How precarious is the [tag]GOP[/tag] hold on [tag]Congress[/tag]? It’s reached the point in which lobbying firms on DC’s infamous [tag]K Street[/tag] are actually hiring [tag]Democrats[/tag].
Not long ago, a Hill staffer with a background working for House Democrats had few prospects on K Street. Many potential jobs were earmarked for Republicans, either as a result of the K Street Project, an affirmative-action program for Republicans, or simply in recognition that those with Democratic contacts were at a disadvantage in Republican-dominated Washington.
But with political fortunes apparently changing this year and Democrats enjoying their best election prospects in recent memory, many Democrats are hoping that the [tag]lobbying[/tag] world will begin to loosen up. The party hopes to be in charge in one or both chambers of Congress next year, and there are already some signs that Democrats may be enjoying a warmer welcome on K Street.
In 1998, Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay intentionally blocked a vote on an intellectual property bill because the Electronics Industry Association announced it intended to hire a new director — who happened to be a Dem. No Republican meant no legislation, Gingrich and DeLay said. (DeLay later got a slap on the wrist by the House Ethics Committee for the stunt.) It helped establish a new precedent and K Street quickly learned that hiring [tag]Republicans[/tag] for [tag]lobbying[/tag] jobs was simply the price of doing business in Washington. It’s what the “K Street Project” was all about.
When the lobbying industry assumed Republicans would be in the majority indefinitely, it had a very strong incentive to play along. Now the same lobbying industry isn’t so sure about the GOP’s grip.
The Hill included a surprisingly long list of recent Dem hires, which would have been inconceivable just a couple of years ago.
“It [used to be] presumed that people wanted someone in the majority party. It left slimmer pickings for House Democrats looking to leave the Hill,” one Democratic lobbyist said. “Beginning this year, people started finding money in the budget for a House Democrat [tag]lobbyist[/tag].”
A number of companies have put out word that they would like to hire Democrats. Comcast is rumored to be looking for someone with a lot of contacts with House Democrats. A big life insurer is searching for a Democratic lobbyist, sources said.
Sinking poll numbers for the president and Congress have changed the political mood, raising Democrats’ prospects in November and likely causing some lobbying groups to hedge their bets in case of a Democratic win, lobbying sources said.
The fear of Tom DeLay’s wrath is apparently gone.