US Lobbyist System of Government

“New Republican lawmakers are hiring lobbyists, despite campaign rhetoric

GALLERY

 

The congressional freshman class assembles

A variety of new faces showed up for the first day of the "lame duck" session in Congress.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

By Dan Eggen

Washington Post Staff Writer 
Wednesday, December 8, 2010; 10:52 PM

During his campaign to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate, GOPnominee Ron Johnson accused Democratic incumbent Russell Feingold (D) of being "on the side of special interests and lobbyists."

"After promising voters that he would reform the culture of lobbying in Washington, instead Senator Feingold embraced lobbyists and declared himself to be on their side," a Johnson spokeswoman said at the time.

But after defeating Feingold, Johnson himself has turned to K Street for help - hiring homeland security lobbyist Donald H. Kent Jr. as his chief of staff.

Johnson is not alone: Many incoming GOP lawmakers have hired registered lobbyists as senior aides. Several of the candidates won with strong support from the anti-establishment tea party movement.

These cases illustrate the endurance of Washington's traditional power structure, even in the wake of an election dominated by insurgent rhetoric. In addition to hiring lobbyists, many newly elected House Republicans have begun holding big-dollar fundraisersin Washington to pay off debts and begin preparing for 2012.”