the relationship is not good?

Han Yi will find that all the real money he spread out has become a tool for David Rubinstein to strengthen his influence.As long as Rubinstein turns his face, all Han Yi's efforts in Washington will be in vain in an instant.Moreover, in another four to five years, given his sensitive status and how well David Rubinstein knows him, Han Music Group may end up in the same fate as Tik Tok, or even worse.

Before a trust is formed, it will be torn into pieces.

The fourth largest music group in the world?
Have you heard the EMI story?

"We have to find a way to weaken his influence, Yi." Jordan Bromley emphasized, "Not only to bypass Rubinstein to establish government relations, but also to find a way... to do it with other players of the same level as him Friends. Only by keeping each other in check can we be afraid."

"I understand, but how can it be so easy to find a player of the same level as David Rubinstein?"

Han Yi rubbed the peak of his nose, his tone slightly annoyed.

David Rubinstein's personal worth may be only 30 to 3000 billion U.S. dollars, but he is in charge of a Wall Street behemoth with an AUM of over [-] billion.More importantly, before joining the business world, he served as chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and also served as Jimmy Carter's domestic policy staff.

The skill trees in both political and business circles are all full. From the perspective of overall strength, who can stabilize him?
"Oracle of Omaha" Warren Buffett?
"King of Quantification" Jim Simmons?
Or Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, or KKR’s Henry Kravis?

Whether it is total assets under management or funds raised in the past five years, there are few companies on Wall Street that can be better than Carlyle Group. In the 2016 PEI 300 rankings, Carlyle Group ranked fifth, with only Blackstone Group, KKR, Warburg Pincus and Boston-based Advent Capital ranking ahead of it.

"It doesn't matter, I'm not particularly anxious at the moment. I believe that you and Rubinstein will still maintain the current effective and friendly cooperative relationship in a short period of time. Even if there is a conflict, it will be at least two years later." Jordan Bromley rarely comforted him so gently, "It's just that we have to take this matter to heart and plan in advance to avoid being caught off guard."

"I'll keep an eye on this."

Putting away the sun visor and looking up at The Vermont Twin Towers in front of him, Han Yi stretched his fingertips to the screen of his mobile phone.

"We'll talk about this later, okay, Jordan, I have something else to take care of right now."

"Of course, boss. Have a nice day."

"You too."

After ending the call, Han Yi breathed a sigh of relief and forced himself to temporarily withdraw from the worries in his head.

Let your future self worry about future things. Today, he has more meaningful life tasks to complete.

At the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Wilshere Avenue, the Bentley Bentayga turned right, crossed the bus stop, and stopped smoothly in front of the red shoulder parallel to the apartment.

Xu Yiru was waiting there quietly.

Today is August 2016, 8, the first day of the fall semester at the University of Southern California.

It was also the beginning of a master's life that Han Yi had not been able to experience in his previous life.

Starting from No. 864 Stradella Road, taking a small detour and picking up Xiao Ru to go to class together was a daily routine that he wanted to experience again in the three months after graduating from his undergraduate degree.

How many people are there like Han Yi, who one second is fighting through obstacles in the treacherous adult world, and the next second he can take the girl he likes and hide together in an ivory tower to enjoy half a day of leisure?
Compared with money, this may be one of the most generous rewards they gave him when he came back again.

What other rewards are there?

Thinking of this, Han Yi pressed down the car window and smiled brightly at the girl whose eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Good morning, Grace!"

In the early morning of August 8, the temperature in Los Angeles was only 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Xiaoru, who has always been afraid of the cold, had already put on Napier's snow-white round-neck cashmere sweater from Noyo Panya.According to her consistent fashion matching concept, since the upper body is Nuoyou Panya, then the whole body will be Nuoyou Panya.The earth-colored blended jersey trousers, cream-colored Week-End Walk casual sneakers, and even the small schoolbag slung behind her back are all Noyo Piano cherry-colored calfskin Extra Pocket.

This "quiet luxury" brand that is loved by old money is the most suitable for Xiaoru who is out of the ordinary world.It is obviously casual to the extreme, but there is always an elegance and elegance that is difficult to conceal.As soon as she stood on the street of Wilshere Avenue, Xu Yiru became the object of collective attention and salute from passers-by.

It’s easy to get picked up in the first place, but the chances of getting hit on are even higher in Koreatown.Two young Korean boys and a Latino boy who was not as tall as a boy had already lost. If Han Yi hadn't parked the Bentley Bentayga in front of Xu Yiru in time, there would probably be two or three dreamers who were ready to make a move. Come and try your luck.

"Why are you calling me by my English name? You're weird."

As small as clutching a Starbucks cardboard coffee tray with one hand and reaching for the passenger door handle with the other.However, before she could reach it, Han Yi leaned over and opened the car door for her diligently.

The Baodao girl sat in the carriage and gave her a cute look.

"Because you look like Grace Kelly today."

"It looks good?"

The proud dimples appeared between Xu Yiru's cheeks.

"Yeah." Han Yi nodded heavily.

"You have eyesight."

Xu Yiru hummed and handed the tray in front of Han Yi.

"Which cup is mine?"

"Both glasses are the same, take whatever you like."

Han Yi and Xu Yiru have different tastes in coffee. Han Yi likes to drink iced latte with only original syrup, while Xiao Ru likes to challenge all kinds of weird combinations. Every time Starbucks releases new seasonal products, such as eggnog series, or similar For secret menus like Pink Drink, she will always rush to be the first to eat crabs.

As for why you bought two identical iced lattes today?
Because there is such a thing as a couple’s drink... I haven’t tried it yet.

"Did you not wash your hair when you got up in the morning?"

The strange thoughts in her mind showed up in the form of blush on Xiao Ru's face. She reached out her hand and brushed a strand of messy hair from Han Yi's forehead, deliberately showing an expression of disgust.

"No way!" Han Yi took a sip of his latte and opened his eyes wide, "It's not like you don't know that I wash my hair every morning."

"Then why is it so smelly?"

"What's the smell?! If you don't believe me..."

Before Han Yi could finish his argument, the plain hand that was originally attached to his forehead gently lifted his chin. After a month and a half, Xu Yiru's firm and brave softness covered his lips again.

Xiao Ru's first sip of coffee today was tasted on the tip of Han Yi's tongue.

After school starts, no one can keep an eye on her.

What can Sister Youzhen do?Come to USC with them to take classes?
Finally... I could be alone with him.

The warm welcome lasted for two or three minutes. Xiaoru then moved back a few inches, panting slightly, and looked at Han Yi with sweet eyes that were almost solidified.

"Easy..."

The twitching lips looked even more delicate due to the rapid blood filling.

"miss you."

(End of this chapter)