Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., has announced the following hires:

Jacqueline Silvers is a legislative assistant on energy, environment and water issues. She recently had a fellowship at the EPA, working in the Office of Congressional Affairs, the Air Enforcement Division in the compliance office and the Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

Peter Whippy has been promoted to press secretary and legislative assistant. He was a legislative correspondent. Whippy also has worked as an office manager, staff assistant and intern for Miller.

The following people have been hired at lobbying firm Mercury/Clark & Weinstock:

Former Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., has been hired as a co-chairman. Rehberg served six terms in Congress and was lieutenant governor of Montana before that.

Karen Hinton has become a managing director after merging her public affairs and communications firm, Hinton Communications, with MCW. She served as acting assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton. She also was director of publications at the Democratic National Committee.

Erick Mullen has also been hired as a managing director. He ran his own public affairs firm, Mullen & Co., served as deputy chief of staff for Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and also worked as a political director for Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich. and as a special assistant to Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md.

The following people have been elected counsel at Arnold & Porter:

Michael E. Ginsberg is a member of the government contracts/public policy practice. He was senior adviser to the assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security at the Commerce Department. He previously worked at Arnold & Porter as an associate attorney. He also has served as a clerk for Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of the Southern District of Texas. He worked as an intern for NASA. He also has served as district chairman of the Republican Party.

Rebecca L.D. Gordon is a member of the law firm’s practice groups on tax, trusts and estates; litigation; and labor and employment. She was an associate at Arnold & Porter.

YongSang Kim is a member of the antitrust/competition, international arbitration and litigation practice groups. He was previously a summer associate. He also worked as an extern clerk to Judge J. McAvoy in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

David E. Kouba is a member of the litigation and product liability litigation practice groups. He was an associate at Arnold & Porter.

Stephanie Bonnett Weirick is a member of the litigation, product liability, and environment practice groups. She was previously an associate at Arnold & Porter.