Ben Nelson (D-NE) defends 'cooling-off' law for ex-lawmakers-turned-lobbyists

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — Former Sen. Ben Nelson will collect $950,000 a year under the two-year contract he just signed to be CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Nelson also will join a public affairs firm as a senior adviser. While his titles don't include “lobbyist,” his situation is an arrangement that some government watchdog groups have raised concerns about.

Nelson on Wednesday defended the current law, which restricts former senators from directly lobbying former colleagues in the Senate for two years after leaving office.

That “cooling-off period” was extended from one year to two thanks to a 2007 ethics law Nelson supported. Members of the House still wait one year.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130124/NEWS/701249894/1685#ben-nelson-defends-cooling-off-law-for-ex-lawmakers-turned-lobbyists

[Atman]

1. Cooling off, my ass. That should be flat-out illegal.

What could he possibly do that is worth a million dollars a year? That is ridiculous.

[spartan61]

2. I'm beginning to believe that most,

(but not all) run for "public service" not so much to represent their state and/or district but as an apprenticeship to one day make the big bucks after leaving office.

[smokey nj]

7. I believe you hit the nail on the head.

[BetterThanNoSN]

3. POS

Yeah, bye bye to the 'moderateDemocrat', also known as the corporate Democrat.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Back to the insurance industry for ol' Ben. I knew he would land a sweet deal.

[bamacrat]

5. Should be a life time ban.

Especially for those who take the most lobbyist money while in office.

[texshelters]

6. Okay, a conservative Democrat is for cooling off the open door...

but it should be illegal. Perhaps this is a good first step? Or is it a compromise so it never becomes illegal?

PTxS