Chattanooga Times Free Press
October 24, 2005
Former Tennessee Lawmakers Take D.C. Lobbying Jobs
By Michael A. Davis
At least 10 former Tennessee members of Congress have become Washington, D.C., lobbyists since leaving office, records show.
Alex Knott, project manager of LobbyWatch at the Center for Public Integrity, said “an inherent conflict” exists when legislators on the state or federal levels become lobbyists. He said lawmakers develop relationships with colleagues that give them an unfair advantage.
Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt University political science professor, said it is not unusual for Congress members to leave office to become lobbyists.
“A number of them find out that they can make more money out of Congress than in,” Dr. Oppenheimer said.
The former federal lawmaker from Tennessee with the most clients is Don Sundquist. He represents seven clients, including tobacco, insurance and waste-hauling interests. Mr. Sundquist, who as a Republican congressman represented the western portion of the state before he was elected governor in 1994, reported receiving $780,000 from federal clients last year.
The lawmaker with the second-most clients is former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr. He has five clients in the health care and financial industries. Last year, he reported receiving $250,000 from federal clients. Mr. Ford, who represented the state as a Memphis Democrat, also lobbies at the Capitol in Nashville for health care companies.
Mr. Sundquist, a partner in the Sundquist Anthony lobbying firm, said he made a decision not to lobby in Nashville.
“It might be the appearance, but I just didn’t feel comfortable lobbying in Tennessee,” Mr. Sundquist said.
Former U.S. House members Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary became Washington lobbyists after losing elections in 2002. They now are opponents in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Sen. Frist has said he will not seek re-election in 2006.
Mr. Bryant lobbied for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Methodist Healthcare, but he has said he ended all lobbying work to run in next year’s Senate election.
Mr. Hilleary lobbied for SMS Holdings Corp., a Nashville-based security company, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He told the Chattanooga Times Free Press earlier this month he has no plans to stop lobbying for SMS.
Candidates for office are not prohibited from lobbying.
Of the 18 living former members of Congress from Tennessee, 10 have lobbied in Washington at some time since 1998, the year the U.S. Senate starting keeping electronic records. The list includes three former senators: Republicans Howard Baker and Fred Thompson and Democrat Harlan Mathews.
Mr. Thompson is the only former senator with a client in Washington, Equitas Ltd, a British reinsurer associated with Lloyd’s of London. Mr. Mathews represents Motorola Inc. in Nashville, according to lobbying records.
The seven former U.S. representatives who lobbied are Democrats Bob Clement, Marilyn Lloyd and Mr. Ford, and Republicans Robin Beard Jr., Mr. Sundquist, Mr. Bryant and Mr. Hilleary. Currently lobbying are Mr. Clement, Mr. Ford, Mr. Sundquist and Mr. Hilleary, records show.
An analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity found some lobbyists are playing a role in candidate campaign committees.
Leadership political action committees connected to two Tennessee U.S. House members have treasurers who are Washington lobbyists. They are the Wedge PAC, run by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and the Titan’s Fund, controlled by Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., a candidate for U.S. Senate.
Paul Ketchel of the lobbying firm of Ketchel & Associates is the treasurer for Wedge PAC. Mr. Ketchel lobbies for four firms on Capitol Hill.
William Oldaker from the law firm of Oldaker Biden & Belair is the treasurer for the Titan’s Fund. Mr. Oldaker is the treasurer for 23 federal campaign committees and lobbies for more than 40 firms.
