Lobbyists Quit in Record Numbers

[kpete]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Lobbyists Quit in Record Numbers
Brody Mullins reports on lobbying in Washington.

It’s been a rough few years for lobbyists. They have been attacked by President Barack Obama. They have been targeted in corruption probes. And they have been hurt by the economy.

And many have decided they’re not going to take it anymore.

A record number of lobbyists have quit the business this year, according to a study released today.

About 1,400 lobbyists, or 8% of the industry, left in the three-month period ending June 30, according to a joint study of lobbying records by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and OMB Watch. Typically, a few hundred lobbyists leave the business every quarter.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/11/02/lobbyists-quit... /

[joeycola]

1. Shucky darns!!

Be gone--ALL!!

[liberalmike27]

33. Yea, that's what I was thinking, it's all good

The more we attack the core of the corruption of our country, the better off we are.

I just wish we could get some campaign finance reform.

[The Backlash Cometh]

59. Don't be jumping for joy.

They're going to end up in the Chamber of Commerce and get elected to local offices.

[zeos3]

80. They may not have left at all...

From the link within the link:

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/11/lobbyists-termi ...

"This occurred shortly after President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13490, which created new restrictions on former lobbyists appointed to the executive branch."

"OMB Watch's Lee Mason, the organization's Director of Nonprofit Speech Rights, commented on the timing of the acceleration of terminations and the president's policies on lobbyists.

“While we can’t draw a direct link between the president’s executive order and the increased pace of terminations during the second quarter of 2009, we can say that they came at a most controversial time,” Mason said."


"Another troubling issue highlighted by the organizations is that the thousands of lobbyists who appear to have left their line of work may not have actually done so. At the federal level, many people working in the lobbying industry are not registered lobbyists, instead adopting titles such as "senior advisor" or other executive monikers, thereby avoiding federal disclosure requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act."

[The Backlash Cometh]

83. Didn't take them long to find the loophole.

But that's why they get the big bucks!

[msongs]

2. lol did they all get jobs in the new administration or congress? nt

[DissedByBush]

75. Obama hired at least a dozen high up

This includes Eric Holder (Global Crossing) as AG, Tom Vilsack (NEA) in Agriculture, Mark Patterson (Goldman Sachs) in Treasury and William Lynn (Raytheon) in Defense.

The last two scream conflict of interest to me.

[zeos3]

81. Did they get an exemption from the new rules?

Here is the executive order:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1719.pdf

"‘‘2. Revolving Door Ban—All Appointees Entering Government. I will not
for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in
any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially
related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations
and contracts.
‘‘3. Revolving Door Ban—Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered
lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition
to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of
2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the
2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter
falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied
within the 2 years before the date of my appointment."

[DissedByBush]

85. What rules?

Those rules had so many loopholes and exemptions they might as well have not been written.

I know Lynn went from government under Clinton to lobbying for a defense contractor, then straight back to government as Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Obama gave him an exemption.

I think the rules were more a publicity stunt than anything, placating a populace worried about a re-run of the Bush administration.

[zeos3]

86. If I were a cynical person,

and I am, I'd be inclined to agree with you. See my reply a little upthread about how giving themselves a title other than "lobbyist" doesn't require them to register as a lobbyist.

[rurallib]

3. Bet there is a long line to replace them

[xxqqqzme]

30. Exactly! 1400

left and 1800 took their place.

[zeos3]

82. Here are the numbers from the study...

"The study also indicates that since the beginning of 2008, the number of lobbyists filing termination reports has generally outpaced the number of newly active lobbyists – a trend that considerably accelerated during this year's second quarter. All told, there have been 18,315 lobbyist termination reports filed since January 2008. Meanwhile, only 15,310 lobbyists became active again after previously filing termination reports. This leaves a total of 3,005 lobbyists who have effectively “de-registered,” of which more than half (1,691) have come since April 2009."


Unfortunately, I'm not the bearer of good news. Here is the very next paragraph:


"Another troubling issue highlighted by the organizations is that the thousands of lobbyists who appear to have left their line of work may not have actually done so. At the federal level, many people working in the lobbying industry are not registered lobbyists, instead adopting titles such as "senior advisor" or other executive monikers, thereby avoiding federal disclosure requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act."

[xchrom]

4. they probably have a pipeline to jobs too. nt

[Bette Noir]

5. They should get honest jobs in telemarketing.

[Blue_Tires]

13. They should get honest jobs cleaning out sewers with their tongues

[happygoluckytoyou]

6. in a related story..AN INFLUX OF WHORES IN LAS VEGAS IS DRIVING DOWN THE COST OF A HAND-JOB

[paparush]

12. LMAO!

[RKP5637]

55. LOL

[katty]

109. ha!!

[Downwinder]

7. 8% unemployment, inside the beltway joins the rest of the country. n/t

[HughMoran]

8. fucking whores

Lucky we're not throwing them in jail for subverting our system of government.

[Bigmack]

9. Patriots that they are...

they probably joined the military and volunteered for Vietghanistan.

[ixion]

10. corporate lobbyists are a pox on this society

so they can all just go-to-hell, for all I care.

[onenote]

97. sorry, I prefer to stay here and work hard for Democratic candidates

the fact that I'm a registered lobbyist doesn't change that.

[mstinamotorcity]

11. Four words to you

see ya later bye

[JHB]

42. I was thinking: "it's a good start"...

...or three words:

"Not nearly enough."

[Plaid Adder]

14. Oh my God, we actually ARE starving the beast! n/t

[No Elephants]

98. Not necessarily. A lot of good info on this thread says it's more smoke and mirrors than fact

that we now have fewer corporate lobbyists. According to the more substantive posts on this thread, more likely, the good guy lobbyists are out on their ear and the corporate lobbyists have changed their job titles to "senior advisor" or some such. And we have a net gain in bad guys, regardless of what they call themselves now, and a net loss of good guys.

Besides, if it the eccnomy that is starving the beast, starving the beast comes at too high a cost. But again, I think the beast is alive and well and flourishing. It's the rest of us who'll starve before the beast does.

[pattmarty]

15. Could we get 92% of the "industry" to quit by next June 30th???

[Chan790]

88. You do know...

that there are lobbyists in Washington who represent things like environmental groups, civil rights organizations and tougher corporate crime statutes...also that typically the majority of people leaving the field are coming from this segment rather than corporate lobbyists or vice-industry lobbies because there is no money is being the lobbyist for the Sierra Club, National Council of La Raza or Accountibility Watch.

Tobacco lobbyists don't retire...they die their jobs.

[Crowman1979]

16. Time for another pity party!

What are these poor lobbyists going to do now?

[JHB]

41. My folks' yard has leaves that need raking up...

...if these guys are feeling secure enough to leave a paying job, I'm sure they have time on their hands to do something productive.

[RKP5637]

57. Yep, agree, an honest days work for them for a change!!! ...

[barbtries]

17. the less lobbyists the better off we'll all be

i wonder if it was a matter of conscience for any of them.

[debbierlus]

18. With 6 health care lobbyists for every member of Congress, I am not jumping up and down

The last bit in one paragraph hits it.

They have been hurt by the economy.

The corporations still rule Washington. The power is just becoming more concentrated. Companies that Goldman Sachs helped put out of business don't need lobbyists anymore, do they?

I am surprised at DU, putting this at the top center of the front page.

This isn't an indication of a change in the running of Washington, at all. It only is a consolidation of the corrupt giants who rule all.

Unrecommend.

[XXXMADAM]

21. The DC swamp has not been drained

Deck chairs rearranged - again.

[dixiegrrrrl]

62. from the comments section of the article:

"I am a former registered lobbyist who dropped out this summer, but only due to a layoff. It’s not the Obama rules, it’s the economy! Plus, it really is not a fun job anymore."
******************

I would love to hear more on why it is not a "fun job" anymore.

[DesertDiamond]

19. Don't let the door hit your butt....

[Mr. Sparkle]

20. imho, Lobbyists are the main obstacle of the Democratic agenda.

They pay to keep industry and people unaccountable, and also to loot the American treasury.

I think after healthcare reform, reform of lobbying should be next on the list. A moratorium for 5 years would really turn the country around.

[No Elephants]

27. Well, either the lobbyist or those who pimp their votes in Congress out to the lobbyists.

Lobbyists can't legislate or block legislation. They can only pay, er, encourage, legislators to do those things.

Lobbyists are pond scum, but, IMO, so are legislators who sell out their country and their constituents for a campaign contribution to re-elect their own asses and a few fancy trips to Scotland or the Bahamas or a house boat or $90,000 to put in the freezer, or wherever. (And Lord knows what else.)

You can shut down every lobbyist in Washington, but you'd still have corrupt legislators that someone could get to.

And if we keep re-electing the same crooks, we, too, are part of the problem.

[No Elephants]

22. They probably got offered more money to go elsewhere or they got fired.

The WSJ is being silly.

No lobbyist who was raking in the dough quit to go on unemployment because Obama called them poopy heads or because someone "probed" their colleagues.

[Nihil]

92. Change of job title.

Most of them will still be around but they've changed their job title
from "XYZ Lobbyist" to "XYZ Advisor".

Whoop-de-doo. That makes politics a lot cleaner doesn't it?

[liberal N proud]

23. Paid Lobbyist should be outlawed.

[onenote]

99. dumbest idea ever

You realize that progressive causes, environmental groups, organized labor all have lobbyists, right?

[No Elephants]

100. No one said eliminate lobbyists. Just stop paying them. That will either

level the playing field, or tilt it in favor of the idealists.

But, in reality, the black hats would probably simply find a way to get around the law and the white hats would follow suit.

[onenote]

106. and how are the folks that are hired to lobby for, say, organized labor, supposed to eat

[JNelson6563]

24. This should get hundreds of recs.

[NeedleCast]

25. I wonder what lobbyists they are?

THere are some very good lobbies out there, even though here on DU that word seems to carry the automatic kiss of death. My non-profit organization has an active lobbyist on the hill pushing for education reform and more funding for college bound kids. Just like any non-profit, we've been hurt badly be the economy, as fewer people have expendable income.

[barbtries]

37. i know that's true

i have lobbied congress for a day for a good cause. but the good ones are so outnumbered.

[NeedleCast]

53. I dont' know if we're out numbered

We're certainly out-funded by corporations though.

[Frank Cannon]

26. I smell the fragrant aroma of horse manure

Nice try, though, Wall Street Journal.

If these people are leaving, it's because they got even cushier jobs doing something else for the corporations they have served so well. And there is a long line of other blackguards who are more than eager to replace them.

[berni_mccoy]

28. Where are all the "Change" followed by bleeding sarcasm people?

[No Elephants]

32. I am trying to understand what your post means. I think it means

that you think Obama's criticism has actually caused lobbyists to scurry away from fat salaries?

If so, please see Replies 22 and 26.

If my interpretation of your post is incorrect, then I do not have a clue what it means.

Whatever your post meant, people are not posting "change" sarcastically on this thread because it would make zero sense to do. That makes sense when Obama and/or his admnistration repeat behaviors of prior administrations. This thread is not about anything that fits that description.

Besides, why are you so concerned with what other people post on this thread, when you did not think enough of the OP to make a substantive comment about it, only an attempt to diss your fellow DUers?

[berni_mccoy]

43. There are plenty of DUers who would crap all over this thread if they felt they could get away with

it.

Too many times, good news comes out of the Administration and DUers destroy it.

Then if the slightest bad news comes out, even if it is an inherited problem, we get the "Now THATS CHANGE "

I'm simply tired of the b.s. on this site.

So I thought I would pre-empt any that might come up in this thread.

[No Elephants]

93. Trying to pre-empt the posts of other posters and insulting folks because

their position is different from yours is very RW.

If you want to advocate for Obama and his administration, do so by making substantive points of your own in their favor, not by trying to silence his critics. In my book, attempts to pre-empt ARE the bullshit on this site, not posts that civilly express an opinion different from mine.

Varying opinions are the heart of this country and are to be encouraged. They lead to truth. IMO, your way leads to hero worship, lack of critical analysis, idolatry and things that are not great for America. It is only the flip side of the idolatry of Bush by the wingnuts that marked his first term. In their minds, no one should say anything against the President. It was bullshit then and would have been very bad for America if folks listened to it when they said it and it's bullshit now and would be very bad for America if anyone lets pre-emption attempts by anyone discourage them from speaking out.

And, btw, people can get away with crapping on this thread if they wish. I don't know many Democrats who are unhappy over fewer lobbyists in D.C., though.

But again, you seem to be assuming, rather uncritically, that lobbyists are leaving high paying jobs because of something Obama did. I see no basis whatever for that assumption, other than WSJ snarky bullshit. Maybe you should try to read the OP and this thread and understand what both are really saying, instead of trying to shut up other people.

Few people are so thin-skinned as to give up very cushy jobs because the President crticizes them, especially lobbyists, who are more than used to everybody criticizing them in public, while taking their money in private. Criticism from government is part of their job. They are used to it.

Good luck with your RW style desire to silence folks who hold a view different from your own. It won't work on me, though, and I sure hope it doesn't work on anyone else. There's no valid place for that in America, let alone among Democrats.

[Kermitt Gribble]

107. LOL! The berni_mccoy doctrine! n/t

[krispos42]

29. Awwww....

Let me break out the world's smallest violin and play some "Hearts and Flowers"

















Or perhaps a marching band playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever" would be more appropriate

[enid602]

31. what a name

Who in their right mind would name their child Brody Mullins?

[AlbertCat]

73. Who in their right mind would name their child Brody Mullins?

Sarah Palin?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

34. which ones though? it depends on the industry they are leaving from

i mean i would rejoice if these are oil lobbyists

but what if they are hrc lobbyist or other civil right lobbyist

i wish they had specified

[sofa king]

46. My guess is that it's DOD/Oil/Chemical/Mining interests.

One of the dark secrets of the Bush Administration was that they auctioned off policy-making to the highest bidders--usually industry lobbyists. For example, for most of the Bush Administration, any EPA decision that affected the U.S. chemical industry was first reviewed and approved (or indefinitely delayed) by the American Chemistry Council, a classic industry lobbying group. The ACC scored that role by firing its old CEO and installing a new guy who was pals with Karl Rove.

Now that policy making is firmly back in the hands of the executive branch, those positions must necessarily fold up upon themselves, and will not be replaced by another lobbying group.

In my time as a lobbyist, some of it during the darkest and most corrupt of the Bush years, I saw firsthand or heard about how Republican lobbies controlled the EPA and many sub-branches of the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and Interior through links to either Rove or the Vice President. I can only presume that not only do those lobbyists no longer have that sort of sway in DC anymore, many of them never should have had that sort of sway to begin with and are anxious to leave the scene of their myriad crimes.

[No Elephants]

102. The WSJ would have specified--if specifying had been better for its agenda. Apparently, it wasn't.

[BadgerKid]

35. Only about 16,000 to go!

[jberryhill]

36. They Should Hire A Lobbyist To Protect Their Jobs

Idjits need to get organized and work on legislation to protect their industry.

[bertman]

38. This means more $$$$ for the remaining 16,000 scoundrels. Right?

[benld74]

39. Sounds like the punch line of a joke - 8% is a good start

[robinlynne]

40. fantastic. bye.

[Fearless]

44. Hahahahahaha!

[Barack_America]

45. The vultures sense the bones have been picked clean.

[valerief]

47. Don't let the door smack you in the ass! nt

[wroberts189]

51. +1 and also knr to the OP. nt

[RKP5637]

48. Should make for fresher air in DC. The stench is leaving! n/t

[AndyA]

49. Flush the diarrhea down the toilet and don't give them a second thought.

Lobbyists breed corruption and have only their corporate masters best interests at heart. Most would sell their grandmothers into sex slavery without giving it a second thought (many are ex-politicians).

Fuck 'em all.

[D23MIURG23]

50. Excellent. Now we need to figure out how to get the rest of them to quit.

I'm thinking outlawing their profession might be a good start.

[Yavin4]

52. Law Firms Are Contracting

A lot of lobbying is done by large law firms, and they've been contracting personnel since early 2008.

[Jack Rabbit]

54. Wonderful news.

We need no lobbyists. Let the corporate officers go to Congress and speack for themselves. They, too, are occupational liars, but not as well trained at lying.

[NICO9000]

56. HAH! Boo-hoo!

Don't the let door hit ya on the ass on the way out the door!

[Mari333]

58. shit, they didnt ALL quit. I was hoping. nt

[treestar]

60. Before celebrating, what of the unemployment rate

And there are good lobbyists. Some of them are lobbying for liberal aims.

Hatred of people due to job description is unworthy of a liberal.

[rhett o rick]

77. So what percentage of good lobbyists are there in the approx 35,000?

and what percentage of good lobbyists do you think are included in those currently fleeing?

My guess is that the bad lobbyists percentage is in the high 90%.

I am guessing those that are fleeing are doing so because they see a possible end to the corruption that feeds them AT OUR EXPENSE. If that's how they earn their money, they need to find a DECENT job.

You imply that liberals should have compassion for unemployed crooks. Bullcrap.

[No Elephants]

94. Oh, please. I have no trouble with most lobbyists being unemployed bc of the economic collapse they

helped inflict on this nation and a lot of other nations.

[nyc 4 Biden]

61. And?

IMO, Those are just the lobbyists with republican connections who's services are no longer valuable. There will be an appropriate number of Dem lobbyists joining up to sell their souls for cheap.

[No Elephants]

103. Lobbyists are not picky about Party, except when DeLay threatened them. They gladly pay off everyone

[UrbScotty]

63. Aww, how sad!

[Fire1sKid]

64. GOOD!!!!!!!!!!

GET THE FUCK OUTTA D.C. AND TAKE CAPITALISM WITH YOU WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!TAKE FREE-MARKET CONSERVATISM WITH YOU!TAKE REAGANOMICS WITH YOU!TAKE BLACKWATER'S CORRUPT ASS WITH YOU!TAKE DEREGULATION WITH YOU!TAKE INVERTED CORPORATIONS WITH YOU!

[impik]

65. But, but, but

I thought Obama was a sell out.

Damn, i hate it when reality comes in the way.

[Fire1]

69. Didn't you read??? It's not POTUS!! It's the economy!! HA!! n/t

[Kermitt Gribble]

71. What does this have to do with Obama? n/t

[MisterP]

87. oh, it's just that whenever Obama does sell out, they can point to this story

and say that he's cleaning up the lobbyists that he hasn't appointed Treasury Secretary

[No Elephants]

96. No evidence that lobbyists are leaving bc of Obama, though.

[No Elephants]

95. Absolutely nothing. But some here think absolutely everything is all about Obama. See for example,

Reply # 43. Not a lot of thought is involved.

[Joe the Liberal]

66. How much you wanna bet that for every one that quits two more take his or her place. n/t

[peacebuzzard]

67. ooops dupe

[peacebuzzard]

68. Gee, I hope the airline lobbyists get their butts kicked on their way out.

[Piewhacket]

70. looting and gwavy twain over? shucky darn fer them.

[AlbertCat]

72. About 1,400 lobbyists, or 8% of the industry, left in the three-month period

Not fast enough for me.

[rhett o rick]

79. There are approx 35,000 lobbyists. 1,400 is 4% by my figures. nt

[aquart]

74. Sinecure not so secure anymore? Oh, that's too bad.

Lobbying used to be a payoff a greedy, traitorous son of Satan could depend on.

[No Elephants]

104. It's still VERY secure, at least for the bad guys.

[pokercat999]

76. GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

"I have some good news and bad news" he said
"What's the good news" I asked
"A bus loaded with lobbyists went over a cliff and everyone was killed" he replied
"What's the bad news"? says I
"THERE WERE TWO EMPTY SEATS"!

[GinaMaria]

78. I suspect some of the lobbyists who can no longer

stay are some of the good guys like people at the LCV and environmental protection groups. Charitable donations are down. Somehow I don't think they are talking about banking lobbyists, but I can hope.

[donheld]

84. not record enough

[clear eye]

89. Sorry, but that only means the ones w/ Republican connections had to leave

to make way for the ones w/ Democratic connections. Happens every time the majority party changes. This time it changed a lot.

[DailyGrind51]

90. ...and the horse they rode in on!

[sendero]

91. Call a wahhhhmmmmulance..

.. they are lucky they got to quit.

[lonestarnot]

101. Oh gee, this just breaks my fucking heart!

[No Elephants]

105. I appreciate the thoughtful posts on this thread. I hope more people read it

before posting.

[yurbud]

108. kick!!!!!