Washington People: Bank One's ex-Lobbyist Gets Her Own Ticket; Schumer, GOP Have It Out on Bankruptcy Bill

Bank One Corp.'s ousted lobbyist Annie Hall may be gone from the halls of Congress. But she's hoping to reappear in the City Hall of Columbus, Ohio.

Now a foster mother to a 7-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy while also heading a firm that helps corporations form political action committees, Ms. Hall is running for city council on an education platform. "We have a school system that is going to hell in a handbasket, and it's time for city hall to get involved," said Ms. Hall, who will compete as a Republican in an open primary in May.

Pitching in is her first boss, John G. McCoy, the living patriarch of the McCoy family that in the 1930s founded what became Bank One. He and his wife, Jeanne McCoy, are hosting a fund-raiser for Ms. Hall on March 27. The $250-a-person shindig will be at the Naples Beach Hotel, which bills itself as "one of southwest Florida's most prestigious resorts."

Reached at his winter home in Naples, Mr. McCoy said he's helping his former lobbyist "because I'm very fond of Annie. She worked for Bank One for a long time."

Seventeen years, to be exact. Her tenure came to an abrupt end a year ago when she was ousted from the company. In fact, she is suing the corporation for $15 million, claiming age and sex discrimination as well as "extensive retaliation" by superiors. The lawsuit is still pending, she said.

Also ousted from the corporation was Mr. McCoy's son, John McCoy. The younger Mr. McCoy resigned under pressure at the end of 1999 after the company's stock plummeted on news that its credit card unit would drag down profits.


Debate on the bankruptcy bill strained the evenly split Senate's good will Tuesday as Democrats became agitated that their amendments were not being acted upon.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer thought the Republican leadership was backing away from a promise it made to allow a vote on his anti-predatory lending amendment. New York's senior senator thought the bill's sponsor, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, had promised him a vote as part of an earlier compromise.

"That's it!" a visibly angry Sen. Schumer declared from the floor when he could not pin down the bill's Republican manager, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, on an exact time.

"I want to make sure we get a time agreement … . That is all I want," Sen. Schumer said. "But I will not relinquish the floor or allow any amendment to be offered until we get a time."

Sen. Schumer began objecting to every motion and vowed to fight moving the debate to any amendments, from Republicans and Democrats alike.

Sen. Hatch was stalling to allow Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Tex., chairman of the Banking Committee, time to reach the floor to offer an amendment to Sen. Schumer's amendment.

Sen. Gramm's arrival did not do much to relieve the partisan tension.

"I don't understand why we are continuing to have all these votes," Sen. Gramm said. "If the senator wants to hold the Senate up and not allow votes, that doesn't break my heart."

Finally, cooler heads prevailed and leaders from both parties left the chamber to broker an agreement. When they returned, debate continued and Sen. Schumer's amendment was adopted.


Former Federal Reserve Board lawyer Peter Heyward has joined the Venable law firm as a partner in its financial institutions group here. Most recently, Mr. Heyward was counsel at the law firm Jones Day Reavis & Pogue. His Fed experience stretched from 1986 to 1989, when he worked in the international section of the agency's legal division. In private practice, Mr. Heyward has specialized in regulatory matters affecting internationally active banks, strategic planning including geographic and product expansion, securities and derivatives deals, and enforcement issues.


The Mortgage Bankers Association of America has hired Jonathan L. Kempner as its chief operating officer. He is currently the president of the National Multi Housing Council, a Washington association representing the apartment industry.

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