IT’S ANOTHER BUMPER CROP OF CONGRESSMEN-TURNED-LOBBYISTS
By Greater Long Beach
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Via Rollcall.com)—For nearly 100 ex-Members of Congress who were wiped out in the 2010 elections or who left office on their own terms, the shackles came off this week. They are now free to lobby on Capitol Hill.
Many of these former lawmakers already went to work on K Street while still under their bans, but until Wednesday they had to carefully navigate client relationships without running afoul of the law. They were permitted social interactions with Hill denizens and could offer behind-the-scenes advice to paying clients. But directly lobbying their one-time colleagues was strictly off-limits, and many ex-Members say they rode out their bans steering clear of the Hill for the sake of appearances.
When Idaho voters left Walt Minnick without a job after the 111th Congress, the Democrat set up his own government affairs shop, the Majority Group, with his former chief of staff, Rob Ellsworth.
“We got a dozen or so clients, but because of the ban, Rob had been the one meeting with Members of Congress and staff,” Minnick said. “Having worked in the Nixon White House, I’m not into felonies.”
While some former Members pledge not to directly lobby even after their bans are up, Minnick said he’s looking forward to the new opportunity. His one-year ban also prevented him from representing foreign governments, an area he plans to mine this year for potential business. “I have some extensive connections with China,” he said, “and I’m looking forward in particular to that.”
Other ex-Members whose bans expired this week include Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), who is now with Alston + Bird; Venable’s Bart Stupak (D-Mich.); John Tanner (D-Tenn.) of Prime Policy Group; Husch Blackwell’s Ike Skelton (D-Mo.); Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-S.D.), now with Olsson Frank Weeda; Manatt Phelps & Phillips’ Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.); and Vigor Industrials’ Brian Baird (D-Wash.).
“Yee haw,” Baird said about the end of his ban. “I can actually speak to people. I lived within the ban dutifully and diligently; now my free speech rights have been restored
3 Comments
Great picture!
Absolutely, great picture!
Thank goodness for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (established 1970), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the 1972 ban on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and now, the 2011 ban on damaging plastic grocery sacks!
hehe