Dan Turton

Why He Matters

As a top Hill aide with more than 20 years of experience, Turton will bring connections and context to his new job in the Obama administration. He worked as a top aide to former Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Miss.) for 20 years before leaving the Hill for a lobbying firm. He returned in 2006 as a key staffer to House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.).

Turton will serve as President Barack Obama’s point man for guiding his legislative agenda through the House. Though he was officially appointed to the job in January 2009, Turton has already started working with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to convince key players to support the president’s $800 billion economic stimulus package. 

Path to Power

Turton was born in Bangor, Maine, but grew up mostly in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. He moved back to Connecticut as a sophomore to attend high school. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a degree in government.

After college, Turton landed a job with then House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Miss.). He stayed with Gephardt for more than 20 years, moving from a receptionist to a key player. Turton credited his rise in part to the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, which caused “major shake-ups” that opened up key positions to fresh blood.Hocking, Dree, “Making Coffee, Copies Pays Off, Hill vets Say,” Roll Call, 2005  

As Gephardt’s top floor staffer, Turton was a liaison between the House Democratic and Republican leadership. He also coordinated floor procedure and scheduling decisions.Timmons and Co. Web site

Turton helped run three Democratic Presidential conventions in 1992, 1996 and 2000, working in the cloak room and helping with convention ticket distribution for the majority leader.Timmons and Co. Web site 

Turton left Capitol Hill in 2003 to work with the powerful lobbying company Timmons & Co. He worked with 41 clients, including many corporate ones like the American Council of Life Insurers, Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, Chevron, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Rifle Association and Unocal Corp, according to Roll Call.Crabtree, Susan, “Days before Nov. election, three Dem aides departed,” The Hill, Jan. 25, 2007

In 2006, Turton returned to Congress to work for Slaughter as majority staff director for the House Rules panel, which decides how long debate will last and who can speak when on the House floor. He described his role to the National Journal as determining “who’s allowed to use what legislative tools.”Stone, Peter, “House Rules Committee,” National Journal, June 23, 2007

The move surprised many inside the Beltway, particularly because Slaughter had previously used harsh words to describe lobbyists. "Watching Washington be taken over by these little sleaze merchants is not only expensive and repulsive — it is destroying America,” she said on the House floor in 2005.Crabtree, Susan, “Days before Nov. election, three Dem aides departed,” The Hill, Jan. 25, 2007 

But Slaughter later said she had no problems hiring Turton. “I like to say I saved him from lobbying," she told Roll Call. Turton has also said that his private sector experience is an asset to Slaughter. “I think it's very beneficial for members to have advice from senior staff that have different professional experiences,” Turton told Roll Call.Ackley, Kate, “Trip Back to Hill Often Costly; Lobbyists Shed Salary For Chance to Work in Democratic Majority,” Roll Call, April 18, 2007

Obama named the Hill veteran a deputy director of Legislative Affairs for the House in January 2008.

The Issues

With more than two decades of Washington experience, Turton has honed his knowledge of House procedure. He is also one of the best connected former Hill staffers with experience at the highest levels of Congress and on K Street.

Turton is working with Obama to pass the $800 billion stimulus package as the president’s first major legislative objective.Brown, Carrie Budoff, “Obama to Pelosi: Stimulus ‘can’t wait,’" Politico, Jan. 5, 2009

The Network

Turton’s work with Gephardt has tied him to a slew of prominent Democrats and Obama advisers like campaign manager David Plouffe, and spokesman Bill Burton. He is also connected to former Clinton aides like ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and Paul Begala.Timmons and Co. Web site

Turton also has ties to top Hill staffers like Matt Gelman, who answered phones with Turton. Now Gelman is working for House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.). Bernie Raimo, who is chief counsel to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sean Kennedy, who is chief of staff to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Miss.) were also Gephardt staffers.O’Connor, Partrick, “Six degrees of ... Dick Gephardt?,” Politico, July 24, 2008

Turton has advised young Hill staffers to reach out to top Hill advisers no matter their party. He includes among his mentors Marti Thomas, Republican Jay Pierson and Martha Morrison.Timmons and Co. Web site

Campaign Contributions

Turton is a solid Democratic giver, and has personally donated more than $100,000 to Democratic candidates and PACs. When he was a lobbyist, he encouraged fellow K Streeters to do the same.

He donated $1,000 to both Secretary of State  Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama in January 2008.Campaign Money Web site