When the new Democratic Congress passed a sweeping ethics bill in 2007, controversy erupted over the proposed new “revolving-door” ban on ex-lawmakers and aides lobbying their former colleagues. Senators wanted to double the ban to two years, while House Democrats pushed for keeping a one-year ban that would allow them to nail down lucrative lobbying gigs after leaving the Hill.
But no matter the length of the revolving-door ban, both Republicans and Democrats have long taken advantage of its enormous loophole. Let’s call it the “senior adviser” route — instead of lobbying current lawmakers directly, defeated members of Congress are flocking in droves to become behind-the-scenes consiglieres to the lobbyists that are allowed to contact sitting members.
The “senior adviser” club got another member just this morning …
… Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), who lost his race last year but just landed an advisory post at Covington & Burling, a prominent K Street shop.
Who else is comfortably ensconced in “senior adviser” slots? Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) got one last year. Abramoff-linked Republican Conrad Burns (MT) landed at a firm that he was excessively cozy with during his years in the Senate. Another lawmaker ensnared by the Abramoff scandal, former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA), tweaked the term of art to “senior partner” as opposed to “senior adviser” when he joined lobbying firm PacWest in 2007.
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) liked the “senior adviser” path so much that he never actually registered as a lobbyist — which came back to haunt him during his brief bid to become secretary of health and human services.
So it seems that ex-Sen. Smith is in good company … and that both parties have ample reason to keep this loophole in the lobbying ban wide open.
