Hope for a Veterans Windfall Above All Hopes

In the meantime, Gillespie is eager to avoid conflicts of interest in his new job, something his critics have said is all but impossible to do given his representation of every industry you can think of, from banking to pharmaceuticals.

Gillespie has vowed not to deal with his old clients and colleagues. And I hear he will take one extraordinary step: He will not take any more money out of the firm, including the last payout due to him from its purchase, which probably would have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Wonks Thinking Bigger at AARP

AARP's think tank, the Public Policy Institute, quietly cut its staff last year to 42 from 49. One of its best-known Social Security scholars, John Turner, left.

Now the PPI is coming back with a more public mission. "I want to make the work it does more relevant and not just for our own advocacy," said William D. Novelli, AARP chief executive. "We want it to be much more active in the marketplace of ideas."

Charged with grabbing those headlines are the PPI's new senior managing director, Susan Reinhard (former co-director of the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University), and its new outreach director, Rick Deutsch, who had been at GYMR Public Relations.

Unmasking PACs

The crazy quilt of campaign finance laws allows politicians to double-dip. In addition to taking money for their reelection committees, lawmakers can collect an extra dollop of donations in their "leadership PACs."

Incredibly, politicians do not have to disclose which leadership PACs they run, leaving lots with unidentified beneficiaries.

The Center for Responsive Politics is trying to end the mystery by asking readers to send e-mails saying who they think is in charge of several secretive leadership PACs. Among the unknowns: Leadership Empowerment & Development PAC, Bill PAC and Defending America's Future PAC. Let the CRP know!

Michael Moore to K Street: Stay Home

Filmmaker Michael Moore has made Washington lobbyists an offer that he hopes they will refuse.

Tomorrow night, Moore is holding a free preview of his latest movie, "Sicko," a feature-length attack on America's health-care system. In an advertisement published yesterday in The Washington Post, Moore invited dozens of health-care lobbyists by name to the "exclusive screening" at Union Station.

Chris Lehane, a former aide to President Clinton who is working for Moore, promised that the lobbyists who attend will not be ambushed by the filmmaker, though lots of television reporters -- and Moore himself -- will be there.

Rather, images from inside the theater will be beamed live to MichaelMoore.com, presumably to prove that lobbyists were too ashamed to show their faces.

"This is an industry that wants to avoid scrutiny," Lehane said. "I don't expect many to show up."

He might be wrong. "I love free movies; wouldn't miss it," said Anthony T. Podesta of the Podesta Group. John F. Jonas of Patton Boggs wrote in an e-mail to his colleagues: "I'll bring the popcorn, let's go!"

Hires of the Week

Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates added three Democratic partners: Daniella Landau, Tonio Burgos and Steve Patterson. It also promoted two Democrats -- Tim Hannegan and Joel Malina-- to executive vice president.

On the GOP side, Amy Call, spokeswoman for former Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), has found work with AOL.

Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal expanded its lobbying practice with eight new people, including health-care lawyer Mark W. Weller and strategist Audrey B. Yo ung.

Please send e-mail to kstreet@washpost.com.