The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

Gee, sounds like Lieberman has the politician-speak down cold.

p> POWER ALLEY br> Republican staffers on Capitol Hill and in the White House have hit the lottery of sorts. With the GOP controlling both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, lobbying shops, trade associations and law firms that do business inside the Beltway are snapping up just about any Republican with ties to anyone influential inside the White House or in the House or Senate. /p>

"All these Clinton holdovers can't do us a bit of good now," says a longtime Democratic lobbyist. "I'll admit we've been a bit remiss in bringing in Republicans, but we haven't had to in close to ten years. Now it's imperative that I have some folks onboard."

Big winners are lower level Republicans already in the employ of such high-powered lobbying shops as Preston Gates.

Even retiring congressmen who loved playing up their non-Beltway ties are getting in the action. Former Majority Leader Dick Armey plans on spending at least some of his time in Washington, and has at least three different lobbying firms bidding against one another for his services. Guess he won't need that old cot he used to keep in his office to save money on rent.

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