hrdman2luv
02-21-2011, 08:28 PM
Seems Rand isn't following too close in his fathers footsteps.
The revolving door can also spin the other way.
After every election, former members of Congress and their staffers often take prominent positions at Washington lobbying firms.
But the process can also happen in reverse.
As the new Congress settles in, Washington's "reverse revolving door" has not stopped spinning. In the past couple months, several freshmen lawmakers have hired high-profile registered lobbyists to join their staffs.
One of the most notable hires includes former lobbyist Gary Andres, who was appointed by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., as staff director of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Andres has lobbied for a variety of health care groups including the Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform and UnitedHealth Corp. He has also lobbied on behalf of Google, General Motors and FedEx Corp.
Andres is not the only former lobbyist recently hired as a staffer on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He joins Michael Bloomquist, a registered lobbyist for America’s Natural Gas Alliance and Nucor Corp, and Julie Goon, who worked as a lobbyist for America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, reported that at least 18 freshmen Republican lawmakers have appointed registered lobbyists as their new chiefs of staff.
Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Pat Toomey, R-Pa. and Mike Lee, R-Utah and Reps. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y.; Jeff Denham, R-Calif.; Chip Cravaack, R-Minn.; and Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. are part of this bunch.
Together, their newly appointed chiefs of staff formerly lobbied on behalf of the energy, financial and technology industries.
Paul Blumenthal, senior writer at the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting government transparency, said such appointments often happen after changes in power.
"That’s because the new majority can bring back the staffers they lost at the end of their previous majority," he said. "Those individuals likely remained involved in Washington as lobbyists or consultants." Link. (http://www.congress.org/news/2011/02/16/lobbyists_join_capitol_hill_staffs)
If we believe that all senators need to be held accountable. Then that means all of them. Right?
The revolving door can also spin the other way.
After every election, former members of Congress and their staffers often take prominent positions at Washington lobbying firms.
But the process can also happen in reverse.
As the new Congress settles in, Washington's "reverse revolving door" has not stopped spinning. In the past couple months, several freshmen lawmakers have hired high-profile registered lobbyists to join their staffs.
One of the most notable hires includes former lobbyist Gary Andres, who was appointed by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., as staff director of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Andres has lobbied for a variety of health care groups including the Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform and UnitedHealth Corp. He has also lobbied on behalf of Google, General Motors and FedEx Corp.
Andres is not the only former lobbyist recently hired as a staffer on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He joins Michael Bloomquist, a registered lobbyist for America’s Natural Gas Alliance and Nucor Corp, and Julie Goon, who worked as a lobbyist for America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, reported that at least 18 freshmen Republican lawmakers have appointed registered lobbyists as their new chiefs of staff.
Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Pat Toomey, R-Pa. and Mike Lee, R-Utah and Reps. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y.; Jeff Denham, R-Calif.; Chip Cravaack, R-Minn.; and Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. are part of this bunch.
Together, their newly appointed chiefs of staff formerly lobbied on behalf of the energy, financial and technology industries.
Paul Blumenthal, senior writer at the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting government transparency, said such appointments often happen after changes in power.
"That’s because the new majority can bring back the staffers they lost at the end of their previous majority," he said. "Those individuals likely remained involved in Washington as lobbyists or consultants." Link. (http://www.congress.org/news/2011/02/16/lobbyists_join_capitol_hill_staffs)
If we believe that all senators need to be held accountable. Then that means all of them. Right?