Michael Gruber, left, and Scott Faber

Michael Gruber is senior vice president for federal affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). Scott Faber is senior vice president for governmental affairs at the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

GMA favors the bill introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., that would ban state labels for genetically modified ingredients. EWG opposes it.

After House Democrats opposing the bill held a news conference today, the two men stood near each other, each answering reporters' questions in a gentlemanly fashion.

But when The Hagstrom Report attempted to photograph the scene, the two lobbyists backed away so that it would be impossible to get the two of them in the same shot.

One reporter noted that Faber had worked at GMA before he went to work for EWG, and asked if they had worked together. Faber said he had left before Gruber arrived.

The encounter began when Gruber stood at the back of the press gathering but passed out his card and answered questions when reporters approached him. Faber, who had been at the front of the crowd across from the House members, joined the group and began giving an opposing viewpoint. They soon got into a mini-debate over the content of the bill.

As the gathering broke up, Faber shook hands with Gruber and told reporters that it will be fine to take a joint photograph when GMA and EWG are working together on an issue on which the two organizations agree: repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard.