by Stu James

Created on: October 24, 2007   Last Updated: November 08, 2007

The public is not told exactly why former Congress-people are so highly prized by lobbies.Truth is - they're the only players who are in the game for all the innings, to coin a phrase.
When Congress votes on issues, the Congressional chambers are closed to outsiders, with one exception: former Congress-people! They retain their Congressional I.D.,AFTER leaving office - for the remainder of their lives! Ex-Representatives can breach the House chamber when crucial votes are being cast;former Senators have permanent access to either chamber of Congress.

Of course, this circumstance did not come about by happenstance (no one can accuse American politicians of not abusing their authority for their own benefit). During a vote in either House of Congress on a matter of importance to any interested (and well-heeled) influence-peddlers,our 'public-servants' have arranged that only THEY can be present to lobby on their behalf.It certainly sounds a lot more lucrative than investing in Liberty Bonds, doesn't it?
This is certainly something that we should keep in mind when our noble pols speak of reform measures - shouldn't the first such measure be the one that takes THEMSELVES out of the scenario of influence-peddling?-that eliminates the ready-made 'cushy-spot', upon retirement, for themselves and their cohorts? This initial move would SEEM to make a much greater opportunity for the law-makers to get taxpayers'(remember them?) money put to it's intended use - for what was once referred to as "the common good" by the (non-lobbying) authors of the United States Constitution, in the Preamble of that document.
Better yet, let's have a hearing wherein each member of Congress stands before the cameras and presents their defensive arguments as to why this regulation is still on the books!

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