Consistently Conservative Small-Business Lobby Reaches Out to Democrats

Asa Hutchinson, the former Arkansas congressman and undersecretary of homeland security, has returned to the law firm Venable. Jennifer Millerwise Dyck, former spokeswoman for Bush-Cheney '04 and the CIA, was hired by APCO Worldwide. John R. Russell IV, a former aide to ex-House speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), was brought in by Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice added Tim S. McClain, former general counsel of the Veterans Affairs Department, to help its clients "obtain contracts with the VA and related agencies," a firm spokesman said.

Even all-Republican firms are expanding. Barbour Griffith & Rogers hired Stephen G. Rademaker, an ex-aide to former Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), and Philip D. Zelikow, former counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Zelikow has for years served as a one-man think tank for Rice, advising her on Iraq and other policies. His role at the lobbying firm is undefined, though he won't be able to represent a foreign government for a year, said Ed Rogers, its chairman. "We'll see what evolves over time," said Rogers, a Zelikow friend.

But being under investigation is an impediment to a lobbying career for anyone, Republican or Democrat. Lundquist, Nethercutt & Griles split with former deputy interior secretary J. Steven Griles, who is the target of a corruption probe connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Gelman Update

Microsoft's deal with the House Democratic leadership is even sweeter than I reported last week. The software giant has loaned Matt Gelman, its chief House lobbyist, to the whip's office.

It turns out that the stint won't be long at all -- just 59 days -- and for a reason. If Gelman were to stay a congressional consultant for 60 days, he would be barred for a year from lobbying the folks he had just assisted.

A New Idea

During a recent Web chat on washingtonpost.com, I received a fresh suggestion from out of the blue. Well, actually it came from Indianapolis -- or at least that was the city the correspondent listed.

Here it is: If you want to jam the revolving door between Congress and the outside world -- and discourage K Street from hiring former congressmen as lobbyists -- then deny a congressional pension to any former lawmaker who registers to lobby. A lawmaker can accept public funds in retirement via his pension, or he can make a living extracting public funds for clients as a lobbyist. But he shouldn't be allowed to do both. Whaddya think?

Send e-mail tokstreet@washpost.com.