New Report shows increased in former lobbyists working for US Congress

A new report from the Center for Responsive Politics shows that there has been an increase of former lobbyists now working as staff for members of Congress.

From Hired Guns to Hired Hands “details the pervasiveness of former lobbyists working in some of the most powerful staff positions in the 111th and 112th Congresses. These lobbyists — some of whom previously represented upward of 100 clients — can be found in the offices of Republicans and Democrats, senior and junior congressional members and in the staff offices of many powerful congressional committees.”

The report shows that the number of former lobbyists more than doubled from the 111^th Congress to the 112^th Congress – from 68 lobbyists turned Congressional staff in the 111^th Congress to 128 in the 112^th Congress. Along partisan lines, Republicans have a slight edge.

Based on the research from the Center for Responsive Politics, one can see that there are certain committees with an influx of ex-lobbyists (page 8 of the report) and certain companies (page 13 of the report) that have former lobbyists now representing those corporate interests as is shown in the following 2 charts.

Michigan

In looking at ex-lobbyist coming to Congress and working for Michigan members we see that Congressman Bill Huizenga has hired a former lobbyist for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

Senator Carl Levin has hired a former lobbyist from the American Forest & Paper Association and the law firm of Lockridge, Grindal & Nauen. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow has hired an ex-lobbyist from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

The obvious conclusion to draw from this new report is that corporate power and corporate interests will be better represented in Congress.