U.S. Soccer was concerned that presidential candidates might bring up the USWNT players' lawsuitGETTY IMAGES
A lobbyist for the U.S. Soccer Federation "reached out to at least five Democratic presidential campaigns" ahead of the party's Detroit primary debate last month to argue that the USWNT "isn’t paid less" than the USMNT, according to Meyer & Schneider of POLITICO. The federation "apparently believed the players’ claims of being underpaid might become an issue" in the debate. DC-based lobbyist Ray Bucheger wrote to one of the campaigns, "Given the high profile nature of this issue, and the fact that it could come up during the debate, the U.S. Soccer Federation wants to be sure all of the candidates have access to all available information." Bucheger also "sent to several campaigns a presentation U.S. Soccer has circulated on Capitol Hill in recent weeks as part of a lobbying campaign to push back" against the USWNT's "pay claims." Bucheger and another lobbyist, along with U.S. Soccer Chief Counsel Lydia Wahlke, have "met with staffers for lawmakers who have introduced legislation designed to force U.S. Soccer to pay the women’s and men’s teams equally." In addition, the USSF has hired two DC lobbying firms, FBB Federal Relations and Van Ness Feldman, to "push back against those claims" of pay inequality. The lobbyists have "met with staffers for lawmakers who introduced equal-pay legislation," including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.). USSF Chief Communications Officer Neil Buethe said that the organization was "trying to provide accurate information about how the women’s team is compensated" (POLITICO.com, 8/9).
