Bernie Robinson joined the Livingston Group in 2001 and became a partner in 2008. He served in Illinois Governor Ryan's cabinet as the lead lobbyist for the State of Illinois from 1999 to 2001. During Mr. Robinson's tenure, the federal government invested more funds in Illinois than at any time in history -- to a historic high of over $60 billion dollars. He helped develop the 2002 agreement between the Government of Cuba & the Social Service USA Research Council to preserve Hemingway’s writings in Cuba http://www.hemingwaypreservationfoundation.org/. Mr. Robinson is a seasoned campaign operative who helped elect and also served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA). He established & led a 50 state government affairs program for Philip Morris USA from 1978 to 1984. Mr. Robinson was based in Lausanne, Switzerland from 1984 to ’90 as a member of a 13 person management team for Philip Morris in 86 countries, including Scandinavia/Finland, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Eastern Europe and the former USSR. He directed Philip Morris’ successful tort reform program in the US from 1990 to ’93. Mr. Robinson has a B.A. degree in history from Thomas More College and a J.D. from the Chase School of Law in his home state of Kentucky