The Revolving Door: Most Of Bush's Ex-Cabinet Officials Work For Companies That Lobby Their Former Agencies

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released Revolving Door, a first-ever comprehensive look into the activities of 24 members of President Bush's cabinet. The 108-page report is based on a six-month CREW investigation.

CREW's newest report demonstrates that the "revolving door" remains open. After leaving their government positions, many of these top officials joined the ranks of the companies they once regulated where they are highly compensated. In many instances, they have helped their new employers obtain lucrative government grants and contracts.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[USA2Sense]

GWB - New Address - House warming gift..........Pass it on...............

Send shoes - send shoes - send shoes -

George W. Bush
10141 Daria Place
Dallas, TX 95229

[rabiddog6708]

Both Dems and Repubs do this. All Americans can share in the shame and the blame.....because we don't, as a nation, demand, that laws be put in place to stop this sort of thing.

[LewDan]

This is a red herring. Where are you going to find experienced people, knowledgeable in any industry, except in that industries' corporations? Some academics might be knowledgeable but are they experienced and free of corporate ties themselves? And Cabinet positions aren't lifetime appointments, of course they return to their trades after government service.

The decisions and policies are the Presidents. Its his job to ensure they benefit the nation and not special interests. And that his administration does the same.

[BUTCHER111]

The problem is not experience and where to find them, it"s what they do once in and out of government positions. For example if you"re an industry lobbyist and go into government and push for government policies that benefit your former clients and then go back to work for them, that"s a conflict of interest. That"s the problem. The revolving door needs to end.

[LewDan]

You're exactly right about abut the problem and its the responsibility of our elected representatives, the President and Congress, and voters to supervise and ensure that doesn't happen.

How will ending the "revolving door" solve anything? We always want to blame individuals for any "appearance of conflict of interest" instead of demanding actual accountability from our elected officials.

I could care less about "appearances." I want transparency and accountability in their ACTUAL official actions.

[blood1]

The only argument to be made: Which is worst the so called "socialist" in the Obama administration that are worried about global warming or the "thieves" by any high ranking government official that goes through the revolving door - to drive government policy and make money?

[LewDan]

What has socialism to do with global warming or fighting global warming? Using the word "socialist" in a sentence may be code on the right for "bad thing" but the rest of us require an actual argument not dog whistles.

[Ouroboros]

It's probably a good idea for everyone to just throw the lot in jail. Every last jerk who worked for the Bush administration.

[kfdan]

" ... the "revolving door" remains open. After leaving their government positions, many of these top officials joined the ranks of the companies they once regulated where they are highly compensated"

This is one of the weaknesses of the US government. These former officials are getting paid off for their support for these industries regardless of the negative effect they have! Bad news for the country !!!

[walleymr]

I thought most of this was reported when they were appointed ...

[Colmore]

McCain surrounded himself with lobbyists during his campaign for president. All the while railing against "greedy lobbyists" Guess HIS lobbyist friends were not greedy. (yeah, right!)

[greatlardini]

And this is "news"????

[dadw5boys]

ALL OF BUSH POLITICAL APPOINTEES WERE LOBBYIST !!!!!!

YOU MEAN THEY ACTUALLY STOP WORKING FOR THE COMPANYS WHILE WORKING FOR BUSH ?

I DOUBT IT !!!

IF THE FBI CHECKS THIER OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS THEY WILL FIND OUT THESE SLIME BALLS HAVE NEVER RESIGNED FROM THEIR CORPORATE JOBS.

[PhilipTaylor]

That was the plan from the beginning!

1. Open up loopholes in the laws and regulations
2. Then quit and take advantage of them for yourself and your corporation!

Worked like a charm to R0B Americans!

[Carolab]

Isn't this lobbying supposed to stop?

[ErnestineBass]

Congress stopped lobbying on our behalf long ago.

[Carolab]

....A revolving door that shuffles former federal employees into jobs as lobbyists, consultants and strategists just as the door pulls former hired guns into government careers. While members of the executive branch, Congress and senior congressional staffers spin in and out of the private and public sectors, so too does privilege, power, access and, of course, money.

Whether they are a presidential appointee plucked from an elite position in corporate America to run a government commission or an outgoing member of Congress looking for a more lucrative job in the influence industry, OpenSecrets.org's Revolving Door database tracks anyone whose résumé includes positions of influence in both the private and public sectors. Government employees may have had the president"s ear or may have simply been the doorkeeper of the congressional cloakrooms. Influence-peddlers merely have to be in a position to influence government policy on someone else's behalf, commonly as a "hired gun" at a K Street firm, an executive of a professional trade association or as a vice president of government relations for a large company.

Use the search options to the upper right to discover which public relations firms have signed up former White House employees, which lobbyists have brought their interests with them to the powerful appropriations committees, which interests are employing former members of Congress to lobby on their behalf...and much more.

http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/

[SonofKemet]

Fourteen Defining Characteristics of Fascism

#9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of "have-not" citizens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVVa1IvHdKc

[JessWonderin]

Well dog gone it . . . it's a tough labor market out HERE . . . we should be glad that the industries they oversaw recognized their great management skills and decided to help them ease back into the contractor side . . . wouldn't want the folks wasting all that valuable skill learned in rewriting regulations and trimming creative loop holes . . . if a person can't take advantage of a political appointment THEN WHY bother doing government work for the People?????

[NYCMami]

I'd love to tell Bush where he can put that stick.

[tigerakabj]

This revovling door is what Obama said he would shut down.

See you in the unemployment line Bushies.