Former Top Wyden Aide Will Lobby for Exxon Mobil

Environment & Energy Daily, a trade publication that tracks Congress, reported today that Josh Kardon, the former chief of staff for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has a new client—the oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp.

Kardon, worked for Wyden for 18 years, many of them stationed in Portland. When Kardon left Wyden's office in 2011, the senator was glowing in his praise.

“Josh is the most gifted political mind that I have ever known and as his boss, I wish he’d work for me for another couple of decades," Wyden said then in a statement. "As his friend, I look forward to seeing the great things he will do next.”

Wyden was named chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee late last year.

Kardon, who ran a political consulting firm in Portland and worked for the Tonkon Torp. law firm after leaving Wyden's office, has been spending much of his time in Washington, D.C., lately, working for the Capitol Hill Consulting Group.

Here's today's story from Environment & Energy Daily:

"Exxon Mobil Corp. has added the former chief of staff to new Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to its stable of lobbyists.

The energy giant hired the Capitol Hill Consulting Group, according to new disclosures the firm filed late last week.

The midsized firm, founded by ex-Rep. Bill Brewster (D-Okla.), will represent Exxon Mobil on energy, environmental and tax policy issues.

Lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Senate Office of Public Records show Josh Kardon, who spent 21 years on Capitol Hill, much of its as Wyden's top aide, and Jack Victory, a former senior adviser to onetime House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), will work on the firm's behalf.

The firm also represents clients including natural gas firm Luca Technologies, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (Calif.) and Columbia Forest Products.

In addition to its in-house lobbyists, Exxon Mobil also employs a host of firms including Conrad Law & Policy Counsel, Avenue Solutions, Katten Muchin Rosenman, Kelley Drye & Warren, and Breaux Lott Leadership Group.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Exxon Mobil spent nearly $13 million on lobbying last year, of which about $2.5 million went to individual firms."

Kardon was not immediately available for comment.

Tweet