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12/15/2005:

"A Defendants' Guide to the GOP "Revolution""

...DeLay's "K Street Project," named for the Washington street where many lobbying firms have offices, built a pipeline from congressional staffs to lucrative lobbying jobs. DeLay's wife was among those hired by Abramoff.

Cozy relations between legislators and lobbyists are deeply rooted in Washington culture and big lobby firms often hire members of Congress who retire or are defeated. Former members have personal contacts and access that ordinary lobbyists don't have. Their big salaries are often in gratitude for favors delivered when they were in office. Public business is decided on golf courses and yachts, bankrolled by lobbyists and their special-interests employers and campaign contributors.

Democrats and Republicans played the game, and lobbying firms covered their bases with bipartisan hiring. A form of comity was recognized by both parties.

Gingrich's 1994 Republican "revolution" produced a different order of business in the House. Democrats were kept off some critical conference committees where key votes are taken, or were so marginalized as to be powerless.

The K Street Project punished lobbyists who retained high-profile Democratic staff. The domination of K Street by conservative Republicans has brought their clients big-time financial benefits. Now a different breed of chickens is coming home to roost, in the form of the DeLay and Abramoff scandals.

Because they were so successful at working the system, Republicans will also occupy most of the spotlight in the courtroom dramas of 2006.
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