What's wrong with what is happening in DC - stuff like this

[russ1945]

[h=2]Moran Registers to Lobby for Groups That Were Among His Top Donors in Congress[/h]SHARE
TWEET
EMAIL

Jim Moran / AP​

BY: Joe Schoffstall
March 28, 2016 3:20 pm

Former Rep. Jim Moran (D., Va.) has registered to lobby on behalf of firms who were among his top funders throughout his political career in Washington.
Moran, a controversial figure whose tenure in the House of Representatives spanned from 1991 to 2015, joined the Washington, D.C.-based McDermott Will & Emery law firm in January 2015 as a senior legislative adviser. Due to ethics rules, Moran had to wait one year before registering as a lobbyist.
On February 25, Moran officially filed a lobbyist disclosure form to lobby on behalf of General Dynamics, a major defense firm. A few days later, on March 2, Moran registered to represent Boeing Corporation, the largest aerospace company in the world.
Employees and political action committees of each of the companies were among the top contributors to Moran’s campaigns during his time serving in Congress.
Moran took in a total of $4,600 from individuals who worked for General Dynamics while additionally receiving $71,000 from General Dynamic-related PACs.
Employees who worked for Boeing donated $99,000 to Moran while Boeing PACs added an additional $57,000.
The money from employees at Boeing, combined with the PAC contributions, equated to the third-largest contribution he received throughout his tenure as a lawmaker, data from the Center for Responsive Politics shows.
Moran, who spent numerous years serving on the House Appropriations Committee, told theWashington Post last January that some of his closest friends serve on the committee that he would eventually lobby.
“I certainly believe in a strong national defense and many of my closest friends are on the defense appropriations subcommittee,” Moran said. “And within the defense contracting community, I have close relations. That would probably be natural and something I’d be doing instinctively anyway.”
Seven former members of Congress have registered to lobby since the beginning of 2016.

 

[russ1945]

from the above:

Seven former members of Congress have registered to lobby since the beginning of 2016.

Are these guys going to pass legislation to prevent if not simply delay moves like this for a set number of years. Really.

Lobbying has ruined our government.

 

[JudgeWapner]

"Lobbying has ruined our government." You got that right.

 

[Acebb]

Jim Moran is a disgusting pile of shit. Of course he is a Democrat.

 

[JudgeWapner]

True, no Republican lobbyists.

 

[vitterd]

Lol.....almost every republican who gets voted out or quits......goes right to a lobbying firm.

 

[Acebb]

True, no Republican lobbyists.

Nobody said the lobbyists are limited to Democrats or Republicans.

 

[SheriffJoe]

Progressivism ruined constitutional government.

If the government isn't poking around in your business, you don't need lobbyists to protect your interests.

As government spending grows, so do the paychecks of special interest lobbyists.

 

[JudgeWapner]

And I doubt piles of shit are limited to one party either.

 

[vitterd]

Here comes Acebb famous word games " I never said that" coming up next!

 

[russ1945]

2

20​

[h=6][/h]

​

[h=1]Ex-lawmakers swing through the revolving door[/h] Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY5:36 p.m. EDT April 13, 2015

(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

38CONNECT​

TWEET 2LINKEDIN

20COMMENTEMAILMORE​

WASHINGTON — Nearly one-quarter of the lawmakers who left Congress recently are working in positions aimed at influencing government policy, even though they are barred from lobbying their former colleagues and Capitol Hill staff.
At least 18 former senators and House members have signed on with lobbying and consulting firms, trade groups, law firms and other organizations with business before the federal or state governments, a USA TODAY tally shows. The analysis examined the 77 people who served in the last Congress and either retired, resigned or lost their seats. Most left in January.
Former House members are barred from lobbying Congress for a year after they leave office; former senators face a two-year ban. Ex-lawmakers still can lobby the executive branch and provide behind-the-scenes advice to companies and other organizations trying to influence federal legislation. They also can lobby state and local officials.
"They are cashing in on their Rolodexes," said Craig Holman of the left-leaning advocacy group Public Citizen, one of the watchdog organizations that pushed for ethics rules in 2007 that banned lobbyist-funded travel and gifts and tightened restrictions on post-congressional employment. Even without talking to their former colleagues, former members of Congress "can provide a lobbying shop with valuable insider information," he said.

USA TODAYEx-lawmakers go to lobbying-related jobs​

​

Buck McKeon, the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee who decided not to seek re-election, recently launched his own firm, McKeon Group, with former aides. The firm has drawn seven clients, including a charter school andAerojet Rocketdyne, a defense contractor.
"A lot of people really don't know how Washington works, especially back home in the district," said McKeon, a California Republican. "Based on 22 years serving in Congress and getting bills passed, you kind of learn how the system works."
"If you can help somebody out with a problem, that's a satisfying thing," said McKeon, 76. "What else am I going to do? Sit in a rocking chair?"

Former Virginia congressman Jim Moran has joined a law and lobbying firm. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)


Another former congressman, Virginia Democrat Jim Moran, joined the law and lobbying firm McDermott Will & Emery in January as a "senior legislative adviser."
Moran, who served 12 terms in Congress, said "there's no comparison" between lobbying lawmakers directly and advising clients on how to navigate Washington. "After 24 years, you gain some understanding and knowledge of the process, the politics and the people," he said. "But it probably would be more of value if I could sit down with my friends on the Hill and discuss things."
Moran said he avoids talking business with current lawmakers, but that doesn't mean he never interacts with them. For instance, he recently hosted a fundraiser for the No. 2 Democrat in the House, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer. As a former lawmaker, he enjoys another perk: He can work out in the House gym alongside his ex-colleagues.
Other ex-lawmakers with lobbying-related jobs include:
• Former Iowa congressman Tom Latham, who has become a partner in the consulting and lobbying firm that now bears his name, Hecht, Latham, Spencer & Associates. The Republican will provide "strategic and legislative" advice to clients, the firm said. Latham, who retired this year after 10 House terms, did not return a telephone call.
• Ex-Nebraska congressman Lee Terry, who recently joined the Washington office of Kelley, Drye and Warren as a "senior government relations and public policy adviser." Terry, an eight-term Republican, did not respond to an interview request.
• Former California congressman Henry Waxman, a political power broker on Capitol Hill for four decades, recently became chairman of his son's communication and consulting firm. Waxman said he opted against joining a lobbying firm because he wanted to represent "clients who are fighting for some of the things I was fighting for in Congress."

Former California congressman Henry Waxman joined his son's consulting firm. (Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)


Waxman, a California Democrat whose accomplishments include expandingMedicaid and helping to pass the 2010 Affordable Care Act, said his client roster includes environmental groups, hospitals and community health centers, which rely on federal funding to care for low-income patients.
Waxman is not ruling out registering as a lobbyist when his one-year cooling-off period expires.
Dozens of other lawmakers who left Congress in January still are looking for work or have opted out of lobbying entirely.
Holman said the pace of ex-lawmakers becoming lobbyists may be slowing as a result of the rule changes. A Public Citizen study of former lawmakers who left Congress from 1998 to 2006 found 42% had become registered lobbyists, Holman said.
A separate analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics found that just 18 of the 97 lawmakers who left Congress in 2012 — or nearly 19% — went on to work for lobbying firms.
Other experts said the route to lobbying work isn't easy. Lobbying firms and associations seek to hire people who had clout and a long tenure on Capitol Hill or those who had successful careers and management experience before they came to Washington, said Julian Ha, a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive search firm.
"Just because you were a lawmaker doesn't mean you are going to get a great job," he said.

 

[russ1945]

[h=1]Former Members[/h]Dick Armey. Tom Daschle. Tom Foley. Trent Lott. Once, these politicos ranked among Congress' most powerful members. Today, they share another distinction: They're lobbyists (or "senior advisors" performing very similar work). And they're hardly alone. Dozens of former members of Congress now receive handsome compensation from corporations and special interests as they attempt to influence the very federal government in which they used to serve. See where members of the 112th Congressand the 111th Congress have gone.
Number of former members: 428

Lobbyist
[h=3]Former Senators[/h]

• Abraham, Spencer (R)
• Allard, Wayne (R)
  
• Allen, George (R)
• Ashcroft, John (R)
  
• Bayh, Evan (D)
• Bennett, Robert F (R)
  
• Bond, Christopher Kit (R)
  
• Boschwitz, Rudy E (R)
  
• Breaux, John (D)
  
• Brown, Scott (R)
• Bryan, Richard H (D)
  
• Bumpers, Dale (D)
  
• Burns, Conrad (R)
  
• Burris, Roland (D)
• Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R)
  
• Cleland, Max (D)
  
• Cohen, William S (R)
• Coleman, Norm (R)
  
• Conrad, Kent (D)
• Corzine, Jon S (D)
• Craig, Larry (R)
  
• D'Amato, Alfonse M (R)
  
• Daschle, Tom (D)
• Deconcini, Dennis (D)
  
• DeMint, Jim (R)
• Dixon, Alan J (D)
  
• Dodd, Chris (D)
• Dole, Bob (R)
  
• Dorgan, Byron L (D)
• Durenberger, Dave (R)
  
• Faircloth, Lauch (R)
  
• Ford, Wendell H (D)
  
• Gorton, Slade (R)
  
• Gramm, Phil (R)
  
• Grams, Rod (R)
  
• Gregg, Judd (R)
• Hagel, Chuck (R)
• Hutchinson, Tim (R)
  
• Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R)
• Johnston, J Bennett (D)
  
• Kasten, Robert W Jr (R)
  
• Kaufman, Ted (D)
• Kempthorne, Dirk (R)
  
• Kerrey, Bob (D)
• Kirk, Paul (D)
  
• Kyl, Jon (R)
• Lieberman, Joe (I)
• Lincoln, Blanche (D)
• Lott, Trent (R)
  
• Mack, Connie III (R)
  
• Martinez, Mel (R)
• Mathews, Harlan (D)
  
• McClure, James A (R)
  
• Miller, Zell (D)
  
• Mitchell, George J (D)
  
• Nelson, Ben (D)
• Nickles, Don (R)
  
• Packwood, Bob (R)
  
• Pressler, Larry (R)
  
• Riegle, Donald W Jr (D)
  
• Rudman, Warren B (R)
  
• Salazar, Ken (D)
• Santorum, Rick (R)
• Simpson, Alan K (R)
  
• Smith, Gordon H (R)
  
• Snowe, Olympia (R)
• Sununu, John E (R)
• Symms, Steven D (R)
  
• Talent, James M (R)
  
• Thompson, Fred (R)
  
• Torricelli, Robert G (D)
  
• Warner, John W (R)
  
• Wilson, Pete (R)
  
• Wirth, Timothy E (D)
  
• Wofford, Harris (D)

 

[russ1945]

[h=3]Former Representatives[/h]

• Adler, John H (D)
• Akin, Todd (R)
• Alexander, Rodney (R)
• Alexander, William Vollie Jr (D)
  
• Allen, Tom H (D)
  
• Altmire, Jason (D)
  
• Anderson, John B (I)
• Andrews, Mark (R)
  
• Andrews, Michael Allen (D)
  
• Andrews, Robert E (D)
• Anthony, Beryl F Jr (D)
  
• Archer, Bill (R)
  
• Arcuri, Mike (D)
• Armey, Dick (R)
  
• Atkins, Chester (D)
  
• Bacchus, James L (D)
  
• Bafalis, L A (Skip) (R)
  
• Baird, Brian (D)
• Baker, Richard (R)
  
• Barcia, Jim (D)
• Barnes, Michael D (D)
  
• Barr, Bob (R)
  
• Barrett, J Gresham (R)
  
• Bass, Charles (R)
• Bayh, Birch E (D)
  
• Bell, Chris (D)
  
• Bentley, Helen Delich (R)
  
• Bentsen, Ken (D)
  
• Bereuter, Doug (R)
• Berman, Howard L (D)
• Bethune, Ed (R)
  
• Blanchard, Jim (D)
  
• Bliley, Thomas J Jr (R)
  
• Boehlert, Sherwood (R)
  
• Bonilla, Henry (R)
  
• Bonior, David E (D)
  
• Bonker, Don (D)
  
• Bonner, Jo (R)
• Bono Mack, Mary (R)
• Boren, Dan (D)
• Borski, Bob (D)
  
• Boucher, Rick (D)
• Boulter, Beau (R)
  
• Boyd, Allen (D)
  
• Brewster, Bill (D)
  
• Brock, William E III (R)
  
• Bryant, Ed (R)
  
• Buechner, Jack (R)
  
• Burns, Max (R)
  
• Burton, Dan (R)
• Buyer, Steve (R)
  
• Callahan, Sonny (R)
  
• Canseco, Francisco (R)
• Cardoza, Dennis (D)
• Carnahan, Russ (D)
• Carney, William (R)
  
• Carr, Bob (D)
  
• Carson, Brad Rogers (D)
• Castle, Michael N (R)
  
• Chandler, Rod (R)
  
• Chapman, Jim (D)
  
• Cheney, Dick (R)
• Chocola, Chris (R)
• Christensen, Jon (R)
  
• Clay, William L (D)
  
• Clement, Bob (D)
  
• Cobey, Bill (R)
  
• Coelho, Tony (D)
  
• Coleman, E Thomas (R)
  
• Coleman, Ronald D (D)
  
• Combest, Larry (R)
  
• Comstock, Barbara (R)
  
• Corcoran, Tom (R)
  
• Costello, Jerry F (D)
  
• Coyne, James K (R)
  
• Cramer, Bud (D)
  
• Critz, Mark (D)
• Culver, John (D)
  
• D'Amours, Norman E (D)
  
• Danford, Patrick J (3)
• Darden, Buddy (D)
  
• Daub, Hal (R)
  
• Davis, Artur (R)
• Davis, Geoff (R)
• Davis, Jim (D)
  
• Davis, Tom M (R)
  
• Delahunt, Bill (D)
  
• Delay, Tom (R)
  
• Dellums, Ronald V (D)
  
• Derrick, Butler C Jr (D)
  
• Diaz-Balart, Lincoln (R)
  
• Dickey, Jay (R)
  
• Dickinson, William Louis (R)
  
• Dicks, Norm (D)
• Dooley, Cal (D)
  
• Doolittle, John T (R)
  
• Downey, Thomas J (D)
  
• Dreier, David (R)
• Du Pont, Pete (R)
• Eckart, Dennis E (D)
  
• Edwards, Jack (R)
  
• Ehrlich, Robert (R)
• Emanuel, Rahm (D)
• Emerson, Jo Ann (R)
  
• English, Glenn Lee Jr (D)
  
• English, Phil (R)
  
• Erdahl, Arlen (R)
  
• Erdreich, Ben (D)
  
• Evans, Billy Lee (D)
  
• Evans, Thomas Jr (R)
  
• Ewing, Thomas W (R)
  
• Fawell, Harris W (R)
  
• Fazio, Vic (D)
  
• Ferraro, Geraldine A (D)
  
• Fields, Jack M Jr (R)
  
• Flanagan, Michael Patrick (R)
  
• Flippo, Ronnie G (D)
  
• Florio, James J (D)
  
• Forbes, Michael P (D)
  
• Ford, Harold E Jr (D)
• Ford, Harold E Sr (D)
  
• Fossella, Vito (R)
  
• Frost, Martin (D)
  
• Funderburk, David (R)
  

 

[russ1945]

• Garcia, Robert (D)
  
• Garn, Jake (R)
  
• Gephardt, Richard A (D)
  
• Gibbons, Sam (D)
  
• Giffords, Gabrielle (D)
• Gilman, Benjamin A (R)
  
• Gingrich, Newt (R)
• Glickman, Daniel Robert (D)
  
• Gonzalez, Charlie A (D)
• Goodling, Bill (R)
  
• Gordon, Bart (D)
  
• Grandy, Fred (R)
  
• Grant, James William (R)
  
• Gray, William H III (D)
  
• Green, Mark (R)
• Greenwood, James C (R)
• Gunderson, Steve (R)
• Hance, Kent (D)
  
• Hanrahan, Robert (R)
  
• Hansen, James V (R)
  
• Harman, Jane (D)
• Harris, Herbert (D)
  
• Hart, Melissa (R)
  
• Hastert, Dennis (R)
  
• Hayes, Jimmy (R)
  
• Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (D)
  
• Hertel, Dennis M (D)
  
• Hill, Baron (D)
  
• Hilleary, Van (R)
  
• Hoagland, Peter (D)
  
• Hobson, Dave (R)
  
• Hochbrueckner, George J (D)
  
• Hochul, Kathleen (D)
• Hodes, Paul W (D)
• Hoekstra, Peter (R)
  
• Holtzman, Elizabeth (D)
  
• Hopkins, Larry J (R)
  
• Huddleston, Walter D (D)
  
• Hulshof, Kenny (R)
  
• Hutchinson, Asa (R)
  
• Ireland, Andy (R)
  
• Jackson, Jesse Jr (D)
• Jenkins, Edgar L (D)
  
• John, Chris (D)
  
• Johnson, Don (D)
• Johnson, Nancy L (R)
  
• Jones, James R (D)
  
• Karnes, David (R)
  
• Kennedy, Mark (R)
• Kennelly, Barbara B (D)
  
• Kildee, Dale (D)
  
• Klein, Herbert C (D)
  
• Klein, Ron (D)
• Klink, Ron (D)
  
• Klug, Scott L (R)
  
• Kogovsek, Ray (D)
  
• Kopetski, Mike (D)
  
• Kostmayer, Peter H (D)
  
• Kucinich, Dennis (D)
• Kuykendall, Steven T (R)
  
• Kyros, Peter N (D)
  
• LaFalce, John J (D)
  
• Lahood, Ray (R)
• Largent, Steve (R)
  
• LaRocco, Larry (D)
  
• LaTourette, Steve (R)
• Latta, Delbert L (R)
  
• Laughlin, Greg (R)
  
• Laxalt, Paul (R)
  
• Lazio, Rick A (R)
  
• Lee, Christopher J (R)
• Lehman, Richard H (D)
  
• Lent, Norman F Jr (R)
  
• Levine, Mel (D)
  
• Levitas, Elliott H (D)
  
• Lightfoot, Jim (R)
  
• Lipinski, Bill (D)
  
• Livingston, Robert L (R)
  
• Lloyd, Marilyn L (D)
  
• Loeffler, Tom (R)
  
• Lowery, William D (R)
  
• Lujan, Manuel Jr (R)
  
• Lungren, Dan (R)
  
• Luther, Bill (D)
  
• Mack, Connie IV (R)
• Mahoney, Tim (D)
• Manzullo, Don (R)
• Martin, David O'Brien (R)
  
• Martin, James G (R)
  
• Mathis, Dawson (D)
  
• Mattingly, Mack (R)
  
• McCloskey, Pete (R)
• McCollum, Bill (R)
  
• McCrery, Jim (R)
  
• McCurdy, Dave (D)
  
• McDade, Joseph M (R)
  
• McDonald, Jack H (R)
  
• McEwen, Bob (R)
  
• McGrath, Raymond J (R)
  
• McHale, Paul (D)
  
• McInnis, Scott (R)
  
• McIntosh, David M (R)
  
• McKernan, John R Jr (R)
• McMahon, Michael E (D)
• McMillan, J Alex (R)
  
• Meek, Carrie (D)
  
• Melancon, Charles (D)
• Melcher, John (D)
  
• Mfume, Kweisi (D)
• Mica, Daniel A (D)
  
• Michel, Robert H (R)
  
• Miller, Brad (D)
• Mineta, Norman Y (D)
  
• Minnick, Walt (D)
  
• Moffett, Toby (D)
  
• Molinari, Guy V (R)
  
• Molinari, Susan (R)
  
• Mollohan, Alan (D)
  
• Moore, W Henson (R)
  
• Morrison, Bruce A (D)
  
• Mrazek, Robert J (D)
  
• Murphy, Patrick J (D)
• Myers, John T (R)
  
• Myrick, Sue (R)
  
• Napier, John (R)
  
• Nethercutt, George R Jr (R)
  
• Northup, Anne M (R)
• Nussle, Jim (R)
• Obey, David R (D)
• Orton, Bill (D)
• Oxley, Michael G (R)
  
• Packard, Ron (R)
  
• Panetta, Leon Edward (D)
  
• Parker, Mike (R)
  
• Parris, Stan (R)
  
• Patterson, Jerry M (D)
• Paxon, Bill (R)
  
• Payne, LF Jr (D)
  
• Pease, Ed (R)
  
• Perriello, Tom (D)
• Pickering, Charles (Chip) Jr (R)
  
• Pollock, Howard (R)
• Pombo, Richard (R)
  
• Pomeroy, Earl (D)
  
• Porter, John Edward (R)
  
• Porter, Jon (R)
  
• Poshard, Glenn (D)
  
• Pryce, Deborah (R)
  
• Quayle, Ben (R)
• Quinn, Jack (R)
  
• Radel, Trey (R)
• Ratchford, William R (D)
  
• Regula, Ralph (3)
• Rehberg, Denny (R)
• Reynolds, Tom (R)
  
• Rhodes, John Jacob III (R)
  
• Richardson, Bill (D)
• Richardson, Laura (D)
• Riggs, Frank D (R)
  
• Ritter, Don (R)
• Roemer, Tim (D)
• Rogan, James E (R)
  
• Rooney, Fred B (D)
  
• Rose, Charlie (D)
  
• Ross, Mike (D)
• Roth, Toby (R)
  
• Rothman, Steven R (D)
• Russo, Martin A (D)
  
• Sandlin, Max (D)
  
• Santini, Jim (D)
  
• Sarpalius, William Clarence (D)
  
• Saxton, Jim (R)
  
• Schroeder, Patricia (D)
  
• Schulze, Dick (R)
  
• Shadegg, John (R)
  
• Sharp, Philip R (D)
  
• Shows, Ronnie (D)
  
• Shuler, Heath (D)
• Shuster, Bud (R)
  
• Sikorski, Gerry (D)
  
• Skaggs, David E (D)
• Skelton, Ike (D)
• Slattery, Jim (D)
  
• Smith, Larry J (D)
  
• Snowbarger, Vince (R)
• Space, Zack (D)
• Stanton, James V (D)
  
• Staton, David Michael (R)
  
• Stearns, Cliff (R)
• Stenholm, Charles W (D)
  
• Stokes, Louis (D)
  
• Stupak, Bart (D)
  
• Sundquist, Donald Kenneth (R)
  
• Sutton, Betty Sue (D)
• Sweeney, John E (R)
  
• Swett, Dick (D)
  
• Swift, Al (D)
  
• Symington, James W (D)
  
• Tallon, Robin (D)
  
• Tanner, John (D)
  
• Tate, Randy (R)
  
• Tauke, Tom (R)
  
• Tauzin, Billy (R)
  
• Thomas, Bill (R)
• Thurman, Karen L (D)
  
• Tiahrt, Todd (R)
• Turner, Jim (D)
  
• Tydings, Joseph Davies (D)
  
• Vander Jagt, Guy A (R)
  
• Walgren, Doug (D)
  
• Walker, Robert S (R)
  
• Walsh, James T (R)
  
• Walsh, Joe (R)
• Watkins, Wes (R)
• Watt, Melvin L (D)
• Watts, J C Jr (R)
  
• Weber, Vin (R)
  
• Weiner, Anthony D (D)
• Weldon, Curt (R)
• Weller, Jerry (R)
  
• West, Allen (R)
• Wheat, Alan (D)
  
• Whittaker, Bob (R)
  
• Wilson, Charles (D)
  
• Wortley, George C (R)
  
• Wynn, Albert R (D)
  
• Zeliff, Bill (R)
  
• Zimmer, Dick (R)
  
• Zion, Roger H (R)
  

 

[russ1945]

This is not about parties. This is about how politics has evolved into a cesspool.

 

[JudgeWapner]

A cesspool is a very apt discription.

 

[russ1945]

I wonder how many were offerered those jobs long before they left office. Most if not all.

 

[JudgeWapner]

Im thinking at least 90%. Dennis Cardoza is a prime example with everything that is wrong with the system.

 

[russ1945]

Well Jeb had one good idea:

Jeb Bush Targets Ex-Lawmakers in Lobbying Reform Proposal

(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
By Jason Devaney | Monday, 20 Jul 2015 03:58 PM














Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush wants to reform the lobbying system in Washington, and part of his plan involves enacting stricter guidelines on former lawmakers becoming lobbyists.

According to Politico, the former Florida governor said Monday he wants to stop ex-members of the House and Senate from becoming lobbyists until six years after they have left the Capitol.

Current rules stipulate that House members wait one year before becoming lobbyists and senators wait two years.



"If I am elected president, I will use all of my influence to enact into law an immediate, unequivocal six-year ban on lobbying — a full Senate term — for ex-members of the House and Senate," Bush said in a Tallahassee speech, reports Politico.

Bush also wants to place restrictions on former White House officials,according to a Washington Post story.

"I will strengthen existing prohibitions that prevent departing executive branch employees from lobbying members of my administration," Bush said.

"Every time a lobbyist meets with any member of Congress, that should be reported online — every week, and on the member's official website."

​

​

According to Politico, Bush pointed to the growing size of the government as one factor that has led to lobbying being such a big business in the nation's capital.
Special: Barb Walters Looks 35 At Age 85- She Reveals Her Secret On Dr. Oz

"It's the relentless expansion of government that made lobbying Washington's premier growth industry," Bush said. "Spending on lobbying has risen by more than 45 percent over the past decade, translating to $12.5 million per member of Congress. Restrain federal spending and bureaucratic meddling, and we'll disrupt the culture that thrives on big government."

According to a separate Washington Post story last week, a group of lobbyists contributed $228,400 to Bush's presidential campaign. He's also garnered support from lobbyists at major companies, such as Microsoft, Verizon, Goldman Sachs, and Hewlett-Packard, the Post reported.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Bush's nonprofit, the Foundation for Excellence in Education, came under fire for lobbying for laws that benefited for-profit companies.

 

[russ1945]

in 2011:

Lobbyists	Company / Special Interest
Six	AT&T, General Electric
Five	FedEx, Comcast, Verizon
Four	Northrop Grumman, General Motors, America’s Natural Gas Alliance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Pew Charitable Trusts, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Reynolds American, Goldman Sachs, Association of American Railroads
Three	Prudential Financial, Caesar’s Entertainment, Sanofi-Aventis, American Health Care Association, Dow Chemical, American Institute of CPAs, Entergy, ESM SMT, European Aeronautic Defence & Space;ESM Group, American Petroleum Institute, Visa, Roche Holdings, National Association of Broadcasters, Royal Dutch Shell, Edison Electric Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, Space Exploration Technologies, AREVA Group; Credit Union National Association, Peabody Energy, Financial Serivces Roundtable, Thomson Reuters, Lockheed Martin, Time Warner Cable, Apollo Advisors, Fortune Brands, Lend Lease Corp.