But whenever the ever-spinning “revolving door” between staff positions and lobbying positions does surface, it never looks good, no matter how much everyone involved insists there's nothing fishy going on. Allegations of lobbyist influence over former Sen. Conrad Burns - specifically on the part of his staffers, two of whom worked for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff - played a big part in the successful effort to unseat him in 2006. And now, Sen. Max Baucus is weathering criticism over the number of his staff members who went on to become lobbyists.
While the accusations against Burns were very different from the criticisms currently being levied at Baucus, Baucus still has to contend with the unfortunate distinction of having the fifth-highest number of former staff-turned-lobbyists, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Baucus flatly denies his former staffers have more influence or access than any other lobbyists, and can point to several instances in which he basically told people who just gave him a bunch of money that they weren't going to be getting special treatment. His votes on several pieces of far-reaching legislation back him up on that.
Furthermore, the so-called “revolving door” doesn't appear to let former staffers who leave to become lobbyists back in to become staffers once more, a practice that's quite common among other senators and representatives.
Still, it stands to reason that former staffers have inside knowledge about Baucus and how his office works - knowledge that makes them highly valuable to lobbying groups, and especially those groups looking to push their agendas with the committees on which Baucus sits.
As career options go, lobbying appears to be undeniably enticing. There's every incentive for staffers to leave their government jobs for higher-paying lobbying positions in which they stand to wield more influence.
But while Baucus can say that none of his former staff gets special treatment until he's blue in the face, the fact is that even the appearance of undue influence is harmful because it undermines our confidence in our elected officials, and thus, we feel further disconnected from the government processes that directly affect our lives.
Baucus - as well as every other state politician running for election - could put an end to this right now. All he needs do is stand up and say: I pledge never to do business with any lobbyist who was once a member of my staff.
If others followed his example, we suspect lobbying groups would stop trying to lure staffers away with lucrative offers. The revolving door would grind to a halt.
Of course, that may not be a realistic solution. Maybe the best we can hope for is a new rule that would require staff members to wait for a period of years - say, a full election cycle - before accepting a job as a lobbyist.
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