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November 26, 2007 at 07:53:47
Trent Lott Resigns, Joins Hastert in Republican Leader Rush to Avoid New 2008 Lobbying Regulations by Rob Kall Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Another Rat Jumps Ship; Trent Lott to Resign Senate Seat New lobbying regulation laws that go into effect in 2008 could produce a rush of end of year resignations by Republicans dreading working in a congress with an ever greater Democratic Majority.
Lott, Senator from Mississippi and number two senator, will resign before the end of the year, sources report.
NBC news reports,
NBC News has learned that Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., the minority whip is in the midst of informing close allies that he plans to resign his senate seat before the end of the year. It's possible a formal announcement of his plans could take place as early as today.
Lott is the sixth senate Republican to announce his resignation this year. He has not yet given a reason, not even the standard GOP "desire to spend more time with family" explanation most commonly used by Bush appointees and Republican members of congress.
NBC speculates that Lott is resigning early to avoid restriction on lobbying by retiring legislators-- restrictions that go into effect starting next year that requires retiring senators to wait two years before becoming a highly paid lobbyist.
I'm guessing that's why Denny Hastert has also resigned before the end of the year. So, we have two legislators, resigning from their terms a year early, so they can jump right in to the really big bucks as lobbyists.
Politico reports,
Lott's departure opens up a position within Republican leadership, and there could be a fight to replace him. Lamar Alexander, who ran for the position last year, would be a natural candidate, but there are plenty of GOP up-and-comers who could compete for the slot, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who are part of the current leadership team and could be looking for a promotion to the no. 2 spot in the hierarchy.
His term expires in 2012; and a resignation would prompt a special election to fill the remainder of his term.
In 2006, he was reelected with 64 percent of the vote. This will be a tough one for Democrats to pick up.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will name a successor to serve through the general election of 2008. Among the likely candidates to fill out Lott’s term are Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) and former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore (D). Another possible GOP contender for the seat would be Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)Barbour will have to name a successor within 10 days of Lott’s official resignation.
When my former congressman, Jim Greenwood, retired, in 2004, he took a job as a lobbyist, paying over $800,000 a year. That laid the groundwork for Patrick Murphy to take a seat that would have been unassailable had Greenwood held on to it.
Now, Sen. Trent Lott has resigned, joining Denny Hastert in avoiding tougher 2008 lobbying Rules. My guess is that at least a few more high powered Republicans, not looking forward to an even weaker Republican minority in the house and senate come 2009, will be joining the rats who have already jumped ship. That will make it MUCH, MUCH easier for Democrats to capture seats that were held by incumbents.
The GOP is very short on money, and so they are recruiting wealthy candidates who can carry their own weight and pay their own way. The problem is, that kind of candidate does not usually win. Making a lot of money does not include the same skill set as campaigning and persuading voters to elect you.
The questions are, how many and which other Republican congressional leaders will decide it is time to jump ship early, so they can hitch a ride on the lobbyist gravy train a year earlier. Once 2008 rolls around, new laws will require legislators to wait two years, instead of the current one year before starting as a lobbyist. That could cost some of these Republican legislators a cool million or more dollars for that first year's work. And, as the new 2009 congress launches, with diminishing Republican influence, could even cost the Republicans job opportunities altogether. That said, there may be some Democratic resignations too. After all, the Democrats will probably have more say in funding.
Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, more...)
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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| 9 comments |
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I think it's great!
It is a wonderful thing that these retiring Republican pols are showing enough gumption to skip over to the other side of the money pile. You know that they are most likely to overreach, and then we'll still be able to prosecute them. by John Sanchez Jr. (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 1793 comments [148 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 8:30:26 AM  (0+)
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Lamar Alexander and next election
It's going to be interesting how Alexander's reelection campaign plays out. Here where I am, he is a certainty. Hometown boy, heavy Republican district. With successful Democratic governor Bredesen having two more years of his last election, the Dems are nevertheless in better shape than usual. I'm wondering if MSM will make him the new Southern Strategy, or some such buzz word. Alexander was put out when he didn't get Frist's spot after McConell got the first spot. So if McConell tanks, which appears possible, we'll have Alexander, I'd say. And what else I would say, admittedly biased against the man, I'll be saying here at home. by Margaret Bassett (45 articles, 2909 quicklinks, 42 diaries, 1852 comments [99 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 9:29:12 AM (0+)
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Lott resigns
I'm from MS and I think it's great. But, I can't see Lott leaving the political arena. He'll still use his contacts and reputation to influence events in MS and national level, too. It will be curious to see who the Barbourian selects to replace him. Thad Cochran has announced he will run again in 2008. I predict he'll retire within a year or two afterwards and allow Barbour to select his replacement, too. by Scott Tyner (8 articles, 1 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 18 comments) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 3:38:18 PM (0+)
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Weeping for what?
If he is resigning to end-run the new lobbyist law restrictions -- was he crying tears of joy because of the future paychecks he'll earn lobbying? If so, it kinda makes me tear up too. by boomerang (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 557 comments [215 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 5:27:16 PM (0+)
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Good Riddance!
While Sen. Lott claims to be resigning so he can become a lobbyist I truly believe it's a pack of lies--just like people saying they want to be home with their families. I can't help but believe that maybe the investigators in the Jack Abramoff scandal or even the investigators of the Pamela Martin Escort service are breathing down his neck. Just food for thought! by disabledvet (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 9:39:46 PM (0+)
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Trent Lott's exit
IT"S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!! They do not call them "political prostitutes" for nothing. The House of Congress, it should be called The House of Prostitution. "We the people," should be called "we the wealthy." As a former occupant of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a 1972 graduate of Ole Miss, Lott's ambitions were money, money, and more money. He did not care how it was obtained. Lott knew that money was power, and he could not get enough of it, especially when it came to helping the "little man." by mork (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 12 comments) on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 at 10:04:27 PM (0+)
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Reply: Trent Lott's Money
Perhaps when he acquires his millions he could take a few dollars of it and get a better looking and fitting toupee! by disabledvet (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 at 2:09:41 AM (0+)
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Lott update & money
What I'm hearing from the grapevine is that Lott has plenty of money. Not sure where from, his bro-in-law, Dickey Scruggs, is a billionaire plaintiffs attorney. What happens to campaign funds when an elected official retires? Gov. Barbour has selected Nov. 4th for a special election but will pick someone to serve as interim Sen. But Dems say that's not the law. My money's on Amy Tuck, a former Dem elected to Lt. Gov., then switched parties, all her campaign debt mysteriously disappeared, then was re-elected Lt. Gov. in 2003 as a Repub. Remember the Barbour-Clinton connection. http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711270325 Within hours of Lott's announcement, Gov. Haley Barbour issued a news release saying he will set the special election for Nov. 4, 2008 - the same day as the regular federal election. But the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, Wayne Dowdy, said in his own news release that if Lott resigns during 2007, "we expect the governor to uphold the law and call a special election within 100 days. It is important that Mississippi be represented in Washington by a senator who was elected by the state's voters as soon as possible." Barbour spokesman Pete Smith said the governor's staff had researched election laws before Barbour issued the statement that the election would be next November. by Scott Tyner (8 articles, 1 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 18 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 at 3:16:51 PM (0+)
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Barbour, Clinton
I think this is too coincidental, you may not. Allawi hires Barbour's firm to represent him in replacing Maliki as P.M. Clinton asks Maliki to resign. (sorry, links won't work, you'll have to find yourself. I found easily with "Barbour, Allawi" and "Clinton, Maliki". ) Personally, I thought it was inappropriate for Clinton to ask for Maliki to resign when he's the freely elected PM of the country we're occupying. Especially when that was just three weeks before Patreaus was to give his report. Clinton's move deflected responsibility from Bush and the military onto Maliki. by Scott Tyner (8 articles, 1 quicklinks, 9 diaries, 18 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 at 3:30:17 PM (0+)
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