We have previously discussed the obscene relationship between industry and Congress with staffers and members pushing through key legislation and then being given lucrative positions by industry. The pharmaceutical and telecommunication industries are particularly notoriously for such revolving door arrangements. Other members lobby for these industries after leaving office and current officeholders like President Obama have accepted money from lobbyists (despite his pledge not to). Now the top staffer to Democratic Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, who drafted Obamacare has reportedly accepted a prime position with Johnson & Johnson’s government affairs and policy group. Her name is Elizabeth Fowler and demonstrates that the Democrats are little better in this revolving door practice. Indeed, the ever revolving Fowler is an amazing example of how industry controls not just the drafting but much of the legislation in Congress.
As Glenn Greenwald reported, before joining Baucus’ office, Fowler was the Vice President for Public Policy and External Affairs at WellPoint, the nation’s largest health insurance provider. Before the stint at WellPoint, you guessed it, she worked as Baucus’ health care aide. So Fowler has not just used the revolving door, she has gone around and around. This did not appear to bother Baucus or the Democrats.
Despite decades of complaints about the revolving door, Fowler (shown below watching over her boss) is an example of how Congress has made sure that the practice would continue despite periodic protestations to the contrary.
Source: Glenn Greenwald
The staffers like Ms. Fowler are not elected officials. When you work on the hill and make $75,000 a year and K street comes calling, it is hard to say no.
Mespo raises a point. However, with regard to certain higher eschalon employee it would seem reasonable to require certain restriction/ waiting periods on future employment, particularly where directly transferable knowledge is involved. I believe, but am not sure, that such restrictions apply in certain executive branch positions.
The counter argument is that recruitment for the best and brightest would be hampered if folks couldn’t capitalize on their expertise, i.e., read influence and connections. I’d like to see the proof of that. It doesn’t seem much of a leap to create some restrictions on positions directly involved in crafting legislation related to certain industries and companies. Especially so for those folks, like Fowler, who have been through the revolving door several times.
Comes down to whether one sees the role of Congress as doing the industry’s bidding, or the people’s.
It’s a perfectly valid systemic solution addressing a very specific systemic problem.
Make the choice binary by action of law. You can be a registered lobbyist or you can hold a public office, but one precludes doing the other. Ever.
Blind Faithiness:
I’m listening. Factor in we want the most competent people available.
OT
Anyone see that a European court has just reached a unanimous decision that our very own CIA is guilty of torture(among other charges) regarding a German citizen?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/13/cia-tortured-sodomised-terror-suspect
With all due respect, I don’t agree that you have acknowledged the “only alternative”, mespo.
With all due respect to our outraged fellow bloggers, the only alternative to the revolving door is to pay government employees the equivalent wage that private industry offers for similar work.
Anyone up for that cost?
“Anyone up for that cost?”
Mespo,
I am absolutely, the choice is obvious.
“Her name is Elizabeth Fowler and demonstrates that the Democrats are little better in this revolving door practice.” – JT
I don’t think anyone that is moderately informed has claimed that the Ds are better/worse than the Rs at criticizing/supporting the ‘revolving door’ that gives corporations untold influence and access in state and federal gov’t. Its accepted practice. As Gene stated, the “corruption is systemic.”
We have the best government that money can buy.
~Mark Twain
A development most foul.
One that is happening in every single government agency. I cannot think of one agency that is clean of Multinational corporate corruption. Not one.
The war industry is the greatest revolving door. The others are pikers by comparison. Congress, media, oil, weapons … the revolver is the coin of the realm.
Then there’s the influence of Donald Rumsfeld in getting the FDA to approve the use of aspartame as a food additive, which produces symptoms akin to Lupus, MS, and other neurological disorders. And Dick Cheney pushing the legislation to allow oil and gas companies to pollute our water supply. That’s one of the concerns about fracking, there is no reason for them to comply with the clean air and clean water regulation since they have been exempted.
Then there’s the idea floating around that Susan Rice should be Secretary of State, the department that ultimately decides the fate of the XL pipeline. Rice is heavily invested in the pipeline. http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/world/archives/2012/11/20121129-123019.html
“Her name is Elizabeth Fowler and demonstrates that the Democrats are little better in this revolving door practice. Indeed, the ever revolving Fowler is an amazing example of how industry controls not just the drafting but much of the legislation in Congress.”
I totally agree.
Trust no one .
I am just drunk with disgust.
Will I never be able to get sober again?
Would it be rude to demonize a whole category of individuals for feathering their nests, and pissing on an ethical approach to government, on the backs of the 99%?
Monsanto is another company that regularly places top people in key positions. Monsanto is the producer of Roundup and the seed that can grow in Roundup poisoned soil. GMO seeds are Monsanto gems that have led to nearly all corn, soy, and alfalfa being gmo contaminated. Throughout agricultural history, the farmer saves the best of the crop for next year’s seed. Not with Monsanto, once you buy Monsanto’s Roundup ready or gmo seeds, you have to continue to pay royalties or face a lawsuit. Farmers in India have been committing suicide b/c they can’t pay. A farmer in Canada was sued for no paying royalties for GMO seed b/c trucks passing his farm spread GMO seed and contaminated is crop. We’re now finding that GMO foods have a deleterious affect on human and animal health. Guess who’s in charge in the FDA of looking after farms and food. http://salem-news.com/articles/january302011/monsanto-fda-ms.php
Damn. Just damn.
A case study proving that corruption is systemic.