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Door still revolving between Capitol, lobbyists
Updated 4/22/2009 4:28 PM
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Despite congressional pledges to stop the revolving door between Capitol Hill and the lobbying industry, 16 of the 62 lawmakers who left Congress last year have landed jobs with groups that seek to influence policymakers, a USA TODAY analysis has found.
Former House members are barred from lobbying their former colleagues for a year after leaving office and former senators must wait two years. But nothing prohibits former lawmakers from immediately starting to advise clients on how to navigate the congressional process, having contacts with administration officials, or working as a state lobbyist.
LAWMAKERS TO LOBBYING FIRMS: A look at who made the switch
Those who found work include former Oregon senator Gordon Smith, a Republican who is a senior adviser at the law and lobbying firm, Covington & Burling; former Maryland representative Albert Wynn, a Democrat and senior adviser at Dickstein Shapiro; and former GOP representative Tom Feeney, who is lobbying in his home state of Florida.
Craig Holman of the non-partisan watchdog group Public Citizen said the moves reflect "an utterly failed revolving-door restriction."
"They can't call or visit a congressional office for a lobbying purpose but can do all the work on a lobbying campaign," he said.
Former lawmakers defended their choices.
"You are doing what counselors at law do all the time — that is, help people deal with legal situations in which they find themselves," said Smith, who lost his bid for a third term in November. "Some of that involves the judicial branch; some of that involves the legislative branch; some of that, the executive branch."
He declined to reveal his clients but said he is working on international trade and foreign policy. He served on a Senate international trade panel.
Wynn also declined to disclose his clients, but said he is advising them "on how Congress works and strategies or tactics that would be helpful, where information can be obtained, what the timing ought to be of certain activities, who members of Congress are that might be receptive."
Wynn, who resigned his congressional post in May after losing his primary, said he is "likely" to register as a lobbyist when his cooling-off period expires in six weeks.
Thirteen Republicans and three Democrats work in government relations for firms or groups that lobby, the analysis shows. That's not surprising: Republicans who left Congress in 2008 surpass Democrats by more than 6-to-1. The analysis excludes ex-lawmakers who joined the Obama administration.
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Between 1998 and 2004, 43% of former lawmakers became lobbyists, Public Citizen reports.
The move can be lucrative. Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle recently reported earning $2.1 million over two years as an adviser at lobbying firm Alston & Bird. The current majority leader's pay: $193,400 a year.
~
Where they are now
Name Party and state Reason for leaving Congress New title, company *
Former senator John Warner R-Va. Retired Partner, Hogan & Hartson
Former senator Gordon Smith R-Ore. Defeated Senior adviser, Covington & Burling
Former representative Bud Cramer D-Ala. Retired Chairman, Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates
Former representative Michael McNulty D-N.Y. Retired Adviser, Hiscock & Barclay and L&J RAD, both in Albany, N.Y.
Former representative Jim McCrery R-La. Retired Partner, Capitol Counsel
Former representative Chip Pickering R-Miss. Retired No title available; Capitol Resources, in Jackson, Miss. **
Former representative Kenny Hulshof R-Mo. Lost governor’s race Partner, Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus
Former representative Jim Walsh R-N.Y. Retired Government affairs counselor, K&L Gates
Former representative Dave Hobson R-Ohio Retired President, Vorys Advisors LLC in Columbus, Ohio
Former representative Deborah Pryce R-Ohio Retired Government affairs, Womble Carlyle
Former representative Tom Feeney R-Fla. Defeated Partner, Fowler O’Quinn Feeney and Sneed in Orlando, Fla. **
Former representative Ric Keller R-Fla. Defeated Partner, Scarborough, Hill & Rugh in Orlando
Former representative Jon Porter R-Nev. Defeated Director of public policy, Akerman Senterfitt
Former representative Albert Wynn D-Md. Defeated Senior adviser, Dickstein Shapiro
Former representative Richard Baker R-La. Resigned President and CEO, Managed Funds Association
Former representative Tom Davis R-Va. Retired Director, Deloitte’s Federal Government Services
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...lobbying_N.htm
Updated 4/22/2009 4:28 PM
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Despite congressional pledges to stop the revolving door between Capitol Hill and the lobbying industry, 16 of the 62 lawmakers who left Congress last year have landed jobs with groups that seek to influence policymakers, a USA TODAY analysis has found.
Former House members are barred from lobbying their former colleagues for a year after leaving office and former senators must wait two years. But nothing prohibits former lawmakers from immediately starting to advise clients on how to navigate the congressional process, having contacts with administration officials, or working as a state lobbyist.
LAWMAKERS TO LOBBYING FIRMS: A look at who made the switch
Those who found work include former Oregon senator Gordon Smith, a Republican who is a senior adviser at the law and lobbying firm, Covington & Burling; former Maryland representative Albert Wynn, a Democrat and senior adviser at Dickstein Shapiro; and former GOP representative Tom Feeney, who is lobbying in his home state of Florida.
Craig Holman of the non-partisan watchdog group Public Citizen said the moves reflect "an utterly failed revolving-door restriction."
"They can't call or visit a congressional office for a lobbying purpose but can do all the work on a lobbying campaign," he said.
Former lawmakers defended their choices.
"You are doing what counselors at law do all the time — that is, help people deal with legal situations in which they find themselves," said Smith, who lost his bid for a third term in November. "Some of that involves the judicial branch; some of that involves the legislative branch; some of that, the executive branch."
He declined to reveal his clients but said he is working on international trade and foreign policy. He served on a Senate international trade panel.
Wynn also declined to disclose his clients, but said he is advising them "on how Congress works and strategies or tactics that would be helpful, where information can be obtained, what the timing ought to be of certain activities, who members of Congress are that might be receptive."
Wynn, who resigned his congressional post in May after losing his primary, said he is "likely" to register as a lobbyist when his cooling-off period expires in six weeks.
Thirteen Republicans and three Democrats work in government relations for firms or groups that lobby, the analysis shows. That's not surprising: Republicans who left Congress in 2008 surpass Democrats by more than 6-to-1. The analysis excludes ex-lawmakers who joined the Obama administration.
~
Between 1998 and 2004, 43% of former lawmakers became lobbyists, Public Citizen reports.
The move can be lucrative. Former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle recently reported earning $2.1 million over two years as an adviser at lobbying firm Alston & Bird. The current majority leader's pay: $193,400 a year.
~
Where they are now
Name Party and state Reason for leaving Congress New title, company *
Former senator John Warner R-Va. Retired Partner, Hogan & Hartson
Former senator Gordon Smith R-Ore. Defeated Senior adviser, Covington & Burling
Former representative Bud Cramer D-Ala. Retired Chairman, Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates
Former representative Michael McNulty D-N.Y. Retired Adviser, Hiscock & Barclay and L&J RAD, both in Albany, N.Y.
Former representative Jim McCrery R-La. Retired Partner, Capitol Counsel
Former representative Chip Pickering R-Miss. Retired No title available; Capitol Resources, in Jackson, Miss. **
Former representative Kenny Hulshof R-Mo. Lost governor’s race Partner, Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus
Former representative Jim Walsh R-N.Y. Retired Government affairs counselor, K&L Gates
Former representative Dave Hobson R-Ohio Retired President, Vorys Advisors LLC in Columbus, Ohio
Former representative Deborah Pryce R-Ohio Retired Government affairs, Womble Carlyle
Former representative Tom Feeney R-Fla. Defeated Partner, Fowler O’Quinn Feeney and Sneed in Orlando, Fla. **
Former representative Ric Keller R-Fla. Defeated Partner, Scarborough, Hill & Rugh in Orlando
Former representative Jon Porter R-Nev. Defeated Director of public policy, Akerman Senterfitt
Former representative Albert Wynn D-Md. Defeated Senior adviser, Dickstein Shapiro
Former representative Richard Baker R-La. Resigned President and CEO, Managed Funds Association
Former representative Tom Davis R-Va. Retired Director, Deloitte’s Federal Government Services
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...lobbying_N.htm
