Washington, and Ottawa for that matter....its business as usual.  The only difference in DC now is to whom the checks (American spelling) are made out to.  

I think the date (memory) was in May of this year.....if the company is confident enough to pay a lobbyist, I don't see that as a bad thing.  Given the limited cash resources available at that time, and now for that matter....Tt tells me something....That the company was will to expend valuable capital at a time when resources are seemingly very limited.