The Hill Names Big “I” Leaders Among Top DC Lobbyists

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Hill, a leading political newspaper, has named Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO, and Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external and government affairs, among the top trade association lobbyists in Washington, D.C.

“The Big ‘I’ is proud to have its government affairs team recognized, once again, by one of the premier political newspapers in the country,” says Spencer Houldin, Big “I” chairman and president of Ericson Insurance Advisors in Washington Depot, Connecticut. “We are grateful to Bob Rusbuldt, Charles Symington and the entire government affairs team for the hard work and dedication that consistently results in our association being named among the most influential in the country.”

The Hill piece noted the association’s work on delaying the ACA’s “Cadillac tax” provision and its effort to protect the National Flood Insurance Program.

“The Big ‘I’ government affairs staff has been recognized for a number of years as one of the top lobbying operations in the country and was the only group listed that represents insurance agents and brokers,” says Lee Schilling, Big “I” government affairs committee chairman and president of Schilling & Reid Insurance in Amite, Louisiana. “The professional and well-respected team we have in our nation’s capital diligently represents our members from across the country and we thank them on behalf of the entire agent and broker community.”

Congressional leaders regularly tap the Big “I” federal government affairs team for its political acumen, including sitting on congressional steering committees, raising campaign dollars, hosting political events, and strategizing to help members of Congress better serve their constituents and advance top issues. A vital component of the association advocacy efforts is InsurPac, the Big “I” political action committee. It has disbursed approximately $2.1 million this election cycle to U.S. Senate and House campaigns on both sides of the aisle that are supportive of the independent agency system.