The California stem cell agency has put
out a bid for a private lobbyist to watch out for its interests in
Sacramento, perhaps severing a longtime relationship with one of the
Capitol's more prestigious power brokers.

The $3 billion agency has had
a contract since 2005 with Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross &
Leoni LLP of Sacramento, which reported lobbying revenue last
year of more than $5 million. That made it one of the top revenue producers among California lobbyists.

The agency's contract is tiny, however.
It started at $49,900 for five months in 2005 on a no-bid contract with Nielsen, although the annual figure is now $49,999.  The agency's request this month for bids calls for a boost to $65,000 annually.

Nielsen Merksamer is very active in
health care lobbying. Its biotech/pharmaceutical clients have included Genentech, Merck &
Co. and Pfizer. The firm also played a role in the drafting of and
campaign for Proposition 71 in 2004. In 2009, at the behest of
Robert Klein, then chairman of the agency, it produced a legal memo
that Klein used to help box in the agency governing board on taking a
position on the Little Hoover Commission report recommending major
changes at the enterprise.

The stem cell agency is one of the few
agencies that hires a private lobbyist, which has raised some
eyebrows. Nearly all agencies handle legislative relations
internally.

Deadline for bids is May 3.