Don Nickles

Don Nickles is the founder, CEO and chair of the lobbying firm the Nickles Group. According to the firm's website, Nickles "supervises the firm's government relations and consulting practices, and oversees the management of business development and client issues." 

Nickles served as a Republican member of the U.S. Senate for 24 years, including a stint as Assistant Minority Leader. He's also a co-founder and member of the Oklahoma Coalition for Peace through Strength.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
Nickles is an alumnus of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). During the time that he was Assistant Minority Leader in the U.S. Senate, ALEC began a new alumni forum for former members who serve in public office, called the "ALEC Alumni Forum." It was launched in 2001 and is "charged with developing a national forum to encourage improved communications among current and former ALEC members. Alumni Forum activities will include special investigations and speaking engagements at major ALEC events, and joint policy members with state and national leaders. . . . Through the Alumni Forum program, ALEC will seek the support of its former members in the development of reforms that reflect the principles of the organization at all levels of government."

Lobbying in health reform debate
As a former Senator, Nickles, a Republican from Oklahoma, helped negotiate the final version of Medicare Part D (which covers payment of prescription drugs), then left to form his own lobbying firm. Bristol-Myers Squibb paid Nickels' lobbying firm $120,000 by October, 2009 to lobby for, among other things, “health care reform issues related to Medicaid and Medicare.”


 * Director, Christian Freedom International
 * Director, Valero
 * Congressional Advisory Board, Center on Regulation and Economic Growth
 * Susan B. Anthony List: Executive and Advisory Committee's
 * Director, American Council for Capital Formation

Iraq War
Nickles voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

Health Care Reform, 1990-2000
Sens. Don Nickles and Trent Lott (R-Miss) were effective in defeating or watering down numerous health care initiatives in the 1990's; in particular, they were able to prevent the Senate from considering a Patient Bill of Rights in 1998.

"The Family"
Sen. Nickles was a member of a group of evangelical christian lawmakers who made headlines with their house on C-Street in Washington, D.C.

The Defense of Marriage Act
Sen. Nickles was responsible for introducing DOMA into the Senate in 1996.

Opposition to Organized Labor
In addition to his support for ALEC, Nickles fought to pass Right to Work legislation in Oklahoma in 2001. Nickles received a 4% lifetime rating on labor issues from the AFL-CIO in 2004, his last year in the Senate; 5th worst of all serving senators that year.

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Government-industry revolving door
 * Center on Regulation and Economic Growth
 * National Coalition for Peace through Strength