Jackpot jobs await ex-Congress members

[Robbien]

BY MATT STEARNS
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- For many representatives and senators, Congress is something like the Eagles' song "Hotel California": Members check out, but they never really leave.

With the 108th Congress now passed into history, another Washington tradition is playing out this month as departing members of Congress, rather than returning home, trade their years of service for big paychecks from lobbying groups, investment banks and law firms.

Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., is sifting offers. Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., will join one of Washington's top lobbying firms. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., who helped write the prescription drug law that Congress passed last year, will become president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a powerful drug industry trade association.

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To be sure, one of the biggest pulls is the big pay. A typical member of Congress makes $158,100 a year (party leaders and the speaker of the House of Representatives earn more). As lobbyists and rainmakers for banks and law firms, they can make millions. Tauzin, for instance, is said to be receiving a salary of $2 million.

The rules say you can't lobby your former colleagues for one year after you leave office. Even so, 272 former members of Congress have registered as lobbyists since 1995, according to Political Moneyline.com.

http://www.freep.com/money/business/lobby21e_20041221.htm

[Massachusetts]

1. WHEN?

WHEN WILL WE GET OUR COUNTRY BACK? WE HAVE LET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US, GET AWAY WITH RAPING OUR COUNTRY FAR TO LONG.

THE CHECKS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BALANCE THE POWER WE GIVE TO THESE REPRESENTATIVES IS GONE.

[readmylips]

2. You guys, stop dreaming...country has never belong to...

the pions, serfs, slaves. It's all smoke and screen. If you ain't got the money and the name, this country ain't yours.

Who paid for Billy the snake Tauzin's elections? Big Pharma of course. Did your vote count? No, of course. Stop dreaming little people.