Half of Retiring Senators Become Lobbyists, Up 1,500% in 40 Years
30th July 2013
My, what a surprise! Aren’t you surprised? I’m sure surprised.
Christopher Buckley’s review of Mark Leibovich’s “In This Town,” a Thackeray-esque exposé of official Washington, uncovers this buried morel on page 330 of the book. In 1974, just 3% of retiring members of Congress became lobbyists. Today, 50% of retiring Senators and 42% of retiring House members stay in DC and become lobbyists. The more than 1,500% increase goes a long way towards explaining how an entrenched, permanent political class has risen in DC.
There’s gold in them thar shills….