Lott Resigns To Enter ‘Lucrative’ World Of Lobbying That He Worked In The Senate To Protect
Lott Resigns To Enter ‘Lucrative’ World Of Lobbying That He Worked In The Senate To Protect
Earlier today, news broke that Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) intends “to resign his seat before the end of the year.” Lott will explain his plans in two news conferences in his home state of Mississippi later today.
Though the reasons for Lott’s resignation are still unknown, a “congressional official” told the AP that “there is nothing amiss with Lott’s health” and that “the senator has ‘other opportunities‘ he plans to pursue.” NBC News reports that Lott’s “other opportunities” involve joining the “lucrative world of lobbying Congress” before “tougher restrictions in a new lobbying law” take effect:
While the exactly reason Lott is stepping down before he finishes his term is unknown, the general speculation is that a quick departure immunizes Lott against tougher restrictions in a new lobbying law that takes effect at the end of the year. That law would require Senators to wait two-years before entering the lucrative world of lobbying Congress.
“A Lott friend” confirmed to the Politico that the new lobbying law is “a factor in the timing” of his resignation.
Lott, whose son is a lobbyist, was part of a small bloc of conservatives who voted against the ethics reform bill in August that included the two-year revolving door ban. His vote reflected his longtime position as an opponent of lobbying reform. Here are a few more examples of Lott’s defense of his potential, soon-to-be job:
- In Jan. 2006, Lott praised “the practice of secretly inserting special projects into spending bills at the behest of lobbyists,” calling it “an effective way for Congress to address a problem or need back home.”
- In Feb. 2006, Lott derided the effort to fix lobbying loopholes after the Jack Abramoff scandal as “the usual over reaction that we see happen quite often in Washington.”
- In March 2006, Lott voted against establishing a Senate Office of Public Integrity.
- In March 2006, when Congress sought to ban free meals from lobbyists, Lott defended the free meals, saying a ban would imply “that we can be had for the price of a lunch or dinner.”
Lott’s defense of lobbyists should come as no surprise considering how well they treated him while in office. Earlier this year, the Washington Post reported that Lott topped “the list of current lawmakers who have most frequently been jetted around the country aboard the luxurious private jets of Corporate America.”
Now, with tougher restrictions looming, Lott appears likely to pass through the revolving door to take the type of “lucrative” lobbying job that he fought so hard in the Senate to protect.
UPDATE: In a press conference today, Lott denied that the upcoming ban played “a big role” in his decision.
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45 Responses to “Lott Resigns To Enter ‘Lucrative’ World Of Lobbying That He Worked In The Senate To Protect”
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As the Frenchies would say, Bingeau!!!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:12 pmWho’s he going to lobby for, Hair Club For Men?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:13 pmYep.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:14 pmI love that photo, “the voice of industry” over Lott’s shoulder.
Sounds about right.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:15 pmWhen applying lube, use a Lott.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:16 pmWho’s he going to lobby for, Hair Club For Men?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Erectile dysfunction for politically unstable, closeted pedophiles?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:17 pmQuick question for you… is that a picture of the “real Trent”, or is it one of the wax figure they’re installing at Madam Tussauds?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:17 pmGee. *WHAT* a surprise.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:18 pmSo, the toupee GOP rep. bails. Another one bites the dust.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:18 pmWhen applying lube, use a Lott.
Comment by ForTruth — November 26, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Okay, someone tie this back into all the “Tuck’er there, Carlson” jokes…
November 26th, 2007 at 12:19 pmYet another Republican PIG who wants to work against the poor to enrich himself and his friends.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:19 pmGood ole Senator Empty Lott, or “The Doo’ is heading out to greener pastures! Probably can’t wait to sit with Bush on his new swing, as they talk about the good ole day’s, what a putz!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:20 pmErectile dysfunction for politically unstable, closeted pedophiles?
Comment by DieNowForPeace — November 26, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Sounds like a lucrative gig to me. A little surprised that Limbaugh doesn’t already have the job though.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:20 pmDeny them all access!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:20 pmThey make the law apply to Lott, just like they want immunity for the telecoms.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 26th, 2007 at 12:21 pmIs anyone actually surprised?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:25 pmGod Bless American! One less Racist in government in Washington. If the other 49 (republicans) racists including Joe Libermann resigned, it would be the best day ever.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:26 pmBlue Stater:
These guys are like cats. They always land on their feet.
No offense to cats. ;-)
November 26th, 2007 at 12:27 pmShadow:
He’ll still be there, though, shilling for whoever. Nice.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:28 pmSo Trent is going to start giving bad advice to folks who will pay him money? Wow, nice work if you can get it. I wonder how his constituants feel about him breaking his word to remain in office?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:29 pmTruly, if Lott had any honor at all, he would NOT join any lobbying firm for two years after his retirement. But then, we know he is not an honorable man. I wonder how many other legislators (including Dems) will also retire before the end of the year? This government is so completely broken, I wonder if there’s any hope? Unfortunately, it’s the result of the cumulation of many, many decades of such greed and avarice. Truer words are seldom spoken:
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” (Lord Acton in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887)
November 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pmI hope he’s happy in his new job of lobbyist.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:36 pmGive ol’ Trent a break, folks. He’s finally realized that the federal government ain’t gonna help him rebuild his house after Katrina, so he’s got to find some way to raise the money. See, here is the difference between Trent Lott and the poor black folk of New Orleans. They’re too lazy to become lobbyists so they can rebuild their homes.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:38 pmIf the lobbying business is still “lucrative” despite the ethics reform bill, it probably wasn’t much of a bill.
Either that, or Lott figures that all his Senate experience has taught him ways to get around pesky rules and regulations.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:38 pmIs there anything more imoral than lobbying?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:40 pmAt the end WE pay for all that legalized corruption!
How can America keep doing this?
I wish Lott would be required to personally pay for the special election Mississippi will have to hold to choose his successor in the Senate, since the only reason I can see for him leaving is all about making gobs of money.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:40 pm#26 agreed. Some Public Servant Lott is.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:51 pmSounds like a lucrative gig to me. A little surprised that Limbaugh doesn’t already have the job though.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — November 26, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
He had it until he went deaf from too many little blue pills.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:53 pmhas anything good for the people ever happened through lobbying - Then ban it
November 26th, 2007 at 12:55 pmQ: Senator Lott, what made you decide to leave the Senate?
A: My Southern values and religious influences.
Q: Could you be more specific?
A: I’ll make a hell of a ‘lott’ more money.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pmThere seems to be a bunch of different ways politico types can cash in after leaving.
“When U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie announced a $311 million settlement to end a probe into kickbacks by leading manufacturers of knee and hip replacements, he touted the agreement as a groundbreaking development for consumers and the industry.
The deal also proved to be lucrative for Christie’s old boss.
Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was one of five private attorneys whom Christie hand-picked to monitor the implant makers. Now Ashcroft’s D.C.-based firm is poised to collect more than $52 million in 18 months, among the biggest payouts reported for a federal monitor.”
http://www.nj.com/ starledger/ stories/ index.ssf?/ base/ news-12/ 1195537982212840.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
The whole thing may be as typical as they come but is it just me or does this smell funny? We’ll stop ‘probing’ you and you give our friends lots of money…I mean fees? I’m still in the learning process over here so forgive me in advance for any naivete.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:10 pmIt’s getting to close to the money Lott has taken for the Katrina victims. Yes Lott has made a loot of money while helping the GOP rob the US Treasury. It’s to hot in the kitchen so he’s leaving in hopes that all his crimes will be dismissed. Lott will have his lawyers say since he gave up his office they shouldn’t prosecute him for his crimes.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:28 pmTrent obviously did alot of lobbying work for “Hair Club For Men”.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:43 pmErectile dysfunction for politically unstable, closeted pedophiles?
Comment by DieNowForPeace — November 26, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Sounds like a lucrative gig to me. A little surprised that Limbaugh doesn’t already have the job though.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Actually, Rush is head of the group. When Lott joins, he will have to start at the bottom and work his way in.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pmNice dead-rat-fur beret, PIG!
November 26th, 2007 at 1:55 pmWhy do you say he denied lobbying had anything to do with his retiring? He said it didn’t play a “big” role, but he didn’t say it wasn’t a consideration. “Consultant?” Yeah, right, just a different term he’s using rather than “lobbying.”
November 26th, 2007 at 2:05 pmrepublicans are keenly aware that they have not only sucked the US cash cow dry, but they’ve made a pile of crap of the US the likes of which have never been seen before in the history of Man. From the perspective of the republican parasites otherwise known as republican Congresspersons, now is the perfect time to to move on to greener pastures.
November 26th, 2007 at 2:52 pm.
Trent obviously did alot of lobbying work for “Hair Club For Menâ€.
Comment by OxyCon — November 26, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Sorry, dude, but I got there waaay first on that one (see comment #2)!
November 26th, 2007 at 3:06 pmLobby, lubby… what’s the diff?
November 26th, 2007 at 3:06 pmAnother greedy, hypocritical, self serving republican, that constantly whines about morals and values while possessing none of them! Who’s shocked? No one with a brain!
November 26th, 2007 at 9:41 pmThey made AIPAC exempt from the new lobbying rules. HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT?
Is Waxman a member of AIPAC?:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/9/11226/2103
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1432
The pro-Israel lobbying organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was founded in the early 1950s by Si Kenen, a Canadian-born former journalist. “Kenen was a tireless advocate for Israel in the 1950s and early 1960s, when it had to claw for dollars and votes against a powerful and determined lobby of oil interests, Arab-oriented diplomats, and lawmakers such as J. William Fulbright … who saw support for the fledgling Jewish state as a serious mistake that threatened regional stability,†wrote Glenn Frankel (Washington Post, July 16, 2006). On its website, AIPAC describes itself as “at the forefront of the most vexing issues facing Israel today: stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism, and achieving peace. Above all, AIPAC works to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together to meet these challenges effectively.â€
AIPAC claims to have 100,000 members and on its website prominently displays a New York Times description of the group: “The most important organization affecting America’s relationship with Israel.â€
November 27th, 2007 at 12:20 amJust a thought maybe Lott resign so quickly because he’s the person Larry Flynt was going to expose. It make since to get out of the office quick before it hit the news. Larry said he had information on a powerful law maker that would blow people away.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:27 amTrent Lott is actually resigning so he’ll have more time to sex it up with his good buddy Jeff Gannon. Photos don’t lie Trent!
November 27th, 2007 at 5:59 pmhttp://www.towleroad.com/2007/11/is-a-male-escor.html
November 27th, 2007 at 6:25 pmI”ve had it!! He uses a bible passage to defend his greed?? It’s gone a bit too far. Why not tell the truth?
November 29th, 2007 at 8:46 am