Revolving Door Stories

Bill Moyers recently did a piece on the revolving door of congress, meaning folk who move out of government into lobbying positions. While it is against the law for politicians to lobby the former colleagues for 1 or 2 years after leaving office that does not mean much. Following are stories of these revolving doors.

Rep. Jason Altmire, Pennsylvannia Dem. Lost his primary but now works now as a vice president at Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Florida. The pharmaceuticals and healthcare industries gave him $161,000 to run and his employer gave $272,250 to his campaign. He was against Obamacare.

North Carolina Rep. Health Shuler, Dem. Did not seek reelection after redistricting made it unlikely for him to win. He will be a vice president of Duke Energy. In congress he was a member of the Blue Dog Coalitions of fiscally conservative Democrats. He stated his relationship made in congress will help Duke.

Jo ann emerson (R-MO) won reelection and announced her retirement to be the head of the National Rural Electric Cooperative which spent 2 million in 2012 and almost $3 million in 2011 lobbying. They gave $72,000 to her campaign. Her salary now is $1.5 million, 8 ½ fold more than as a congresswoman.

Mike Ross (D-AK) retired this year and will be senior vice president for Southwest power Pool. He received $20,500 in donations even though he didn’t run for office.

Elizabeth Fowler a Capitol Hill aide Obama chose to oversee the implementation of the health care act and was one of its key architects now has a senior-level position with “global health policy for Johnson and Johnson’s.

Since 2010 of 119 former senators and representatives 25 now work at companies and lobby or are clients of lobbying firms. Chris Dodd (D-CT) CEO and chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America where he coordinates their lobbying. Mel Martinez (R-FL) resigned mid term and is not a lobbyist for JP Morgan a bank he regulating while on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee. Christopher Bond (R-MO) did not run for a 5^th term in the senate to retire but now is a lobbyist for Thompson Coburn working two days before he replacement was sworn in. Bob Bennett was targeted by the Tea Party in 2010 and lost to their candidates after 18 years in congress has formed the Bennett Consulting Group that lobbies for JP Morgan, again he was a member of the Banking, House and Urban Affairs subcommittees.

The list goes on and on. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington revealed that 108 3 and 4 star generals left the military between 2009 and 2011 of which 76 (70%) took jobs with defense contractors.

Just makes you proud of the system does it?