Occupation Lobbyist Political party Democratic Party Education Cornell University | Name Timothy Punke Spouse(s) Lori Otto Punke | |
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Timothy E. Punke (born 1971) is an American lawyer, political professional, and media commentator based in Seattle, WA.
Career
Punke is a partner at the Monument Policy Group, a government affairs and strategic consulting firm, where he manages its Seattle office, in addition to serving as a partner in its D.C. office. He is an expert on issues relating to trade, tax, health care, public lands, intellectual property, and corporate responsibility.
Prior to joining Monument Policy Group, Punke served as chief international trade counsel to the Senate Finance Committee. During his four years on the committee, Punke advised Chairman Max Baucus and other members of the committee on international trade and international tax issues, as well as international competitiveness policies. While on the committee, Punke was responsible for the communications and press strategy for international issues.
Punke also served at the White House National Economic Council, where he worked on a diverse range of economic and development issues. Punke helped drive the interagency effort to implement China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. Punke also helped prepare for and staff the president’s participation in the 1999 WTO Ministerial in Seattle, and the 2000 G7/G8 summit in Okinawa, Japan.
Punke also has worked at two large law firms, including as a partner at K&L Gates and as an associate at Dewey Ballantine. He was also a law clerk to Judge Sidney Thomas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Punke is active in Democratic politics. He was a state director for the 2000 Gore-Lieberman campaign, and has been involved in numerous presidential, congressional, and local campaigns. He currently serves on the steering committee for the New Democrat Caucus.
In addition to appearing as a witness at Congressional hearings, Punke is a frequent media commentator on both CNN[1] and Fox News. He also has been interviewed as a Democratic consultant and trade expert in a number of print articles.
In July 2010, Punke was named by the Puget Sound Business Journal as "40 Under 40 Shining Stars. " He sits on the Board of Seattle Art Museum[2] and the Washington Council on International Trade, and also chairs the Executive Committee of the U.S.-Japan Young Leadership Program.
Punke received both his J.D. and B.A. from Cornell University.