Isenberg-Oharen Site

Isenberg/O’Haren Government Relations is a Sacramento-based lobbying firm founded by former Assemblyman Phil Isenberg and lobbyist Maureen O’Haren. We combine experience and knowledge of many complex policy areas with political savvy and a network of key relationships. We help clients craft strategy based on the political environment, the law and the facts, and convey persuasive arguments to policymakers that achieve results for our clients.

Isenberg/O’Haren has handled a broad range of public policy issues, including health care, public health, insurance, energy, Native American tribes, land use, state-local government relations, state budgeting and finance, local government, organizational governance and natural resource issues. We have represented more than 60 clients, including trade associations, private companies, non-profit organizations and government and quasi-governmental entities. We help educate legislators and other policymakers and provide creative solutions to our clients’ legislative and regulatory problems.

Our principals have significant public policy experience. Phillip L. Isenberg, who served as Sacramento Mayor for 7 years and as a state Assemblyman for 14 years, chaired several key policy committees in the Legislature and was involved in major budget agreements during his tenure. His experience gives him significant insight not only into Capitol politics and budget processes, but also with Sacramento regional land use, planning and development issues, including transportation, housing infrastructure.

Maureen O’Haren was the chief lobbyist for the statewide trade association representing the HMO industry during the contentious 1990s. Her strengths lie in health care policy and in negotiating and advocating complex and controversial legislation. Our bios and resumes are available on this website.

We also publish California Budget Report, an occasional electronic newsletter that reports on the politics, policy and consequences of the annual budget process. Past issues of the newsletter can be obtained elsewhere on this website.

Providing advocacy services in the current environment involves a complicated mix of talents, including understanding of the legal and political issues, team work, skills in communicating clearly, and tenaciousness in negotiating the complexities of the legislative and regulatory processes. We apply those talents to our clients’ problems and provide a comprehensive set of services to maximize success in the State Capitol.