RIDE-SHARING COMPANY UBER has been in the news a lot in recent months, and not in a good way. The company has faced backlash from taxi drivers, competitors, and entire countries over what are seen as predatory business practices and attempts to dodge local regulations. And like any embattled company, Uber is upping its lobbying efforts.
In August, Uber hired former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy. This high-profile hire sends a clear statement that Uber intends to go on a legislative offensive. Uber is also hiring up for overseas lobbying; the BBC reported last month that Uber has hired a lobbyist in response to Germany’s ban of the service.
But the opposition is also shoring up its advocacy game. Cab drivers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area have rapidly joined unions and formed coalitions to combat Uber’s influence in the area. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that cab drivers dramatically outspent Uber at the local level by more than 3,500 to 1. As the Sunlight Foundation notes, this may explain why at least 12 states and the District have attempted to regulate or limit Uber and other ride-sharing services.
It’s clear that the local lobbying battle between Uber and taxi companies will only intensify. It remains to be seen whether the fight will extend to the federal level, but Uber’s hiring of David Plouffe indicates that the company is prepared should Congress and the federal government begin to weigh in on ride-sharing services.
Tags: David Plouffe, Uber
