Sylvia Smith, writing for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, has an article on the trend of former members of Congress becoming lobbyist once they leave office. She reports that, of the 30 legislators who have left Congress through retirement, death, or election defeat, 10 of them became part of Washington’s lobbying business. 5 of them remain active in the industry.
Related, but not directly on point is an article in today’s Chicago Tribune titled “Well-paved raod to political perdition”. The article discusses how members of Congress arrive poor, but quickly become millionaires in public service. The article features House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, both Republicans, though, as I recall, former House Speaker Tom Foley (D-Washington) came out rather well.
On the front page of the Sunday Journal Gazette was an article titled something like “Money buys access to Republicans.” I’m not sure why that is considered news, really, although the article itself was interesting. AND YES, DEMOCRATS IN POWER DO THE SAME THING so I’m not just picking on the R’s. I guess we D’s shouldn’t be bitter that the Bushies have taken the game to a whole new level.